Diabetes News

Scientists at the University of Kansas have developed a new drug, named KU-32, that can halt the progression of diabetic peripheral neuropathy – a condition that can severely damage nerves in the hands and feet of people with diabetes causing loss of feeling or excessively painful sensitivity to the lightest touch.

New Diabetes Research Unveiled

Health care experts may be able to earlier identify people who are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes as new research into insulin shows how the chemical interacts with fat in the body. New research published in the journal Cell Metabolism documents how scientists at America's National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases studied the way insulin interacted with fat cells in lab mice in the hope of being able to detect insulin sensitive cells from insulin resistant cells.

Diabetes Drug Avanida Banned

The diabetes drug Avanida has been banned by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), having been found to raise the risk of heart disease. With clinical research studies having shown that using the drug could increase heart attack risk in patients by 20 – 40 per cent. Experts have also suggested that the drug could have caused 1,000 extra heart attacks per year in Britain.

Breastfeeding Protects Against Diabetes

Women who have breastfed their children are at lesser risk of developing diabetes, according to new research published in the American Journal of Medicine. Whereas, women who have not breast fed their children could be at double the risk of developing type 2 diabetes than their breastfeeding counterparts or women who have never been pregnant, researchers claim.

Grapefruit Helps Treat Diabetes

Doctors have long advised patients of the health benefits of eating a diet rich in fruit and vegetables, however, a new study has found that eating grapefruit could be used to treat type 2 diabetes – as effectively as two prescription drug therapies currently available. Scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem claim that naringenin, an antioxidant in the fruit, helps to increase insulin sensitivity and could be used to help diabetics to regulate their blood sugar levels.

Diabetes Prescriptions Up By 40%

The number of prescriptions to treat diabetes has risen by more than 40% in just five years according to a new NHS report. The NHS Information Centre also reported that providing the extra medication had cost the NHS an additional £150 million. Experts warn that the cost of caring for diabetes could continue to increase as an increasing number of people are expected to develop the life-threatening condition, year-on-year.

Wireless Diabetes Monitor Under Development

A new blood-sugar measuring implant is under development that will constantly monitor glucose levels and transmit the information wirelessly. The groundbreaking new device could be inserted into the torso of people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes to instantly alarm patients when their blood sugar is dangerously high or low.

Nutty New Diabetes Treatment

Cashew nuts are a popular snack-food but researchers claim that the nutty diet staple could also be used to improve the body's insulin response to diabetes. Scientists at the University of Montreal claim that cashew nut extracts may have anti-diabetic properties that could be used to develop future treatments for the disease.

Diabetes Drug Faces Ban

A drug used to treat type 2 diabetes could be banned following concern that it could increase the risk of heart disease in patients. Experts fear that the diabetes drug, Avandia, which has been prescribed to thousands of Britons could raise the risk of heart disease by up to 60%.

Diabetic Treatment Not Impeded by Vision Loss

Visually impaired people can use insulin pens to control diabetes just as well as their fully sighted counterparts, new research shows. Insulin pens currently carry a warning advising that vision-impaired individuals may not be able to correctly use the life-saving equipment. However, a study carried out by the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing showed that vision-impaired people were able to use the pen without incident after following audio instructions.

Diabetes Reversed in Mice

A new type of gene therapy has been used to reverse type 1 diabetes in mice, researchers claim. Scientists at the Baylor College of Medicine, Texas, have publicised the results of their experimental research that shows that one course of gene therapy normalised the blood sugar levels of 50% of mice with type 1 diabetes - eliminating the need for insulin injections. Researchers now hope that their findings could be used to develop a cure for the condition.

Diabetes NewsBrown Rice Beats Diabetes

Eating brown instead of white rice could reduce your risk of developing diabetes, researchers claim. Experts at the Harvard School of Public Health explain that switching from white to wholegrain brown rice could cut your chances of developing the condition by up to 16%. Scientists hope that their findings can be used to curb the growth of type 2 diabetes - a condition that affects over 2.3 million people in the UK alone.

Coffee Could Prevent Diabetes

Drinking coffee could significantly reduce your risk of developing diabetes, according to new research. A new study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry suggests that caffeine could be key to reducing insulin sensitivity in people with increased risk of developing diabetes. Researchers hope that their findings could be used to counter the growing levels of diabetes across the world.

Berries Could Cure Diabetes

Scottish researchers are currently studying whether blaeberries - part of the blueberry family - could be used to treat diabetes. Researchers claim that the dark berries, grown in the Scottish highlands, are rich in polyphenols and could stop the body from releasing hormones that cause type 2 diabetes.

New Drug to Fight Diabetes

A new drug has been developed that could treat type 1 diabetes in just six days. Early research indicates that the drug, otelixizumab, seems to stop the body's pancreas-damaging immune response to diabetes if administered shortly after the condition has been diagnosed.

Diabetes Increases Women's Cancer Risk

New research suggest that women with diabetes could be up to 25% more likely to develop cancer. Researchers at the University of Tel Aviv Medical School claim that women with type 2 diabetes are at increased risk of cancer that women who do not have diabetes. Surprisingly, the scientists found that men living with diabetes were not more likely to suffer cancer.

Grapes Reduce Diabetes Risk

New research suggests that eating grapes could reduce the risk of developing diabetes. Researchers at the University of Michigan Health System claim that the fruit is rich in anti-oxidants that could lower blood pressure and insulin resistance. The scientists also believe that eating grapes could also lower the risk of metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease and more.

Diabetes UK Fights Fat

Diabetes UK and a host of other UK health groups have joined together to raise public awareness about the dangers of being overweight. Diabetes UK, the British Heart Foundation and Cancer Research UK have launched an 'Active Fat Campaign'that they hope will encourage people to change bad lifestyle habits that could put their health at risk.The charities aim to inform people that excess fat cells that acumulate around the middle can release harmful chemicals and hormones into the body that can cause serious health conditions including diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

NHS Rations Life Saving Diabetes Pump

Concern is growing that NHS cost restrictions are depriving thousands of diabetes sufferers from accessing a potentially life saving device. Medical experts agree that people with type 1 diabetes could benefit from using a new sensor controlled insulin pump that detects dangerously low blood sugar levels and raises an alarm.

Diabetes UK Launches Election E-Campaign

Diabetes UK has launched an e-campaign that calls on politicians to make diabetes a central issue during the UK’s forthcoming parliamentary election. The organisation claims that politicians must act now in order to ensure that the NHS is able to cope with the ever increasing levels of people developing the disease. The charity hopes to use their internet campaign to persuade politicians to put diabetes at the fore front of their election and parliamentary agendas.

Risk of Diabetes from Mobility Scooters

The use of mobility scooters for many elderly people have become a gratefully received mode of transport, with the journey to the shop becoming so much easier. With an estimated 90,000 mobility scooters in the UK alone their usefulness is evident. However, following recent research conducted in Ohio in the United States, by using these scooters, the users could be putting themselves at risk of diabetes and heart disease.

Diabetes UK “Get Serious”

Diabetes UK has launched a “Get Serious” campaign, hoping to reach out to thousands of people to stress the importance in understanding such a common disease. Worryingly around half a million people in the UK are suffering from type 2 diabetes but are completely unaware of this fact. Thus, Diabetes UK recognise the sheer need to raise awareness in early warning signs and symptoms in order to attack one of the leading health problems in the UK.

Children with Type 1 Diabetes Benefit From Artificial Pancreas

Following research conducted at Cambridge Hospital on 17 children; scientists believe that an artificial pancreas could help control blood glucose levels in Type 1 Diabetics. The device involves the uniting of two diabetic treatments that are already widely used and available in order to create a system that would monitor the blood glucose levels and then treat them according to the results.

Vitamin D Supplement Provides Prevention

According to new research that has been conducted throughout ten European countries involving over half a million volunteers it has been revealed that Vitamin D supplements could prevent later developments of health complications including colon cancer and diabetes. With the role of Vitamin D traditionally thought of as a key player in bone strengthening, it could now provide a simple solution to several complicated diseases.

Diabetes – the new epidemic

With the first study of diabetes within NHS hospitals conducted, the results appear worse than everyone expected. The current diabetes rate within the UK is thought to be around 4%, yet within hospitals this rate is dramatically increased by five times to 20%, therefore showing that around one in every five hospital patients are suffering from the disease. However, it is also being questioned as to whether or not doctors are becoming all too ready to diagnose a patient with diabetes when it isn’t necessary.

Diabetes UK Continues to reach out to Thousands

With around 2.25 million people in the UK alone suffering from Type 2 diabetes, and a staggering 0.5 million people thought to be unknowingly suffering from the disease, Diabetes UK took action back in June 2009. With backing from Phillip Schofield, Diabetes UK set up a “Measure Up” Roadshow which toured the UK from June until December of last year and encouraged nearly 80,000 people to take part in several tests to see if they could be suffering from diabetes.

Monitoring Blood Glucose Levels for Type 2 Diabetics

According to the latest report produced by the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) their recent investigations into studies that use two groups of patients, one of whom monitored their blood glucose levels, the others not, is suggestive that blood glucose monitoring offers little or no benefit to these patients.

Nicotinamide could play a role in triggering type 2 diabetes

In a recent study published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology an investigation has been placed into the relationship of type 2 diabetes and an overload of the food enrichment with niacin. Scientist believe that this could be affecting the body in several different ways, including insulin resistance. They also believe that the excessive use of niacin within our foods, and its lack of excretion through sweating could be contributing to the ever-growing frequency of type 2 diabetes.

Eye health professionals urged to take action against diabetic eye disease in Fiji

Following a recent study conducted by The Fred Hollows Foundation New Zealand, a disturbing number of people are suffering from diabetes in Fiji, placing it as one of the world’s top diabetes rates. A shocking four in ten people were found to be suffering from the condition with a disturbing third of them being oblivious to their condition. Medical professionals have now turned to eye specialists in the hope that adequate training will enable them to detect the disease promptly to prevent the blinding disease.

European CE Mark given to Type 2 Diabetes treatment

A new therapy that involves no surgery, the EndoBarrier™ could be the new solution to treating type 2 diabetes and obesity. Following numerous research trials involving nearly 300 patients, GI Dynamics Gastrointestinal Liner, EndoBarrier has been found to significantly improve diabetes and weight loss. Thus, the company has received certification from the EU that the product is able to be marketed throughout Europe.

Diabetics are less protected by good cholesterol

The recent publication of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association reveals how researchers may have found that the good cholesterol (HDL) is less protective of the heart and blood vessels in type 2 diabetes. And, sorry men, but it seems to affect you more than diabetic women.

Sit down and have a brew, it could save you from diabetes

When it comes to drinking tea and coffee, both caffeinated and decaffeinated, there are always mixed messages when it comes to how much we should or shouldn’t drink. However, researchers may have found that drinking three or four cups a day could dramatically reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Additionally, they mark the same effect within people who drink decaffeinated tea or coffee.

Childhood diabetes and obesity could be encouraged by food sweetener

A recent study conducted at the University of California has discovered that the cheap sugar substitute, fructose, could only be adding to diabetes and obesity. The sugar substitute which is found in corn and is synthesized to create a sweeter form of sugar bypasses the part of digestion that would normally break down all other varieties of sugar. This in turn could be damaging not only children’s but every human metabolism.

Mums who breastfeed could reduce the risks of developing diabetes

By just breastfeeding their child for a month, mothers could reduce the risk of developing metabolic syndrome, a condition that can develop into diabetes or heart disease. Whilst it has always been thought that women who breastfeed have better levels of glucose and fat in their blood due to the lactation this new discovery offers even more incentive for women to breastfeed.

Health Warnings issued over Type 2 Diabetes Medication, Byetta

The company, Amylin Pharmaceuticals has issued a new label for the drug Byetta which now indicates health warnings for reported kidney failure. This follows the Food and Drug Administration’s statement earlier this month, classing Byetta as a drug that can be used alone to treat type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes News

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