Diabetes News May 22nd 2009

Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes: Time for an Evidence-Based About-Face?
Our review and critique of recent large randomized trials in patients with type 2 diabetes suggest that tight glycemic control burdens patients with complex treatment programs, hypoglycemia, weight gain, and costs and offers uncertain benefits in return (Annals of Internal Medicine)

UK researchers make breakthrough in immune system therapy
JDRF funded researchers at King’s College London and the University of Bristol have shown that a potential immune system therapy for type 1 diabetes is safe. Peptide immunotherapy is a type of treatment that uses small proteins to ‘reset’ the immune system to a healthy state, much like an allergy jab (JDRF)

Long-term effects of diabetes during pregnancy on the offspring
Children born to mothers with gestational diabetes seem to be at risk for obesity and metabolic disturbances (Pediatric Diabetes)

Peri-Conceptional A1C and Risk of Serious Adverse Pregnancy Outcome in 933 Women With Type 1 Diabetes
These results support recent guidelines of preconceptional A1C levels <7% in women with type 1 diabetes (Diabetes Care)

Hyperglycemia, Hypertension, and Dyslipidemia in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Goals for Diabetes Management
Although the quality of diabetes care has improved since the beginning of target-based monitoring, there remains considerable room for improvement (Clinical Cornerstone – via Science Direct)

Boehringer Ingelheim and DeveloGen AG Announce Agreement in the Field of Diabetes, Obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome
Boehringer Ingelheim andDeveloGen AG, today announced the signing of an asset sale and purchase and collaboration agreement in the field of diabetes, obesity, the metabolic syndrome and other insulin resistance associated disorders (PharmaLive)

Diabetic statin users have reduced risk for colon cancer
Diabetic statin users have a lower risk for colorectal cancer than nonusers, report US researchers (MedWire)

Leading NGOs Call for International Action to Combat Epidemic of Non-communicable Diseases
Joint Statement by the International Diabetes Federation, International Union Against Cancer and World Heart Federation [IDF]

Diabetes assessment tool cuts hospital stays
A tool to help nurses manage the care of inpatients with diabetes, particularly those admitted for non-diabetes related problems, has significantly improved patient care at an acute trust in the East Midlands (Nursing Times)

New Report Shows Record Number of Medicines Currently In Development to Treat Diabetes
Biopharmaceutical Companies Developing Record 183 Medicines to Treat Diabetes and Related Conditions. 16-page PDF (PHRMA)

Half million people still not receiving retinal screening
The latest Department of Health figures show that 26 per cent of people with diabetes aged 12 and over did not receive retinal screening in the period January 2008 to December 2008 (Diabetes UK)

An exploratory study of the effect of using high-mix biphasic insulin aspart in people with type 2 diabetes
An insulin regimen using high-mix BIAsp (BIAsp 70) before breakfast and lunch and BIAsp 30 before dinner can achieve lower blood glucose levels during the day through reduced mealtime glucose excursions in particular at lunchtime than a twice-daily premix regime (Abstract – Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism)

Dyslipidemia treatment of patients with diabetes mellitus in a US managed care plan: a retrospective database analysis
This study suggests that DM patients are not being treated to ADA-suggested targets (Cardiovascular Diabetology)

Dietary carbohydrate restriction in type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome: time for a critical appraisal
Current nutritional approaches to metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes generally rely on reductions in dietary fat. The success of such approaches has been limited and therapy more generally relies on pharmacology. The argument is made that a re-evaluation of the role of carbohydrate restriction, the historical and intuitive approach to the problem, may provide an alternative and possibly superior dietary strategy (Nutrition & Metabolism)

Carbohydrate restriction improves the features of Metabolic Syndrome. Metabolic Syndrome may be defined by the response to carbohydrate restriction
We consider here five indicators that are central to most definitions and we provide evidence from the literature that these are precisely the symptoms that respond to reduction in dietary carbohydrate (Nutrition & Metabolism)

Differential Islet and Incretin Hormone Responses in Morning vs. Afternoon after Standardized Meal in Healthy Men
The early release of GLP-1 and GIP are more pronounced in the morning than in the afternoon. This may contribute to the more rapid early insulin response, more pronounced potentiation of ß-cell function and lower glucose after the morning meal (Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism)

Iron status in women with and without gestational diabetes mellitus
Our findings indicate an association between increased iron status and GDM. The role of iron excess from iron supplementation in the pathogenesis of GDM needs to be examined (Journal of Diabetes and its Complications)

New GLP-1 analogs, mimetics in the pipeline for type 2 diabetes
All signs indicate that several glucagon-like peptide-1 analogs and mimetics may be poised to hit the market and provide clinicians with a variety of new options for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (Endocrine Today)

Novel Diabetes Drug Cycloset Approved
U.S. Food and Drug Administration approve a new drug for treating Type 2 diabetes. Called Cycloset, the drug is actually a new version of the older drug bromocriptine, which has been used at higher doses to treat people with Parkinson disease (Diabetes Self Management)

Insulin requirement much higher for post-transplant diabetes mellitus after liver transplant
It is clear that corticosteroids play a role, the researchers concluded (Endocrine Today)

Diabetes Educators and Their Supporters Asked to Rally Behind “Catalyst to Better Diabetes Care Act”
Representative Zach Space (D-Ohio) recently reintroduced H.R. 1402, “The Catalyst to Better Diabetes Care Act of 2009,” which he described as intended “to catalyze change in the care and treatment of diabetes in the United States.” (Diabetes Health)