Diabetes News October 3rd 2008

Metformin May Help Delay or Prevent Diabetes in Women Who Had Gestational Diabetes
In the current study, intensive lifestyle and metformin reduced the risk for incident diabetes to a similar degree among women with a history of GDM, but metformin was less effective than lifestyle change among women who did not have a history of GDM (Medscape)

Insulin Analogs May Improve Quality of Life
Insulin regimens that use a fast-acting analog may be more convenient than regimens using regular insulin and may help patients better control their diabetes and enjoy a higher quality of life (American Diabetes Association)

Depression linked to higher death rates from all causes among elderly with diabetes
2-year study looked at more than 10,000 Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes (EurekAlert)

Obese people could get cash to make them see a GP
Unhealthy people could be offered financial incentives to go and see a doctor (Telegraph, UK)

Medicare rebates only a small step in the fight against obesity
Professor Kerry Mummery acknowledges the burden that obesity is currently placing on individuals and on the health care system, but calls for more support in prevention, rather than treatment programs (AHHA, Australia)

Euro Consumer Diabetes Index 2008
The Euro Consumer Diabetes Index provides the first ranking of European diabetes healthcare services across five key areas: Information, Consumer Rights and Choice; Generosity, Prevention; Access to Procedures and Outcomes. 55-page PDF (Health Consumer Powerhouse)

If you have diabetes, go to Denmark!
Denmark is the overall winner in the Euro Consumer Diabetes Index 2008, launched today in Brussels during a press conference hosted by the (Health Consumer Powerhouse)

First patients to test diabetes vaccine
The Swedish company Diamyd Medical declares that the first ten per cent in a phase III study of Diamyd diabetes vaccine are screened (Biotech Scandinavia)

More exercise needed to tackle child obesity
To maintain good health and stave off obesity and other serious illness in later life, it is recommended that children engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day (BMA, UK)

Backpacker with diabetes launches Diabetes UK into world of blogs
Josh, in his early twenties with Type 1 diabetes, is travelling the Trans Siberian Express, via St Petersburg (Pictured), on to Thailand and beyond. He will be giving us regular accounts of his travels and how he has managed his diabetes whilst travelling (Diabetes UK)

Pfizer alters focus in rush for new drugs
Pfizer Inc. will abandon early stage research on heart drugs as part of a strategy to sharpen its focus on ailments such as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes where the chances of a bigger profit are greatest (Boston Globe, USA)

Focus on the World Diabetes Diagnostics Market
This report analyzes the worldwide markets for Diabetes Diagnostics in Millions of US$ (Market Watch)

Vessel Shrinkage as a Sign of Atherosclerosis Progression in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Serial Intravascular Ultrasound Analysis
This serial IVUS study suggests that progression of coronary artery disease in patients with type II diabetes mellitus may be mainly attributed to vessel shrinkage (Diabetes)

Interim results for a novel DNA plasmid BHT-3021 from a phase I/II type 1 diabetes study
Bayhill Therapeutics is currently conducting a phase I/II study to evaluate safety and efficacy of its novel antigen-specific plasmid encoding human insulin BHT-3021 in type 1 diabetes (American Diabetes Association)

GI News
October 2008 edition (GI News, Australia)

High Protein Diets- Do They Work??
Study reveals that one significant contributing factor to keeping weight off is regular contact with health professionals (Diabetes In Control)

Help shine a light on diabetes
Diabetes UK is encouraging people across the country to light local monuments in blue on 14 November to mark World Diabetes Day (Diabetes UK)

Risk Prediction of Cardiovascular Disease in Type 2 Diabetes
This more simplified risk equation enables 5-year risk prediction of CVD based on easily available nonlaboratory predictors in clinical practice (Diabetes Care)

Glucose metabolism higher among women with surgical menopause
Women who underwent surgical menopause had higher BMI, HbA1c levels and two-hour blood glucose levels compared with those who had natural menopause in a study presented at the North American Menopause Society 19th Annual Scientific Meeting (Endocrine Today)

The California Diabetes Program Has Been Saved!
Late on Monday the California Diabetes Program received official notice that their request for exemption from the Governor’s Executive Order was approved! (Diabetes Health)