Joint Working Between the NHS and Pharmaceutical Industry
Local networks and diabetes teams are often aware of the support that working with the pharmaceutical industry can bring but are unsure of the propriety about doing so and the methods of getting them involved. The DH has produced guidance on the topic which encourages collaborative working with industry and a practical toolkit on how to do it. 12-page PDF (NHS, UK)
Report on diabetes management, pump and school issues 2007
Review of children and young people with diabetes. 35-page PDF (NHS, UK)
Screening for disorders of glucose regulation in cystic fibrosis – Project in progress
People with cystic fibrosis suffer damage to the pancreas which over time, reduces their ability to produce insulin. In some patients, this progresses to diabetes (NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme, UK)
Health risks from undiagnosed diabetes
Diabetes UK has issued a warning that as many as 500,000 people with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes could be facing a future of ill health (Diabetes UK)
Diabetes mellitus and birth defects
Pregestational diabetes mellitus (PGDM) was associated with a wide range of birth defects. 10-page PDF (AJOG, USA)
Diagnosis and treatment of neonatal diabetes: an United States experience
Genetic testing, which is critical for guiding appropriate management, should be considered in patients diagnosed with diabetes before 1 yr of age, especially if they are autoantibody negative, although the presence of autoantibodies does not rule out a monogenic cause (Pediatric Diabetes)
Combination of Insulin and Oral Diabetes Drugs Linked to Reduced Neuropathology
A new study suggests that combination therapy with insulin and other oral antidiabetes drugs is associated with a significant reduction in the density of neuritic plaques in the brains of people with type 2 diabetes (Medscape)
Rosiglitazone Inhibits Early Stage of Glucolipotoxicity-Induced Beta-Cell Apoptosis
Our results suggest that the antidiabetic action of rosiglitazone is, at least in part, related to a direct effect on -cells rather than simply an indirect effect of improving insulin sensitivity.(Hormone Research)
Report on diabetes management, pump and school issues
Review of children and young people with diabetes: report on diabetes management, pump and school issues 2007 ( INPUT and UKCWD)
Obesity gene works by influencing appetite
New research from scientists at King’s and UCL shows that the gene associated with obesity works through effects on appetite (Institue of Psychiatry, UK)
Obesity-associated genetic variation in FTO is associated with diminished satiety
We have used a unique dataset to examine the relationship between a validated measure of children’s habitual appetitive behaviour and FTO obesity-risk genotype and conclude that the commonest known risk allele for obesity is likely to exert at least some of its effects by influencing appetite (Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism)
EFSD / Lilly European Diabetes Research Programme
Deadline: 1 September 2008 (EFSD)
VEGF Polymorphisms Are Associated with Severity of Diabetic Retinopathy
A clear association was demonstrated between VEGF SNPs and severity of diabetic retinopathy (Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science)
AACE consensus conference brings attention to prediabetes
A panel of diabetes and metabolic disorder experts have recommended a comprehensive treatment regimen for patients with prediabetes that calls for specific guidelines on both lifestyle and pharmaceutical intervention where appropriate (Endocrine Today)
Risk of development of diabetes mellitus after diagnosis of gestational diabetes
In this large population-based study, the rate of development of diabetes after gestational diabetes increased over time and was almost 20% by 9 years (CMAJ)
Diabetes during and after pregnancy: Screen more, monitor better
All pregnant women should be given information about the risks associated with gestational diabetes and offered screening so that they can make an informed choice about whether to be tested for the condition. 2-page PDF (CMAJ . JAMC)
Plasma Vitamin C Level, Fruit and Vegetable Consumption, and the Risk of New-Onset Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Higher plasma vitamin C level and, to a lesser degree, fruit and vegetable intake were associated with a substantially decreased risk of diabetes (Archives of Internal Medicine, USA)
Review of transitional care for young people with diabetes
Various national guidelines and recommendations have been published regarding age-appropriate transitional care for adolescents. However, this age group continues to consistently demonstrate poor control and outcomes in relation to both paediatric and adult age groups. 5-page PDF (Journal of Diabetes Nursing)
Daily walk can help control diabetes
Dr Michael Trenell and Prof Roy Taylor, who led the research (their paper can be seen here), showed that people with Type 2 diabetes who walk regularly can keep some of the effects of the disease at bay (University of Newcastle, UK)
Walking and inflammatory markers in individuals screened for type 2 diabetes
Walking activity, independent of other forms of physical activity, is associated with lower levels of circulating pro-inflammatory markers (PubMed, USA)
Antibody response to insulin in children and adolescents with newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetes
Treatment with IAsp and with HI was associated with an increase in HI-cross-Ab in insulin-naive children, but this did not influence treatment efficacy or safety. These results support the safe use of IAsp in children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes (Diabetic Medicine)
Postprandial dyslipidemia in insulin resistance: Mechanisms and role of intestinal insulin sensitivity
Work in our laboratory has established that aberrant insulin signalling exists in the enterocyte, and that inflammation appears to induce intestinal insulin resistance. The intestine is a major site of lipid synthesis in the body, and upregulated intestinal de novo lipogenesis and cholesterogenesis have been noted in insulin resistant and diabetic states (PubMed, USA)
The Effects of Pharmacologic Agents for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus on Body Weight
This review evaluates the effects of antidiabetes therapies on weight and glycemic control in the type 2 diabetes mellitus population (PubMed, USA)
SGK and disturbed renal sodium transport in diabetes
Diabetes is associated with a number of side effects including retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy and hypertension. Recent evidence has shown that serum and glucocorticoid inducible kinase-1 (SGK1) is increased in models of diabetic nephropathy (PubMed, USA)
Genaera reports positive interim data from Phase I diabetes trial
Genaera has announced interim Phase I safety and pharmacokinetic data and new preclinical data on trodusquemine, its lead drug candidate for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity (Datamonitor)
Long-term adherence to statin treatment in diabetes
This study suggests that barriers to long-term adherence to statins tend to arise early on in the therapeutic course. In general, long-term adherence is poor in patients with diabetes, especially among those with few other cardiovascular risk factors (Diabetic Medicine)
Researchers claim the artificial pancreas is just years away
JDRF funded researchers at the University of Cambridge believe they are just a few years away from developing a fully operational artificial pancreas (JDRF, UK)
Worry ‘ups men’s diabetes risk’
Anxiety, depression and sleepless nights increase the risk of diabetes in men, a Swedish study suggests (BBC, UK)
Diabetes drug approved in Europe
A diabetes drug created by Sanofi-Aventis has been granted regulatory approval for release in Europe … Apidra, the new diabetes drug, will be used for children aged six years and over (diabetes.co.uk)
The missing link: paediatric to adult transition in diabetes services
Key findings suggest that the transition process remains problematic with a gap between paediatric and adult services being identified, including significant differences in clinical practice and culture (British Journal of Nursing)
RCN voices support for obesity campaign
The RCN noted that obesity is threatening the health and well-being of two thirds of adults and a third of children in the UK and highlighted the part which RCN members have to play in the campaign (RCN, UK)
Exploring the pharmacotherapeutic options for treating type 2 diabetes
Current treatment algorithms include a new class of agents, incretin mimetics, such as the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist Exenatide (PubMed, USA)
Beyond glycemic control: the effects of incretin hormones in type 2 diabetes
Exenatide is an adjunctive therapy for patients who take metformin, a sulfonylurea, a thiazolidinedione, or a combination of these oral medications but have not achieved glycemic control (PubMed, USA)
Circadian rhythm-metabolism link discovered
Study showing balance between body clock and energy use in cells points to treatments for diabetes and obesity (University of California, USA)
Oxidizing and reducing responses in type 1 diabetic patients
This study suggests that the absence of complications in DM1 patients up to 5 years after onset of the disease may be associated with the oxidizing and reducing balance which need to be maintained in order to prevent or delay the onset of oxidative stress (Acta Diabetologica)
Glycosmedia is also available as an App: