Diabetes News October 9th 2009

A Magnetically Triggered Composite Membrane for On-Demand Drug Delivery
Theoretically, diabetes patients using such a system would be able to self-administer insulin simply by passing a magnetic field near their implanted drug delivery devices for a set amount of time (Daibetes Health)

Onglyza (saxagliptin) Receives Marketing Authorisation In Europe For The Treatment Of Type 2 Diabetes
The marketing authorisation is based on data submitted from a comprehensive clinical development programme that included six core Phase III registrational trials and a Phase IIIB study comparing saxagliptin plus metformin with sitagliptin plus metformin (PharmAlive)

Beyond Glycemic Control
Treating the Entire Type 2 Diabetes Disorder (Abstract – Postgraduate Medicine)

Survey reveals hidden incidence of ‘hypos’ among people with Type 2 diabetes
Half (49 per cent) of people with Type 2 diabetes (excluding those treated with insulin) experienced at least one ‘hypo’ – an episode of low blood glucose that can result in symptoms ranging from sweating to a loss of consciousness – during a fortnight period, according to a new survey by (Diabetes UK)

Boehringer Sees ‘Uphill Battle’ With Merck, Astra in Diabetes
Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH may face an “uphill battle” with Merck & Co., Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and AstraZeneca Plc if the German drugmaker’s first medicine for diabetes is approved, the company’s head of research said (Bloomberg)

Diamyd close to important milestone
Diamyd Medical announces today that 90 percent of the total 320 children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes due to participate in the company’s European Phase III study with the diabetes vaccine Diamyd have now been included and have received injections of Diamyd or placebo. The company expects all participants to have been included in the study by November 2009 (Diamyd Medical)

Understanding and beliefs of diabetes in the UK Bangladeshi population
There is a need for improved information for Bangladeshi people and much of this information might need to come from health professionals. In addition, there is a need for increased awareness by health professionals of practices used by Bangladeshi people, such as eating bitter gourd (which may enhance the effects of rosiglitazone), and the influence these practices could have on the individual’s diabetes management (Abstract – PubMed)

Diabetes and obesity rates soar
The number of people diagnosed with diabetes in the UK has increased by more than 145,000 in the last year. (Diabetes UK)

Diabetes education lowered health care costs
People with diabetes who received diabetes education had lower average health care costs compared with people who did not participate in diabetes education, according to findings from a study of Medicare and commercial member claims (Endocrine Today)

New Joint Statement Streamlines Definition of Metabolic Syndrome
A new joint statement from a number of professional organizations has identified specific criteria for the clinical diagnosis of the metabolic syndrome, tightening up the definition, which previously differed from one organization to the next (Medscape)

Retinal microaneurysms predict worse retinopathy prognosis in diabetics
Increased number of retinal microaneurysms is associated with worse retinopathy prognosis in patients with Type 1 or 2 diabetes, reported researchers at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes 45th Annual Meeting in Vienna (Medwire News)