People who have prediabetes or type 2 diabetes are usually urged to make lifestyle modifications, including diet, exercise, and weight control as the first form of treatment; metformin is typically the first drug prescribed when lifestyle interventions are insufficient. A recent study examined how the interface of physical activity and metformin affects post-meal glucose in […]
A recent study has found that flame retardants commonly found in US homes cause mice to give birth to offspring that become diabetic. These retardants, called PBDEs, are added to furniture, upholstery, and electronics to prevent fires, and can be released into the household air. Read more
Researchers investigated whether the fat content of dairy products, such as skim milk vs. whole milk, can play a role in the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS). MetS is characterized by abnormalities such as high triglycerides, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and abdominal obesity, and is often linked to development […]
Metformin is the first-line drug treatment for type 2 diabetes, but in some patients, the drug’s effectiveness can decline over time. A clinical trial has found that a combination of two newer diabetes drugs, exenatide and dapagliflozin, is effective in patients whose blood glucose levels did not respond to metformin. Read more
Estimates say that about 34% of US adults have prediabetes. With prediabetes, glucose metabolism is not impaired to the extent it is with type 2 diabetes, but 30-50% of people with prediabetes develop T2D within five years of impaired metabolism onset. Researchers sought to investigate whether patients with prediabetes have the same risk of vascular […]
Obesity and diabetes are both risk factors for pancreatic cancer. Bariatric surgery, a.k.a. weight loss surgery, significantly reduced the risk for pancreatic cancer in patients with obesity and diabetes, according to a recent study. Read more
Adequate magnesium in the diet can reduce the risk of both type 2 diabetes and strokes, researchers say, so levels of magnesium should be periodically monitored in patients who are at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease or type 2 diabetes. Read more
A precision medicine treatment has led to the reversal of a case of type 1 diabetes in a male patient, says a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The researchers found the patient had a harmful mutation in a gene called STAT1, and treated the patient with a drug that could inhibit […]
Testing HbA1c levels — a standard test to diagnose diabetes — can accurately predict cardiovascular risks and successfully indicate cardiovascular disease, researchers say. Read more
Insulin may have reached an evolutionary dead end, a group of scientists say. This means that insulin’s ability to adapt to obesity is limited, which renders most people vulnerable to type 2 diabetes. Read more
The diabetes drugs known as the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) class have demonstrated clear benefit for cardiovascular disease associated with diabetes. Researchers wanted to take a closer look at one GLP-1 RA medication, semaglutide, and determine how many years can be added to a patient’s life with this drug’s addition. Read more
Adolescents and young adults age 17-23 who have type 1 diabetes are at high risk for negative health outcomes, including poor glycemic control, as they move from pediatric and parental care to independent self-care skills and preparation for adult diabetes care. Researchers are examining how improved communication between young people and health care providers can […]
Patients with diabetes have a higher risk for developing pneumonia, including viral pneumonia. Since the DPP-4 protein plays a role in infection for some coronaviruses, researchers wanted to study whether using DPP-4 inhibitor diabetes drugs could increase risk for pneumonia. Read more
Rates of diabetes have been shown to be higher in rural areas that have less access to diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES). A DSMES program delivered via telehealth could be an important solution to increasing access to DSMES for people in rural areas. Read more
Protein pumping is a technique practiced by some athletes, but is it really necessary? Diabetes exercise expert Dr. Sheri Colberg notes that during most exercise, protein contributes less than 5 percent of total energy. However, adequate dietary protein is important because it allows your muscles to be repaired after exercise and promotes synthesis of hormones, […]
An international team of experts have laid out the world’s first standard guidance on how people with diabetes can use modern glucose monitoring devices to help them exercise safely. The guidance can be used by healthcare professionals around the world to help people with type 1 diabetes. Read more
Uncontrolled or poorly controlled type 2 diabetes is linked to many serious consequences, including death, heart failure, stroke, and myocardial infarction. A recent study compared the use of two antidiabetic medications, SGLT-2 inhibitors (such as Invokana and Jardiance) and GLP-1 receptor agonists (such as Bydureon and Farxiga), to see if one offered better cardiovascular protection. […]
A class of drugs called Nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), which has long used to treat HIV and hepatitis B viral infections, appears to prevent the development of type 2 diabetes in a substantial number of patients who take these drugs, according to a new data analysis. Read more
The Diabetes INSIDE program is a new initiative that seeks to examine whether improving diabetes care can be as simple as ensuring patients receive regular HbA1c testing. The initiative was undertaken because many diabetes patients do not meet guideline goals despite medication and lifestyle changes. Read more
A type of wrinkled “super pea” could potentially help control blood sugar levels and thus reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, according to researchers from the Imperial College London, the John Innes Centre, Quadram Institute Bioscience and University of Glasgow, UK. The researchers suggest incorporating the peas into foods, whether as whole pea seeds […]