Archive for July, 2011

Diabetic Kidney Disease Reversed by Ketogenic Diet

July 29, 2011 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Diabetes and Diet, Diabetes Control, Diabetes Research and News, Diabetic Kidney Disease 
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Researchers have for the first time determined that the ketogenic diet, a specialized high-fat, low carbohydrate diet, may reverse impaired kidney function in people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. They also identified a previously unreported panel of genes associated with diabetes-related kidney failure, whose expression was reversed by the diet.

The study is the first to show that a dietary intervention alone is enough to reverse this serious complication of diabetes, a finding with significant implications for the tens of thousands of Americans diagnosed with diabetic kidney disease. To read more about this promising new diabetes diet online at Science Daily, >CLICK HERE<

Intensive Glucose Lowering Treatment Can be Risky

July 28, 2011 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Diabetes Control, Diabetes Research and News, Glucose Monitoring 
glucose monitor

Glucose monitor

According to a HealthDay News article, intensive glucose-lowering treatment for people with type 2 diabetes doesn’t reduce the risk of cardiovascular-related death, and doctors need to be cautious about prescribing this type of treatment.

Patients with type 2 diabetes are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Intensive glucose-lowering treatment is widely used for these patients even though previous research hasn’t shown any clear benefits, researchers pointed out in a report published in a recent online edition of the British Medical Journal.

Catherine Cornu, a research physician at the Clinical Investigation Centre, Louis Pradel Hospital in Bron, France, and colleagues reviewed 13 studies that included a total of 34,533 diabetes patients — 18,315 who underwent intensive glucose-lowering treatment and 16,218 who received standard treatment.

To read the full article on HealthDay News, >CLICK HERE.<

FDA Panel Recommends Against Approval of new Diabetes Medication

July 27, 2011 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Diabetes Medication, Diabetes Research and News, Oral Diabetes Medication 
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diabetes medication

Photo credit: T. Miqueias

A panel of Food & Drug Administration advisors has voted 9 to 6 against the approval of the new oral diabetes drug, dapaglifozin.  Dapaglifozin was developed by Bristol-Myers Squibb, and was to be marketed by AstraZeneca. The panel expressed concerns about both the medication’s safety and its effectiveness, especially in the elderly.

Dapaglifozin proved as effective as current oral diabetes medications in otherwise healthy diabetics, but was not as effective in those with impaired kidney function. The panel was primarily concerned about a potential risk of breast and bladder cancers. In a two-year study, there were nine cases of bladder cancer and nine cases of breast cancer in the just under 5478 patients taking the new diabetes medication, compared to only one case of bladder cancer and one case of breast cancer in the 3156 patients in the control group. Read the full article

Paxil and Pravachol Taken Together Have Unexpected Effect on Blood Sugar

July 25, 2011 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Diabetes Control, Diabetes Research and News 
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Analysis of an FDA data base has revealed that commonly prescribed depression and high cholesterol drugs may raise blood sugar levels if taken together. This previously undiscovered effect on blood glucose has important implications for diabetics and those at risk of developing diabetes.

The data mining revealed an unexpected spike in blood sugar in patients talking both the antidepressant Paxil (paroxetine) and the cholesterol drug Pravachol (pravastatin). An estimated up to one million Americans are taking the two drugs, many of them diabetics.

“If a physician has a patient on these [two] medications and their diabetes becomes harder to control, the physician may want to consider changing the medications,” said the study’s principal investigator, Stanford University professor Dr. Russ Altman.

To read more about the implications of this possibly harmful interaction on glucose metabolism and diabetes control on InformationWeek, >CLICK HERE.<

Choosing the Best Blood Sugar Meter

July 21, 2011 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Diabetes Monitoring and Supplies, Glucose Monitoring 

About.com diabetes guide Gary Gilles has written an informative guide to finding the best blood sugar meter. The guide covers important features and new developments in blood glucose meters, such as audible meters, meters that can communicate with an insulin pump, and glucose meters that also test blood ketones. >CLICK HERE< to read the blood sugar meter guide on About.com.

Dentists Can Identify People with Undiagnosed Diabetes

July 20, 2011 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Diabetes Research and News, It's Complicated 
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Photo credit: Ambro

ScienceDaily (2011-07-18) — Dental visits represent a chance to intervene in the diabetes epidemic by identifying individuals with diabetes or pre-diabetes who are unaware of their condition, according to a new study. 

In a study, Identification of Unrecognized Diabetes and Pre-diabetes in a Dental Setting, published in the July 2011 issue of the Journal of Dental Research, researchers at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine found that dental visits represented a chance to intervene in the diabetes epidemic by identifying individuals with diabetes or pre-diabetes who are unaware of their condition. 

Read full article …

Diabetes and Gastroparesis: A Vicious Cycle

July 18, 2011 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Diabetes and Gastroparesis, Diabetes Control 
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Photo credit: Ambro

Diabetes is the most common cause of gastroparesis, or delayed stomach emptying. That’s because years of high blood glucose damage the vagus nerve, which controls the movement of food from the stomach through the digestive tract. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetics are at risk of gastroparesis.

When the vagus nerve is damaged, food either moves too slowly through the digestive system, or doesn’t move at all. As a result, people with gastroparesis often feel bloated, feel full after eating a small amount, and may experience heartburn, stomach and abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, and acid reflux.

Gastroparesis is a vicious cycle for a diabetic. Not only does uncontrolled blood sugar lead to gastroparesis, gastroparesis leads to poor blood sugar control due to the irregular passage of food through the digestive system. When food is finally absorbed, blood sugar levels may rise unexpectedly.

Read the full article

Stem Cell “Memory” Can Boost Insulin Levels

July 15, 2011 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Diabetes Control, Diabetes Research and News 
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ScienceDaily (2011-07-14) — Scientist have now derived embryonic-like stem cells from adult stem cells that appear to retain their effectiveness in producing insulin in the human body. This research may promise a new avenue of treatment that avoids costly and dangerous pancreas transplants.

Stem cells from early embryos can be coaxed into becoming a diverse array of specialized cells to revive and repair different areas of the body. Therapies based on these stem cells have long been contemplated for the treatment of diabetes, but have been held back by medical and ethical drawbacks.

Read full article…

American Diabetes Association Releases Diabetes 24/7

July 14, 2011 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Diabetes Control, Diabetes Research and News, Diabetes Resources and Tools 
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Electronic Health Record

The American Diabetes Association has released new software to help diabetics enhance their diabetes control. The online tool, called Diabetes 24/7, is a personal health record which allows diabetics to store and track relevant medical information such as glucose readings, diabetes medications and test results. Healthcare providers such as doctors, pharmacies, laboratories and clinics can also access the information, with the patient’s permission.

Diabetes 24/7 is designed to integrate with the free Microsoft program Health Vault, where the information is securely stored. Health Vault provides users with an easily accessible place to import, organize and share important healthcare records and information, all under the user’s control. The site also offers a variety of online health management tools.

To learn more about Diabetes 24/7 on the American Diabetes Association website, >CLICK HERE<.

Diabetes Drug Metformin Safer for the Heart

July 12, 2011 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes Medication, Diabetes Research and News, Oral Diabetes Medication 
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Model of the human heart

The type 2 diabetes drug metformin is safer for the heart than other older diabetes medication, according to a two-year study. The findings are important because older patients with diabetes are at particular risk for cardiovascular disease, and because many of them are prescribed a class of diabetes medications called sulfonylureas that may raise this risk.

The controversial diabetes drug Avandia, which has been linked to heart problems, is a sulfonylureas diabetes drug. Sulfonylureas have also been linked to episodes of low blood sugar, and to weight gain.

Sulfonylureas drugs and metformin (also known by the brand name Glucophage) lower blood sugar in different ways. Metformin works by suppressing sugar production in the liver, while sulfonylureas work by increasing insulin production. To read more about the study findings on WebMD, >CLICK HERE.<

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