Diabetes News March 2nd 2012

Meta-analysis of individual patient data in randomised trials of self monitoring of blood glucose in people with non-insulin treated type 2 diabetes
Evidence from this meta-analysis of individual patient data was not convincing for a clinically meaningful effect of clinical management of non-insulin treated type 2 diabetes by self monitoring of blood glucose levels compared with management without self monitoring, although the difference in HbA1c level between groups was statistically significant (BMJ)

The Accuracy Benefit of Multiple Amperometric Glucose Sensors in People With Type 1 Diabetes
Sensor accuracy is significantly improved with the use of multiple sensors compared with the use of a single sensor. These finding isrelevant to the design of an artificial pancreas device (Diabetes Care)

Oral Disposition Index in Obese Youth from Normal to Prediabetes to Diabetes: Relationship to Clamp Disposition Index
The oDI is a simple surrogate estimate of ß-cell function relative to insulin sensitivity that can be applied to obese adolescents with varying glucose tolerance in large-scale epidemiological studies where the applicability of clamp studies is limited due to feasibility, cost, and labor intensiveness (The Journal of Pediatrics)

The Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome Study
Both maternal GDM and obesity are independently associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Their combination has a greater impact than either one alone (Diabetes Care)

SOD1 suppresses maternal hyperglycemia-increased iNOS expression and consequent nitrosative stress in diabetic embryopathy
We conclude that oxidative stress induces iNOS expression, nitrosative stress, and apoptosis in diabetic embryopathy (American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology)

Impact of type 2 diabetes on serial changes in tissue characteristics of coronary plaques: an integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound analysis
Accelerated plaque progression with an increase in the lipid-rich component of non-culprit plaques was observed in T2DM, despite the use of standard medical treatment. Better glycaemic control ameliorated the worsening of plaque characteristics in T2DM (European Heart Journal – Cardiovascular Imaging)

The management of Type 2 diabetes: A survey of Australian general practitioners
There were significant differences between diabetologists and GPs on the management of diabetes. The survey suggests significant under-dosing by GPs. These findings warrant further investigation (Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice)

Incidence of diabetic retinopathy in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus attending the Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Service for Wales: retrospective analysis
Our analysis supports the extension of the screening interval for people with type 2 diabetes mellitus beyond the currently recommended 12 months, with the possible exception of those with diabetes duration of 10 years or more and on insulin treatment (BMJ)

Emerging Pharmacotherapies for Diabetic Macular Edema
Pharmacotherapies for DME include locally and systemically administered agents. We review several agents that have been studied for the treatment of DME (Experimental Diabetes Research)

Phase III trial tests addition of twice-daily exenatide to insulin glargine in patients with type 2 diabetes
A randomised, double-blind, 30-week, phase III trial (n = 261) found that adding twice-daily exenatide to basal insulin therapy with insulin glargine improved HbA1c levels in patients with sub-optimally controlled type 2 diabetes (NPC Rapid Review)

TAK-875 is the first GPR40 agonist to reach late-stage (Phase 3) clinical development
Phase 2 Data of Takeda’s Investigational GPR40 Agonist, Published in The Lancet, Demonstrated Improved Glycemic Control in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes (Takeda)