Scientists at the University of Oxford - working alongside colleagues from the Babraham Institute in Cambridge and the Churchill Hospital, Oxford -  have discovered a gene called PTEN which they say is responsible for insulin sensitivity.  It is hoped that this new discovery could help find treatments with Type 2 diabetes as these patients have insulin resistance, and could lead to new drugs being developed that would increase insulin sensitivity. 

Dr Anna Gloyn of the Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism at the University of Oxford, and leader of the study, said:

"Insulin resistance is a major feature of type 2 diabetes."

"The insulin-producing cells in the pancreas may be working hard and pumping out lots of insulin, but the body's cells no longer respond."

"Finding a genetic cause of the opposite – insulin sensitivity – gives us a new window on the biological processes involved. Such understanding could be important in developing new drugs that restore insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes."

While this new discovery shows some promise, the researchers advise that the best way of preventing type 2 is to keep your weight under control by exercising more and eating less.

Details of the study - funded by the funded by the Wellcome Trust, the Medical Research Council, the National Institute for Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council - have been published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The benefits of exercise for diabetics

Many people with diabetes will have been informed about how exercise can benefit their condition by helping to keep their weight down, improve glucose control, and how it can contribute to heart health.  As most diabetics should know, high glucose levels can leave people more prone to heart problems and now new research led by scientists from the John Hopkins University School of Medicine has shown just how valuable exercise is to diabetics, and how it can help improve the heart function in diabetics.

The researchers found that the levels of fatty acids which are generated during exercise can help to counteract the damaging effects of excess glucose and improve the heart's pumping ability.  The study was carried out using a mouse model of type 2 diabetes and has been published in the journal Diabetes; the study examined the effects of glucose and fatty acids and how they influence heart function.

Commenting in a press release, Miguel Aon, Ph.D., assistant professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and a senior author of the study article, said:

"Our work offers a new view of the role of fatty acids in diabetic hearts under stress, and suggests potential new therapies to improve heart function."

“It has been commonly assumed that fatty acids were detrimental to heart muscle function, but our study showed the opposite to be true in the diabetic heart.”

Anon continues:

“Over time, if the heart muscle is not receiving enough energy, the mechanical and electrical functions required to produce a normal heartbeat become impaired, which leads to cardiomyopathy."

“In our study, we were able to show a cause-and-effect relationship between dysfunction of the mitochondria—the energy-producing components of cells—and the heart’s mechanical and electrical functions, which helps to explain why people with type 2 diabetes develop cardiomyopathy."

“Now that we have shed light on why exercise can improve heart function in people with type 2 diabetes.” 

“The next step is figuring out how to harness that knowledge to prevent heart damage from diabetes, especially among those people who cannot bring their blood sugar levels under good control.”

Stem cells could treat type one diabetes

Many diabetics dream of a cure for their disease, and while there have been some breakthroughs such as pancreatic transplants, there has been little in the way of a real cure.  However, scientists  from the University of British Columbia say that they have reversed diabetes in mice by using stem cells.

Timothy Kieffer, a professor in the Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, working alongside scientists from BetaLogics, a company based in New Jersey, have shown that transplanting human stem cells into mice can restore insulin production and reverse diabetes.  However, it should be remembered that this research is in its early stages and how well this would work in humans is unclear, but it is still reason for hope.

Once the stem cell transplant had been completed the mice were gradually weaned off insulin over a 3-4 month period.  The mice were able to maintain good glucose control even when they given high amounts of sugar.

Commenting in a press release, Kieffer said:

"We are very excited by these findings, but additional research is needed before this approach can be tested clinically in humans.”

“The studies were performed in diabetic mice that lacked a properly functioning immune system that would otherwise have rejected the cells. We now need to identify a suitable way of protecting the cells from immune attack so that the transplant can ultimately be performed in the absence of any immunosuppression.”

Another eye screening out of the way

Every year I get the letter and every year I dread it.  I used to dread going for an eye screening so much just in case they found anything wrong that I'd leave it weeks to book an appointment and then take the appointment with the latest date possible just to delay the moment.

However, I soon realised that all I was doing was prolonging the agony and the more I read about retinopathy, the more I understand it, and the less afraid I am of it.

Screening is vital for anyone with diabetes and it's free.  There are plenty of people who don't attend screenings and I really don't understand it - perhaps they are worried of what they might find like I was but that wouldn't be enough to stop me from going.  Retinopathy is treatable in its early stages and more treatment options are becoming available so if you get offered a screening then go - you can't afford not to.

I was really pleased when I was at my appointment when I was told that the vessels of my eyes looked to good that they wouldn't even know I was diabetic.

I control my blood sugars and this is the most important step when it comes to prevention.  Controlling blood pressure is also important.

I also take bilberry which is supposed to strengthen the vessels. I also take pycnogenol - which is apparently prescribed in France for the condition - and I take benfotiamine a fat-soluble form of B1 which is thought to protect the vessels from the damage which can be caused by diabetes.

Pre-diabetics patients can improve vascular reactivity through aerobic exercise

The health benefits of exercise are well known and it can be especially beneficial to diabetics helping to keep circulation healthy, improving glucose control and helping to keep the heart healthy.  Now research presented to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) 21st Annual Meeting & Clinical Congress in Philadelphia at the weekend shows that aerobic exercise carried out regularly can improve vascular reactivity to near normal levels even without weight loss.

As part of the research patients at risk of developing diabetes were included and their heart reactivity, which is known to be associated with heart disease, and how it related to exercise, was studied.

It was found that patients exercising for at least 150 minutes a week had near normal vascular reactivity.  Patients also had significant reduction in cholesterol levels – cholesterol is known to contribute to heart disease, and reductions in markers of inflammation, something which can be associated with heart disease.

Lead author of the study, Dr. Sabyasachi Sen, MD, MRCP, FRCP, said:

“Knowing that exercise significantly improves vascular reactivity for pre-diabetic patients is substantial.”

“It appears that the pre-diabetic stage is a therapeutic window when aerobic exercise can make significant improvement in vascular reactivity and bring it back towards normalcy, before these patients progress to overt diabetes. It may be too late in the overt diabetes stage to make significant impact in vascular reactivity with exercise alone.”

Artificial pancreas given first outpatient trial

The first outpatient trial of an artificial pancreas has been launched by the University of Virginia.  The researchers say that the artificial pancreas, which uses a reconfigured smartphone to monitor an insulin pump and a continuous glucose monitor, will help make diabetes easier to manage by automating a lot of the testing that is involved in diabetes.

It is hoped that using this method will help keep make glucose levels easily to control and works to automate the constant glucose monitoring that diabetics need to do to ensure that their insulin levels are correct and that their blood sugars are at a healthy level.

The device has been tested by Charlottesville resident Justin Wood, who has been diabetic for twenty eight years.  Commenting on the two day trial, Wood said:

“The operating interface was very slick and very fast."

“The extra second or two you save pressing buttons adds up when you have to do it every day.”

He went on to say:

“The device automates a lot of the tracking and monitoring I do now."

Wood says that the new monitoring system meant that he could reduce the amount of blood tests that he has to do every day to just two instead of the three - five tests that he would usually do.

The team behind the artificial pancreas, as it is being described is led by Patrick Keith-Hynes, PhD, and Boris Kovatchev.  Outpatients tests will continue between now and into 2013 and a further 120 patients will be enrolled into the programme.

Timesulin available online from DiabetesUK

If you've been diabetic for long enough then you have probably had at least a moment or two when you can't remember whether or not you've injected your insulin.  Its only happened to me a few times but it's worrying and no one wants to risk double dosing or their blood sugar will fall too low too quickly, nor do they want to risk missing an injection.

John Sjolund, Co-Founder and CEO of Timesulin was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was just three years on.  Now, as a very active adult - he's competed in the London Triathlon - John had the same problem, so he created Timesulin which became available last year. 

Timesulin is designed to help people avoid some of the highs and lows which can come with diabetes by ensuring that people don't double dose or miss a dose of insulin.  The Timesulin cap fits over all major insulin pen brands and has a built in timer to show the last time an injection was given.  That certainly beats my write it down and mark it off method!

The product is available directly from the Timsulin webshop and sells for 32 euros.  Alternatively, Diabetes UK has recently given the product its backing and it is now available from the Diabetes UK online store.

Commenting in a press release, Shirley Quinn of Diabetes UK said:

“We are very excited to be working with Timesulin.” 

“This is a fantastic opportunity for the charity to be at the forefront in selling this innovative product, the aim of which is to reduce the stress of remembering how long it’s been since your last insulin injection.”

Scientists say "Type 2 Diabetes More Common, More Dangerous in Children"

Type 2 diabetes is more often than not associated with adults but a recent press release highlights the growing number of children being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.  The study, which has been published in The New England Journal of Medicine also highlights concerns that medication usually given for Type 2 diabetes in adults  isn't effective in children.

Terri H. Lipman, Phd, and CRNP of the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing worked as co-investigator on the study.  She said:

“Increases in childhood obesity have yielded an increased incidence of Type 2 diabetes in children."

“It is important to understand that the epidemic of Type 2 diabetes in youth is secondary to high caloric intake and low activity. Both of these causes are a result of a multitude of socioeconomic factors that include food deserts and lack of safe places for activity.”

As part of the research, nearly 700 children were analysed.  The children were aged between 10-17 and all had a recent diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes.  46 per cent of the children were being treated with metformin, an oral drug used for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes in adults.  However, it was found that metformin wasn't enough stabilise the blood sugar levels of children and many of them had to begin insulin therapy within a year.

Experts say that a surge in the number of children with Type 2 diabetes first began in the nineties.  The children involved in the study were all given diabetes education to try and help them regain control of their condition, and the study was carried out with the aim of helping to find more suitable treatments for children with Type 2 diabetes, which, as the study leader points out, is a preventable disease.

Researchers says Glucagon pathway could be new approach for type 2 diabetes

New research suggests that targeting glucagon may be a better approach in the treatment for type 2 diabetes, according to a new study published in Cell Metabolism.

As diabetics will understand, insulin is the hormone responsible for lowering blood sugar levels while glucagon is the hormone which raises your blood glucose.  The research shows that rather than targeting insulin, preventing glucagon from increasing your glucose levels may be a better approach.

Ira Tabas, MD, PhD, Richard J. Stock Professor and Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Medicine and professor of Anatomy & Cell Biology, led the study alongside Lale Ozcan, PhD, associate research scientist.

In a press release, Dr.Tabas said:

"What we’ve found is a way to reduce glucagon’s influence on blood sugar without the side effects of global glucagon repression."

Drugs that target glucagon have been tested previously but it was found that they also disrupted the other important roles that glucagon plays in the body.  This new study looked at the role that the enzyme CaMKII plays.  The researchers found that if they blocked this enzyme in diabetic mice, their blood sugars went down with no ill effects.  They also discovered that cholesterol levels went down, the liver wasn't so fatty and insulin sensitivity was improved.

 Dr. Tabas said:

"Even when their disease is well controlled, most patients with type II diabetes have excess glucagon action, so blocking CaMKII could potentially be a new way to lower blood sugar and better treat the disease."

“Until now, it has been difficult to block glucagon’s effect on blood sugar without interfering with glucagon’s other function but we think CaMKII is different.”

Dr. Tabas is now working on CaMKII inhibitor which could treat type 2 diabetes.

Low glycemic breakfast can help control blood sugars the rest of the day

New research shows that starting the day with a low glycemic breakfast can have a positive impact on blood sugars for the rest of the day, helping to prevent spikes in blood sugar through the morning and also after the next morning.  Details of the research were presented at the  Institute of Food Technologists’ Wellness 12 meeting.

The findings were presented by  Kantha Shelke, Ph.D., principal, Corvus Blue LLC, and Richard Mattes, M.P.H., R.D., distinguished professor of foods and nutrition at Purdue University'  They also stated that low glycemic foods eaten at breakfast increased satiety and fullness making people less likely to over eat later in the day; previous research has established that low glycemic foods such as beans, pulses and oats make you feel fuller for longer.

The glycemic index measures how quickly a food raise your blood sugars: the quicker a food is digested, the quicker it raises your blood sugar.  Foods with a lower glycemic index have less of an impact on your blood sugar and give blood glucose a slower, steadier rise and are thought to be much better for you.

 Kantha Shelke, Ph.D., said:

“We can reverse pre-diabetes and prevent it from becoming diabetes. Food has become the reason for what’s ailing us, but it can actually be a solution in a number of different ways.”

Low glycemic breakfast foods include oatmeal or porridge or other oat-based cereal and rye or pumpernickel bread.

Artificial pancreas approved by FDA for key testing phase

Last week the US-based Food and Drug Administration gave approval for the key testing phase of an artificial pancreas which has been developed by researchers at the University of Virginia (UVA).

This could be a positive development for the millions of patients with Type 1 diabetes if the artificial pancreas - which has so far only been tested on a small group of patients -  proves to be effective.

Led by Patrick Keith-Hynes, PhD, and Boris Kovatchev, PhD, from the UVA School of Medicine, the team developed a device which was based on a reconfigured smart phone.  Any diabetic knows what a challenge it can be to always get your insulin levels and blood glucose right; the artificial pancreas could help provide a solution for this by automatically monitoring glucose levels and providing insulin as needed.

Researchers tested the artificial pancreas on inpatients at UVA and in Europe; the pancreas was tested on outpatients in Spain in 2011 and shows promising results.

It is hoped that trials on outpatients in the States will begin within the next six weeks.

Dr. Kovatchev said:

“Conducting the first U.S. tests of a portable artificial pancreas running on a cell phone in a real-world setting is an important step toward evaluating its effectiveness and how it may impact treatment for Type 1 diabetes patients in the United States.”

Drinking coffee could reduce risk of Type 2 diabetes

Previous studies have shown that drinking large amounts of coffee could reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.  The studies showed that people who drink four cups of coffee or more a day had a 50% lower risk of developing diabetes.

Now, a new study by a team of scientists has offered a new explanation to why this may be.  Researchers Ling Zheng, Kun Huang and their colleagues investigated whether coffee may block  human islet amyloid polypeptide ( hIAPP), a substance which some scientists believe can contribute to Type 2 diabetes.

The scientists found that coffee did indeed contain compounds which inhibit hIAPP and thus reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes.

In conclusion, the researchers said:

“A beneficial effect may thus be expected for a regular coffee drinker.”

However, patients with Type 1 diabetes  need to be cautious when drinking too much coffee as caffeine can have a negative effect on blood sugars and send them skywards as caffeine is a stressor and stress can increase glucose levels. 

Novo Nordisk announce launch of NovoPen Echo®

Novo Nordisk has announced the launch of a new insulin pen called NovoPen Echo®.  The insulin pen is designed for children and comes in two different colours: red and blue. 

NovoPen Echo® comes with a unique feature which means it has a memory function which allows the time of the last insulin dose to be recorded; the pen also allows half doses to be given.

I think the time memory function is a great idea and not just for children with diabetes.  Taking insulin is such a routine thing I sometimes struggle to remember if I've taken it before a meal especially if I've been distracted so this pen may be a good option for adults too and this is something I'll ask about when I go for a check-up.

Commenting in a press release, Viggo Birch, Managing Director for Novo Nordisk Limited, said:

"Novo Nordisk is committed to continually improving our diabetes medicines and devices that can help solve some of the major challenges people with diabetes face every day. We are very proud to make NovoPen Echo® available to children living with diabetes in the UK, as it is designed to benefit both them and their parents, ensuring that they control their diabetes with minimal worry and interference in their lives."

Biochip could enable diabetics to use saliva to test gloucose levels

Researchers at Brown University say that they have developed a device which could mean diabetics would be able to test their glucose levels through saliva rather than regular glucose testing.

The biochip uses plasmonic interferometers and could be used to test a number of substances including levels of glucose.

Engineers at Brown University were able to achieve this by etching plasmonic interferometers onto a microchip and then measured the concentrations of glucose on the chip.  The test results showed that the chip could "could detect glucose levels similar to the levels found in human saliva".  The amount of glucose contained in saliva is 100 times more concentrated than in blood, according to researchers from Brown University.

Domenico Pacifici, assistant professor of engineering and lead author of the paper published in Nano Letters, a journal of the American Chemical Society, said:

“This is proof of concept that plasmonic interferometers can be used to detect molecules in low concentrations, using a footprint that is ten times smaller than a human hair."

Further testing is now planned and biochips and sensors especially tailored to measure for glucose will be used.

It is early days and at the moment there is no news on how long it will be before the sensor could be tested by diabetics.

US Doctor recognised for his research into diabetes

Dr. Philipp Scherer,  a professor and the director of  the Touchstone Center for Diabetes Research at UT Southwestern Medical Center, is among three other doctors who have received recognition for their work in medicine.

The award was given by The Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas (TAMEST).  A $25,000 honorarium, a citation and a trophy was given as part of the award.
Those who receive the award will also be given the opportunity to speak at a conference.

Dr. Scherer was given the award for his work on fat derived hormones and how they control sensitivity to insulin.  Dr. Scherer also discovered the protein adiponectin during research carried out in 1994.  A decline of this hormone can be an indicator of diabetes, heart disease and cancer risk, according to the press release.

The committee also cited the work carried out by Dr. Scherer into fat cells called adipocytes.

In a press release, Dr. Scherer explains:

“Fat tissue remains one of the most enigmatic tissues we have. It fulfills an essential role in storing excess calories, yet too much of it increases our risk to develop diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer."

“We hope that our efforts highlight new avenues of how we can maintain proper function of fat cells, while still allowing them to effectively absorb the excess of toxic lipids that we expose ourselves to in our daily diet.”

Dr. Daniel K. Podolsky, president of UT Southwestern, said

“Dr. Scherer’s research contributes to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of how fat cells communicate with organs and may lead to new ways of fighting diabetes and other obesity-related diseases.” 

Insulin signaling distorted in type 2 diabetes

New research published by The School of Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio and the Joslin Diabetes Center shows that insulin signalling is distorted in patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a new study.

The distortion of the signalling interferes with the number and quality of the beta cells - the cells responsible for insulin production.

Franco Folli, M.D., Ph.D and Rohit Kulkarni, M.D., Ph.D took part in the study and the details have been published in the journal Plos One.

In the study they say:

“People knew there was a lack of beta cells because they die off in type 2 diabetes. Here we show the beta cells attempt to replicate, but this is unsuccessful because of the altered signals.”

The study has helped researchers gain some important new information about diabetes which could help in the research for new treatments.  The press release suggests that restoring the insulin signalling could stop insulin producing cells from being depleted.



 

Researchers restore normal glucose metabolism in mice

A team of researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine have used a natural compound to restore normal glucose metabolism in mice, the researchers say that it could mean that eventually patients with type 2 diabetes would be able to take the compound in the same way that they would a vitamin tablet and it could be used as a means to prevent type 2 diabetes.

The compound used is an enzyme called nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMH), commenting in a press release, Shin-ichiro Imai, MD, PhD, associate professor of developmental biology, said:

“After giving NMN, glucose tolerance goes completely back to normal in female diabetic mice."
“In males, we see a milder effect compared to females, but we still see an effect. These are really remarkable results. NMH improves diabetic symptoms, at least in mice.”

The trials have so far been carried out in mice and it was found that after having NMH administered, glucose tolerance returned to normal in the female mice and improved in the male mice.

The researchers are hopeful that the NMH could one day used as a treatment for humans and they hope to do a human trial at some point.

New research identifies potential new target for beta cell stimulation

New research published in Cell Metabolism could prove to be beneficial to patients with diabetes. The study is a joint collaboration between JDRF- funded researchers and the pharmaceutical company Hoffmann-La Roche.

The study has identified a protein that regulates beta cell growth and a chemical that stimulates cell growth; this could lead to a new drugs target for the treatment of type one diabetics

The study was headed by Markus Stoffel, M.D., Ph.D., a professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, and could lead to new drugs which could stimulate beta cell regeneration.

The research is a continuation of a study carried out five years ago which identified a protein called Tmem27. During a mouse trial the researchers discovered that increased amounts of the protein in beta cells were associated with an increased number of islets. It was also found that if the protein was cut, the protein was no longer effective.

Further research showed that if another protein named Bace-2 was inhibited then this could encourage the growth of beta cells.

Commenting in a press release, Patricia Kilian, Ph.D., scientific program director of regeneration research at JDRF, said:

"This is an exciting and potentially impactful finding.”

"It's an example of how researchers make an early observation and follow up on it, and then take it to the next level where it has translational potential - the potential to be developed into a drug that promotes the growth of beta cells for diabetes."

Source: http://www.jdrf.org/index.cfm?page_id=116203

Researchers detail study about 'swamp gas' and its role in preventing diabetic complications

Hydrogen sulfide, which is also known as swamp gas, could play a role in preventing some of the complications of diabetes, researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch say.
According to the study, hydrogen sulfide is present in the human body, albeit in limited amounts, and it plays a protective role in the circulatory system. The study used diabetic rats and assessed the importance the sulfide plays in protecting diabetics from blood vessel damage,damage to the small vessels in the eyes and kidneys are just two of the problems associated with patients who have had diabetes for a long time.

The researchers tested what would happen if endothelial cells (the cells from deep inside the blood vessels) were exposed to a high concentration of sugar as Dr. Csaba Szabo, a UTMB professor and the paper’s lead author, commenting in a press release, explains:

“Upon exposure to such high sugar levels, the cells started to produce increasing amounts of highly reactive toxic free radicals, and as a consequence, they began to die.”

“Low hydrogen sulfide levels accelerated this process, while constant replacement of hydrogen sulfide protected the cells against the toxic effects of high sugar.”

Further research demonstrated that rats naturally have lower levels of hydrogen sulfide in their systems and the team also discovered that by treating the rats with hydrogen sulfide, the health of blood vessels improved.

In a press release Szabo said:

“The loss of endothelial cell function in diabetes is a first step that leads to many complications, such as eye disease, heart disease, kidney disease, foot disease and others.”

“The observation that hydrogen sulfide can control an early checkpoint in all of these processes may open the door for new therapies.”

New research that could lead to new approach for the complications of diabetes has to be a good thing especially when you look at the statistics relating to diabetic complications. According to figures from the American Diabetes Association, from 2005-2008, 4.2 million diabetics had retinopathy, a condition that means the small vessels bleed into the back of the eye, and in 2008 48,374 diabetics underwent treatment for end-stage kidney disease.

There are some supplements which may be beneficial to diabetics because of their protective effects on blood vessels. It is well documented that Bilberry helps to strengthen vessels and research has also shown that benfotiamine could protect against some of the complications of diabetes.

Sources:

http://www.utmb.edu/newsroom/article7068.aspx

http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/diabetes-statistics/

http://www.webrn-maculardegeneration.com/bilberry-health-benefits.html

http://www.consumerhealthdigest.com/benfotiamine-a-new-tool-in-preventing-diabetic-complications.htm

New study indicates that higher muscle mass could lower risk of pre-diabetes

Higher muscle mass could reduce the risk of pre-diabetes according to a new study by The Endocrine Society.

The study, which will be published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, shows that the higher the muscle mass, the lesser the chance of developing insulin resistance, one of the main precursors to type 2 diabetes.

More than 13,000 took part in the study. Those taking part in the study were all aged 20-years plus and all weighed more than 35kgs. According to the news brief “researchers examined the association of skeletal muscle mass with insulin resistance and blood glucose metabolism disorders”.

Preethi Srikanthan, MD, of the University of California (UCLA), and senior author of the study, said:

“Our findings represent a departure from the usual focus of clinicians, and their patients, on just losing weight to improve metabolic health.”

“Instead, this research suggests a role for maintaining fitness and building muscle. This is a welcome message for many overweight patients who experience difficulty in achieving weight loss, as any effort to get moving and keep fit should be seen as laudable and contributing to metabolic change.”
Srikanthan also stated that further research would be required to establish “the nature and duration of exercise interventions required to improve insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism in at-risk individuals.”

Dentists could identify undiagnosed diabetes

Dentists could play a key role in spotting undiagnosed diabetes or pre diabetes, according to a new study by the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine. Details of the study were published in the July issue of the Journal of Dental Research.

Dr Ira Lamster is dean of the College of Dental Medicine and senior author of the study, commenting in a news release Dr. Lamster said:

“Periodontal disease is an early complication of diabetes, and about 70 percent of U.S. adults see a dentist at least once a year.”

“Prior research focused on identification strategies relevant to medical settings. Oral healthcare settings have not been evaluated before, nor have the contributions of oral findings ever been tested prospectively.”

600 people from the Northern Manhattan area took part in the study which aimed to identify patients with hyperglycaemia. The patients were divided into two groups: 40-years-old plus and non-Hispanic white and those aged 30 plus, Hispanic or non-white.

According to the press release, around 530 patients had at least one risk factor for diabetes such as a family history. Each of the patients received a periodontal check and an A1C test, which monitors longer term glucose levels.

The press release explains that there were only two dental factors needed to identify those with diabetes or pre-diabetes, the two factors being the number of missing teeth or the percentage of periodontal pockets.

Dr. Evanthia Lalla, an associate professor at the College of Dental Medicine, and lead author of the study, said:

“Early recognition of diabetes has been the focus of efforts from medical and public health colleagues for years, as early treatment of affected individuals can limit the development of many serious complications.”

“Relatively simple lifestyle changes in pre-diabetic individuals can prevent progression to frank diabetes, so identifying this group of individuals is also important."

“Our findings provide a simple approach that can be easily used in all dental-care settings.”

Diabetes is a condition that can often go undiagnosed leaving patients at a greater risk of developing of developing complications. Previous studies have shown that gum disease can make diabetes harder to control and also leave patients at a higher risk of heart disease which is already a risk factor for patients with diabetes.

LifeScan Verio Pro glycaemic management system

Last year, LifeScan released a meter called OneTouch^® Verio^® Pro glycaemic self-management system. According to their website, it offers “close-to-lab accuracy”. What I especially like about it is the idea of the GlucoFilter which filters out substances which can affect the accuracy of test results.

Another idea that sounds good is the high and low pattern tool. I have days when I run low and can find no obvious reason for it so something that can help me read low patterns more easily would be an advantage.

The meter is suitable for people with type or type diabetes and comes with a tagging function for before meals, after meals, before bed. There’s also no coding, which is always a good thing.

I like the meter I currently use but I do occasionally get the odd result from it and I’d like to try something that could help me figure out the low patterns so I think this meter would be worth trying.
You can find out more about the meter on the following link:

http://www.lifescan.co.uk/ourproducts/meter/one-touch-verio-pro

For people in the UK, there is a free meter offer available at this link:

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/promotions/onetouch-verio-pro-giveaway.html

Pioneering surgical technique could treat type 2 diabetes

Surgeons based at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University Medical Center are pioneering a new technique to help treat type 2 diabetes.

The sleeve gastrectomy - a technique used for weight loss surgery - has been found to be effective in treating gastroparesis, a condition that causes delayed stomach emptying and can further compromise blood glucose control.

Dr. Melissa Bagloo, is leading the gastroparesis at the Presbyteria Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, commenting in a press release, she said:

"We had previously observed that after sleeve gastrectomy, patients who had difficulty emptying their stomachs showed significant improvement in their digestion. We do not know precisely why this is: Sleeve gastrectomy may have the effect of 'resetting' the natural gastric pacemaker, or it may be that the smaller size of the stomach increases intragastric pressure so that it helps facilitate gastric emptying. There could also be other reasons why the surgery helps."

Four patients underwent the sleeve gastrectomy last year, each of the patients had diabetes and gastroparesis and were unable to undergo the alternative treatment of a gastric pacemaker.

The gastric bypass has been found to reverse type 2 diabetes, a condition often associated with obesity. The bypass proved effective in reducing glucose levels and in reducing or eliminating the need for medication. Surgeons will continue to offer this type of surgery as a way of treating type 2 diabetes as part of a medical trial.

In a press release, Dr. Marc Bessler, director of the Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery at the New York Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University Medical Center, said:

"This breakthrough approach can put diabetes into remission for most patients and promises to transform the way we treat this disease.”

To find out more about gastroparesis visit:
http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/Guide-to-Diabetes-extra-pages/Gastroparesis/

Five tips to balance your blood sugar

Poorly balanced blood sugars can affect your moods, your energy and your stress levels. Poor glucose control can also cause concentration problems, weight gain and insomnia as well as an array of other health issues. Here are five ways that can help better balance your blood sugar levels.

Start the day with a good breakfast

Begin the day with an oat based breakfast like porridge, oatmeal or muesli. Oats have a low glycemic value which means they’ll keep your blood sugar steadier for longer than wheat based breakfasts like toast and some cereals.

Curb the Caffeine

Too much coffee can cause spikes in your blood sugar. Some studies say that caffeine can increase in your blood sugar so if you are having problems balancing your blood sugars, then giving caffeine a miss, or at least cutting down on it would be a wise
move.

Stress
Stress, whether it’s good or bad, can cause a surge in your cortisol levels which in turn can cause a swing in your blood sugar levels. Find ways of balancing out your stress levels or try yoga or mediation has a way of relaxing.

Sugar
Sugar in small quantities is fine but too much will cause your blood sugar to swing high to low if you eat too much of it. Sugary foods should be limited and they’re best eaten as part of a meal to avoid any sudden surge in your blood sugars.

Low glycemic diet

Low glycemic foods like oats, fruits, vegetables and whole grains cause a gradual rise in your blood sugars as opposed to high glycemic foods which can cause your blood sugar to see saw which can have an impact on your long-term health.
Originally published on Triond.

Lack of sleep can cause insulin resistance

Research published last year shows that a lack of sleep can cause insulin resistance.  To read an article about the research visit:

http://healthmad.com/conditions-and-diseases/lack-of-sleep-can-increase-insulin-resistance/

New research into insulin resistance

Obesity can be one of the contributing factors to insulin resistance which can lead to Type 2 diabetes and now researchers at the Joslin Diabetes Center have recently identified a new enzyme called PKC-delta, which, according to the press release, can act “as an important molecular modifier for development of insulin resistance, diabetes and fatty liver in mice”.

The researchers have also discovered a similar enzyme in humans which could lead to the development of new drugs for diabetes.

Dr. Kahn is the Mary K. Iacocca Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, talking about the research, he said:

“The ‘B6’ mouse is very prone to develop both obesity and diabetes, and the ‘129’ mouse is quite protected from both, even if it possesses a genetic defect in insulin signalling.”

“Comparing the two models, it’s as if there’s an on/off switch for insulin resistance and diabetes between them. We reasoned that if we could find out the differences between B6 and 129 mice, we could identify a factor that could be a major modifier of insulin resistance, and a good drug target for treatment of type 2 diabetes.”

In earlier trials it was found that mice with the PKC-Delta gene were more insulin resistant and had an increased incidence of fatty deposits in their livers. Research carried out using biopsies of human livers showed the levels of PKC-Delta were also high in people who are obese or have diabetes.
Dr. Kahn said:

“Drugs that inhibit the activity of PKC-delta in the liver and other tissues potentially could aid treatments for diabetes and fatty liver disease, which is second only to alcohol as a cause of liver failure.”

*Previously published on http://newsfordiabetics.wordpress.com

Free video for patients with diabetic nerve pain

Diabetics who suffer from nerve pain from neuropathy, a common complication of long-term diabetes, can now get access to a free new guidebook and educational video.

Actor Jerry Mathers, known for his role in the American sitcom “Leave it to Beaver “ is presenting a new video called “Diabetic Nerve Pain: A Guide for Patients and Families” - a new educational video from the American Academy of Neurology Foundation, the release is part of National Neuropathy Week. Mathers will also appear on the May/June issue of Neurology Now®.

The video offers advice to patients suffering from painful neuropathy and gives details of the different treatment options available to patients.

The video and guidebook are available by going to this link:

http://patients.aan.com/go/videos

Accu-Chek Mobile Review

I received some information about the Accu-Chek Mobile meters in the post a while back and I liked the idea of strip free testing.

The meters cost over £50 on the high street,at least they did when I last checked,and they are also available on prescription.

I had to go to the diabetic clinic recently so I asked about them. I was lucky that they had some available so they let me have a meter.

Instead of the usual test strips, they have a cassette which needs replacing after 50 tests and the finger pricker comes attached to the side of the meter.

They're great if you are on the move and it's supposed to be less painful(I'm holding them to that).

I've tried it a few times. You can't beat it for convenience.

Just one thing though, I tried it last night and I got an unexpectedly high glucose of 12.5 but then tested using the Accu-chek Active which came in at 2 mmol lower. Not sure what went wrong there, all of my other readings have matched.