The GLP-1 agonist class of diabetes drugs is known to be effective in helping patients reduce weight and HbA1c. Oral semaglutide, currently in phase 3 trials, would be the first non-injectable drug in this class. Compared with placebo, the trial found people with type 2 diabetes had significant reductions in HbA1c and weight loss while […]
A new study has found that gut microbiota has the ability to affect how cells respond to insulin, and can thus contribute to type 2 diabetes. Over the past few years the gut microbiota has been associated with health and with various diseases; however, few studies have investigated whether an altered gut microbiota can directly […]
Health experts say that it’s especially important for people with diabetes to make sure they’re up-to-date with their vaccinations, including the flu shot.People with type 1 or type 2 diabetes have an increased risk of contracting seasonal viruses like the flu, and for being hospitalized while fighting the disease. There are also risks for people […]
Gum disease (periodontitis) is often found in people with diabetes. A new study suggests that treating periodontitis may actually help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood glucose levels as well as reduce their risk of diabetes-related complications. The researchers say gum disease treatment may lead to a reduction in systemic inflammation, and improvements […]
Metformin has been used for decades as a first-line drug for treating type 2 diabetes. It lowers blood glucose levels by inhibiting glucose production in the liver, and also improves glucose uptake and use by muscle tissue. Yet until now, exactly how the drug works to increase glucose uptake in muscle tissue has been unknown. […]
Many people with obesity choose bariatric surgery to help them lose weight and treat their diabetes and other health issues like GERD. However, not all forms of surgery have the same effects. For example, sleeve gastrectomy may actually increase GERD, and is not as effective for the treatment of type 2 diabetes or for weight […]
New research supports earlier findings that the weight loss drug Belviq (lorcaserin) may play a role in helping delay or manage the progression of type 2 diabetes. In the study, Belviq performed better than a placebo in helping people with prediabetes and diabetes lower their A1C, effectively helping those with prediabetes avoid full-blown diabetes. Read […]
Many studies have examined the association between type 2 diabetes and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) like those found in pesticides; there’s also evidence that air pollution plays a role in health conditions like type 2 diabetes. Can exercise, which has so many benefits, help people overcome the effects of pollution on the body? Read more
It’s possible to identify early signs of type 2 diabetes more than 20 years before diagnosis, says a new study. Japanese researchers followed 27,000 adults without diabetes between 2005 and 2016 and found that increased fasting glucose, higher body mass index (BMI) and impaired insulin sensitivity could be detected up to 10 years before diabetes […]
Quitting smoking has many health benefits, but the weight many ex-smokers gain after quitting can increase risk for developing type 2 diabetes, according to a new study. The risk was highest in people who had recently quit smoking. The researchers recommend ex-smokers take care to eat a healthful diet and exercise regularly to help diminish […]
A new study, Beta Cell Restoration through Fat Mitigation, or BetaFat, followed patients with mild to moderate obesity and either prediabetes or new-onset type 2 diabetes. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either a gastric banding procedure, which places a band around the upper part of the stomach to slow digestion, or the medication metformin. […]
A new study of over 85,000 people with diabetes has found that those who have the poorest control of their blood sugar are three times more likely to be hospitalized due to serious infections. Their risk was higher with all types of infections, but especially for bacterial infections. Read more
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal disorder in women. Dr. Rhoda Cobin, a PCOS specialist, shares insights into the association between PCOS and type 2 diabetes, the effects of PCOS, and why it often runs in families — and why men who have family members with PCOS may also be at risk. Read […]
The keto diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet plan that causes the body to burn fat instead of carbohydrates through a process known as ketosis. Researchers say tests in mice indicate keto diets could lead to developing type 2 diabetes; the diets don’t allow the body to properly use insulin, so blood sugar isn’t properly […]
Low levels of vitamin D are often found in patients with prediabetes and diabetes. Vitamin D supplementation can potentially lower blood glucose levels and insulin resistance, and can be beneficial in the prevention of type 2 diabetes. Read more
A study that involved seniors reducing their normal activity levels for just two weeks led to elevated blood sugar levels and sped the onset of type 2 diabetes. Some patients did not fully recover even after resuming normal activity. The study highlights the importance of exercise for older people. Read more
A new study found that Asian Indians had an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes after living in the United States for more than 20 years. The risk is linked to their adopting a sedentary American lifestyle and unhealthy diet habits, which lead to increases in blood glucose levels and poor cholesterol. Read more
The ketogenic diet, which is high in fat and low in carbohydrates, is very popular. But new research has raised the possibility that this type of diet may be linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. The study was done in mice, so more research is needed, but experts say the research suggests […]
A recent study found that nearly half of the participants with type 2 diabetes who followed a weight loss program went into remission by study’s end. Now, the researchers think they may know why: the weight loss caused improvement in the functioning of pancreatic beta cells that produce, store, and release insulin. Read more
Many people think of type 1 as a childhood disease, while thinking type 2 only develops in adulthood. A diabetes specialist discusses why that’s wrong, sharing her own experiences of diagnosing type 1 in elderly adults, and type 2 in toddlers. She points out that distinguishing type 1 from type 2 is often more complicated […]