Clinical Research Grants in Diabetes – Request for Applications
The deadlines for receipt of research grant applications for funding is 5 December 2008 (EASD)
World Diabetes Day
World Diabetes Day is the primary global awareness campaign of the diabetes world. It was introduced in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization in response to the alarming rise in diabetes around the world (World Diabetes Day)
Diabetic Retinopathy Candesartan Trials
New data from the DIRECT (DIabetic REtinopathy Candesartan Trials) study programme show that candesartan, an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), had a beneficial effect on the incidence of diabetic retinopathy in Type 1 diabetic patients and on the regression of retinopathy in Type 2 diabetic patients, despite the programme not reaching its primary endpoints (DIRECT)
Distinctive postprandial modulation of beta cell function and insulin sensitivity by dietary fats: monounsaturated compared with saturated fatty acids
The data presented here suggest that beta cell function and insulin sensitivity progressively improve in the postprandial state as the proportion of MUFAs with respect to SFAs in dietary fats increases (PubMed)
Hyperglycemia prevents the suppressive effect of hyperinsulinemia on plasma adiponectin levels in healthy humans
We conclude that insulin suppresses plasma adiponectin levels already at a plasma insulin concentration of 100 pmol/l. Hyperglycemia prevents the suppressive effect of insulin. This suggests that, in contrast to glucose, insulin could be involved in the downregulation of plasma adiponectin in insulin-resistant patients (Endocrinology and Metabolism)
Lipid-lowering Therapies and Cardiovascular Disease Prevention
Dr Tonkin and his co-authors analysed data from the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle (AusDiab) study conducted in 1999–2000 (Australian Medical Association)
The Bendy Bus: a video viral
After some ‘gruelling’ auditions, a long day’s filming and numerous edits, Diabetes UK is pleased to announce that we have successfully completed our first video highlighting the issues for people with Type 1 diabetes (Diabetes UK)
DIAMAP – Invitation to diabetes researchers
Invitation to diabetes researchers to participate in major new European project to map diabetes research (NDST, UK)
ADVANCE helps clarify ACCORD mortality mystery but questions remain
There has been great interest in ADVANCE following surprising results from the ACCORD (Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes) study which was terminated prematurely earlier this year due to a 22% increase in all cause mortality in patients whose blood glucose was aggressively controlled using regimens which included thiazolidinediones (PharmaTimes)
Merck Serono’s Glucophage(R) Powder for Oral Solution in Sachet Receives Positive Opinion for Approval in Europe
Glucophage® Powder for Oral Solution in Sachet (metformin hydrochloride in 500mg, 850mg and 1000mg strengths) has received a positive opinion recommending approval for the first-line treatment of type 2 diabetes through a Decentralized Procedure (DCP) with France as the Reference Member State (BioSpace)
Novartis presents new drug data
New data show Galvus – an oral dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitor for type 2 diabetes – can lower blood sugar without the risk of producing hypoglycaemic attacks (Pharmacy Europe)
Uncovering Glucose Abnormalities in People With Hepatitis C Infection
Should Oral Glucose Tolerance Test Become a Standard of Care? (American Journal of Gastroenterology)
Pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes: tracing the reverse route from cure to cause
The metabolic abnormalities of type 2 diabetes can be reversed reproducibly by bariatric surgery. By quantifying the major pathophysiological abnormalities in insulin secretion and insulin action after surgery, the sequence of events leading to restoration of normal metabolism can be defined (Diabetologia)
Real-Time Glucose Sensors in Children and Adolescents with Type-1 Diabetes – Mini review
The results of our ongoing international pediatric ONSET trial will show the impact of this technology on learning to live with diabetes by having the biofeedback of glucose excursions from the onset of diabetes (Hormone Research)
Assessing the Cardiovascular Safety of Diabetes Therapies
Cardiovascular-outcome trials are not required at the time of approval of diabetes drugs. Since conducting such a trial is expensive and can take years, some worry that requiring an outcome trial before marketing would delay the availability or inhibit the development of new agents. Yet delay in obtaining these data could put many patients at undue risk, and physicians and patients must choose drugs without knowledge of the risk–benefit balance (NEJM, USA)
10-Year Follow-up of Intensive Glucose Control in Type 2 Diabetes
Despite an early loss of glycemic differences, a continued reduction in microvascular risk and emergent risk reductions for myocardial infarction and death from any cause were observed during 10 years of post-trial follow-up (NEJM, USA)
1st World Congress on Interventional Therapies for Type 2 Diabetes
A comprehensive and multidisciplinary forum where leaders in the global health community will conduct an organized review and discussion of the latest scientific data and theories (Interventional Diabetology)
Diabetes and Pregnancy Stakeholder Event – 4 December 2008
Improving pregnancy outcomes in women with pre-existing or gestational diabetes. Open Space Event, Thursday 4 December, 9.30am – 4.30pm. Church House Conference Centre, Westminster, London (NDST, UK)
Impact of the UKPDS – an overview
The UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) is a group of clinical trials, epidemiological analyses and health-modelling studies with an influence which can be assessed across a broad range of health domains (PubMed)
Glucose control in the UKPDS: what did we learn?
It also taught us that glucose control is not enough: the central objective of therapy is to reduce vascular risk by any means available. This commentary looks back along the winding road that led to these conclusions (PubMed)
Autoimmune diabetes in adults: lessons from the UKPDS
The combined evidence suggests that Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) is an adult-onset form of Type 1 diabetes, rather than a separate condition or an intermediate state in a continuum of phenotype from Type 1 to Type 2 diabetes (PubMed)
Long-Term Follow-up after Tight Control of Blood Pressure in Type 2 Diabetes
Early improvement in blood-pressure control in patients with both type 2 diabetes and hypertension was associated with a reduced risk of complications, but it appears that good blood-pressure control must be continued if the benefits are to be maintained (NEJM, USA)
Effects of metabolic control, patient education and initiation of insulin therapy on the quality of life of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Improvements in metabolic control have a significant effect on different diabetes-related quality of life domains in patients with diabetes mellitus (Patient Education and Counseling)
Vildagliptin well tolerated in patients with type 2 diabetes, renal impairment
Results of a pooled analysis showed that vildagliptin is effective and well tolerated in patients with type 2 diabetes and mild-to-moderate renal impairment (Endocrine Today)
Novo Diabetes Trial Gets Good Results But Bad News From FDA
Novo Nordisk’s Phase III study of liraglutide for patients with Type 2 diabetes yielded promising results, but the drug may face an approval delay (FDA)
Amylin pushes benefits of Byetta over Merck’s Januvia
Amylin has received a boost from new data which demonstrates that its type 2 diabetes drug Byetta provides a greater reduction in post-meal glucose levels than Merck & Co’s Januvia (PharmaTimes)
Once-weekly exenatide jab for diabetes
This study provides encouraging results for the once-weekly exenatide injections, which may eventually provide a more convenient treatment regimen for patients with type 2 diabetes than the current standard twice-daily regimen. There are a few limitations to consider: (Behind the Headlines – NHS Choices, UK)
Exenatide Once Weekly Versus Twice Daily for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes
Exenatide, an incretin mimetic, has glucoregulatory properties similar to those of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide 1). Exenatide has been shown to enhance glycemic control when administered twice a day in patients with type 2 diabetes (American Diabetes Association)
Primary Care Diabetes
Contents for September issue of (Primary Care Diabetes)
Diabetes self-management education: A review of published studies
There is a growing body of literature on both educational and psychosocial interventions, aimed at helping individuals to better manage their diabetes … This paper aims to further clarify this literature by considering published evidence for the effectiveness of self-management education, including community-based peer support groups and ongoing home telephone support (Primary Care Diabetes)
The “metabolic syndrome” is less useful than random plasma glucose to screen for glucose intolerance
MetS features can be used to identify risk of diabetes, but predictive usefulness is driven largely by FPG. Overall, to identify diabetes or prediabetes in blacks and whites with varying age and BMI, MetS is no better than RPG—a more convenient and less expensive test (Primary Care Diabetes)
Professional members’ webspace
The new password protected area is an exciting addition to the professional membership benefits package and offers an exclusive access to a range of resources (Diabetes UK)
Continuous glucose monitoring may improve outcomes in adults with type 1 diabetes
Continuous blood glucose monitoring may improve glycaemic control in adults, according to a controlled trial, although it did not seem to have benefits in children and adolescents (National Electronic Library for Medicines, UK)
Introduction of a new incentive and target-based contract for family physicians in the UK: good for older patients with diabetes but less good for women?
The introduction of the nGMS contract was associated with a rise in the recording of patients with diabetes and the recording of diabetes-related quality indicators. However, women have not benefited equally from the nGMS contract (Diabetic Medicine)
Peer advisers compared with specialist health professionals in delivering a training programme on self-management to people with diabetes
Trained patients are as effective in imparting knowledge to their peers as specialist health professionals. Both are also acceptable to patients as trainers (Diabetic Medicine)
B-MS and AstraZeneca’s Onglyza improves glucose control
Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca have presented promising data from two late-stage studies for their investigational type 2 diabetes compound saxagliptin (PharmaTimes)
Novo Nordisk set to IMPROVE diabetes outlook
Novo Nordisk’s NovoMix 30 significantly improves blood glucose control in type-2 diabetes patients new to insulin, whether or not they have previously received treatment with oral antidiabetes drugs, according to results from IMPROVE, the largest-ever observational study in the disease (PharmaTimes)
Sector Snap: Diabetes drug developers
Shares of several diabetes drug developers received a slight boost Tuesday as companies including Eli Lilly & Co. and Merck & Co. touted the effectiveness of their respective treatments in an already highly competitive market (CNN, USA)
Oramed Pharmaceuticals Partners with ETI Karle Clinical to Conduct Phase 2B Trials on Its Oral Insulin Capsule, ORMD 0801
Oramed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. a developer of oral delivery systems, announced today the signing of an agreement with ETI Karle Clinical Pvt. Ltd., a clinical research organization located in India, to conduct Phase 2B clinical trials on its oral insulin capsules (Oramed Pharmaceuticals)
Over 1 in 5 Affluent Indians Have Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Researchers from north India report that 21.1% of affluent adults have type 2 diabetes, the highest figures from India so far (Reuters)
ADVANCE: Intensive glucose, BP lowering therapy is safe, tolerated
Combining intensive glucose control using gliclazide with intensive blood pressure lowering using a fixed combination of perindopril and indapamide reduced the risk of cardiovascular events, mortality and kidney complications in patients with type 2 diabetes (Endocrine Today)
Texas Type 2 Diabetes Report
The 2008 Texas Type 2 Diabetes Report helps TBGH fulfill its mission to help Texas employers play an active and enthusiastic role in collaboration with health plans, providers and purchasers; and be a catalyst in promoting costeffective delivery of quality health care to the benefit of the community . 24-page PDF (Texas Business Group on Health)
German diabetes risk management study begins
A new collaborative research project has been launched in Germany to examine how computer technology can be used to help predict risk factors associated with diabetes (Health Europe)
Men’s Health Campaign Launched
American Diabetes Association Survey Identifies Issues Every Man With Diabetes Should Know-Men’s Health Campaign Launched to Address Often Overlooked Physical, Emotional and Sexual Issues Affecting Men With Diabetes (American Diabetes Association)
Scientists call for huge increase in gastric bypass surgery to tackle obesity crisis
Controversial surgery for treating obesity that involves reducing the patient’s stomach to the size of a thumb should be more widely available on the NHS, according to researchers (Guardian, UK)
Receptor activation protects retina from diabetes destruction
A drug known for it pain-relieving power and believed to stimulate memory appears to prevent this retinal damage that leads to vision loss (Biology News Net)
Disparity of diabetes diagnosis in England
New figures show significant disparity of diabetes diagnosis across Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in England (Diabetes UK)
Diabetes patients face screening delays
Diabetes patients in Norfolk and Waveney could be at increased risk of ulcers or even amputation because of long waiting times for foot screening in the east of the area and the loss of a specialised service in central Norfolk (EDP24, UK)
Continuous Glucose Monitoring and Intensive Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes
Continuous glucose monitoring can be associated with improved glycemic control in adults with type 1 diabetes. Further work is needed to identify barriers to effectiveness of continuous monitoring in children and adolescents (NEJM)
JDRF Funded Trial Demonstrates Continuous Glucose Monitoring Can Help People With Type 1 Diabetes Improve Blood Sugar Control
Initial results of a clinical trial in the USA, showed that people with type 1 diabetes who used continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices to help manage their condition, experienced significant improvements in blood sugar control (JDRF)
Research matters
Summer/Autumn 2008. 17-page PDF (Diabetes UK)
Effects of fat supplementation on glycaemic response and gastric emptying in adolescents with Type 1 diabetes
For the first time, we have shown that the initial glycaemic response is reduced after a meal with higher compared with a meal with lower fat content in adolescents with T1DM given a rapid-acting insulin analogue preprandially (Diabetic Medicine)
National Knowledge for Diabetic Retinopathy
Knowledge updates are available under the following sub topics (14) of diabetic retinopathy (NLH, UK)
Xoma’s Phase I biologic reduces glucose levels
US biotechnology company Xoma has presented data from two early-stage trials which suggests that one of its experimental antibodies can offer “a novel anti-inflammatory approach to type 2 diabetes treatment that may preserve insulin-producing cells (PharmaTimes)
Blood glucose control and cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes. Results of ACCORD, ADVANCE and VA-Diabetes trials
In the three studies, the hypoglycaemic risk was indeed increased in the intensive group, which may contribute to reduce the positive impact of better glucose control on cardiovascular complications (PubMed)
Campaign aims to educate men about type 2 diabetes
Men with type 2 diabetes know the basics about the disease and its main complications – heart disease, blindness, kidney failure – but they seem to know very little about the issues that affect their quality of life, like depression and sexual dysfunction, according to results of a survey released today by the American Diabetes Association (Reuters)
Approach to the Patient with Prediabetes
This article will review some of the issues surrounding the identification and treatment of prediabetes, with an interpretation of the available data to help guide management (Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism)
Invitation for Submissions
From time to time Diabetes Australia invites written submissions on draft guidelines for diabetes management. A list of those guidelines Diabetes Australia is currently inviting submissions on is listed (Diabetes Australia)
Accelerated senescence in the kidneys of patients with type 2 diabetic nephropathy
These changes are associated with shortening tubular telomere length in vitro. These findings indicate that diabetes may boost common pathways involving kidney cell senescence, thus reinforcing the role of the metabolic syndrome on biological ageing of tissues (American Journal of Physiology: Renal Physiology)
Insulet Releases New OmniPod Software to Doctors
This week, without a lot of hoopla, Insulet Corp. is rolling out a new software package for use in clinical settings by Health Care Providers, called OmniPod Partner (Diabetes Mine)
Glycosmedia is also available as an App: