Diabetes advances, research & treatments

[waltky]

Parents overlook diabetes signs...
:huh:
Parents 'unaware of type 1 diabetes symptoms'
13 November 2012 - Type 1 diabetes is treated with daily insulin doses


About 90% of parents are unaware of the four key symptoms of type 1 diabetes in children, a survey suggests. The poll of 1,170 parents, for Diabetes UK, suggests many cases go undetected until the child becomes seriously ill. In the BBC News website Scrubbing Up column, its chief executive says about 2,000 under-18s are diagnosed with the condition in the UK each year. The main signs are tiredness, needing the toilet more, excessive thirst and weight loss.

An estimated 3.7 million people in the UK have diabetes. Type 1 affects about 10% of them. It appears before the age of 40, usually in childhood. It is treated by daily insulin doses - taken either by injections or via an insulin pump - a healthy diet and regular physical activity Type 2 develops when the body can still make some insulin, but not enough, or when the insulin that is produced does not work properly.

'Obvious'

Most of the parents surveyed knew thirstiness and tiredness were warning signs. But only 38% knew passing urine frequently was an indication of type 1 diabetes, while even fewer - 28% - linked weight loss with the condition. The charity says this is one reason why a quarter of children with type 1 diabetes are only diagnosed once they are already seriously ill with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a life threatening condition that needs immediate specialist treatment in hospital. DKA happens when the body is unable to break down glucose because there is too little insulin, and it begins to break down fat instead. This causes a by-product called ketones to build up. DKA can lead to children falling into a coma and can even cause death.

Diabetes UK is launching a campaign to raise awareness among parents and professionals. Barbara Young, chief executive for Diabetes UK, said: "The symptoms of type 1 diabetes are so obvious and pronounced that there is no reason why every child with the condition cannot be diagnosed straight away. "As well as making parents and those who look after and work with children aware of the symptoms, we need to increase understanding that a child who has any of the four tees needs to be tested straight away. "This is because onset can be so quick that a delay of a matter of hours can be the difference between being diagnosed at the right time and being diagnosed too late."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20313267

[oceanloverOH]

Parents overlook diabetes signs...
:huh:
Parents 'unaware of type 1 diabetes symptoms'
13 November 2012 - Type 1 diabetes is treated with daily insulin doses

I developed Type 2 diabetes in my late 50s and advanced quickly to daily insulin injections. It totally sucks to take a shot in the belly every day....I can NOT imagine doing that as a child diagnosed with Type 1. It's a cruel disease....but thankfully, one that you can deal with and live at least somewhat of a normal life with it.

[Peter1469]

Fortunately Type II can be managed by diet. Unfortunately, docs in America tend to prescribe the wrong diet.

[Deadwood]

Once again glad to be in the Canadian system. Was diagnosed in June, saw an endo 2 weeks later and went through the training. No meds, just diet, fruits, veggies and fiber.

So far, so good

[oceanloverOH]

Fortunately Type II can be managed by diet. Unfortunately, docs in America tend to prescribe the wrong diet.

I was pretty advanced already at diagnosis, though bloodwork only 4 months earlier had shown nothing....that's how fast it was moving on me. I was already past the "diet and exercise alone" point, but was on just one pill along with a good diet and exercise program for several months......then that quit working and it skyrocketed from there. Doc gave up and sent me to an endo....now I'm on a combo of one non-insulin injectable plus two pills, plus diet and exercise and holding my own (and off insulin, thank God). I'm always the exception to medical rules:sad3:

[waltky]

Diabetes epidemic 'marches on'...
:shocked:
Deadly diabetes in 'unrelenting march'
Wed, 06 Apr 2016 - The world is facing an "unrelenting march" of diabetes which now affects one in 11 people, the World Health Organization warns.


In a major report it warned cases had nearly quadrupled to 422 million in 2014 from 108 million in 1980. High blood sugar levels are a major killer - linked to 3.7 million deaths around the world each year, it says. And officials said the numbers would continue to increase unless "drastic action" was taken. The report lumps both type 1 and type 2 diabetes together, but the surge in cases is predominantly down to type 2 - the form closely linked to poor lifestyle.


http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/21FC/production/_89100780_diabetes1.jpg

As the world's waistlines have ballooned - with one-in-three people now overweight, so too has the number of diabetes cases. Dr Etienne Krug, the WHO official in charge of leading efforts against diabetes, told the BBC: "Diabetes is a silent disease, but it is on an unrelenting march that we need to stop. "We can stop it, we know what needs to be done, but we cannot let it evolve like it does because it has a huge impact on people's health, on families and on society."

Failing to control levels of sugar in the blood has devastating health consequences. It triples the risk of a heart attack and leaves people 20 times more likely to have a leg amputated, as well as increasing the risk of stroke, kidney failure, blindness and complications in pregnancy. Diabetes itself is the eighth biggest killer in the world, accounting for 1.5 million deaths each year. But a further 2.2 million deaths are linked to high blood sugar levels. And 43% of the deaths were before the age of 70.

Moving burden (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-35959554)

[Peter1469]

Diabetes used to be called sugar diabetes. Type II diabetes is 100% bad lifestyle choices. It is 100% reversible until you blow it off long enough for your body to break down too much to be fixed. Then you die.

[Doublejack]

Diabetes used to be called sugar diabetes. Type II diabetes is 100% bad lifestyle choices. It is 100% reversible until you blow it off long enough for your body to break down too much to be fixed. Then you die.

That's my Dad unfortunately.

Old school construction worker, self made millionaire, didn't believe in anything but himself.

His eyes started going first which changed his mind on doctors quickly however it was already too late. His kidneys are toast now. Dialysis 4 days a week and has had 4 small strokes already just this year.

Sucks so bad watching him die this way. His body is pretty much his life and it's going away fast.

[Peter1469]

That's my Dad unfortunately.

Old school construction worker, self made millionaire, didn't believe in anything but himself.

His eyes started going first which changed his mind on doctors quickly however it was already too late. His kidneys are toast now. Dialysis 4 days a week and has had 4 small strokes already just this year.

Sucks so bad watching him die this way. His body is pretty much his life and it's going away fast.

Sorry to hear that.

[waltky]

Final piece of diabetes puzzle solved...
:cool2:
Final piece of type 1 diabetes puzzle solved
Sun, 24 Apr 2016 - A complete picture of what the immune system attacks to cause type 1 diabetes is revealed by scientists.


The study, published in the journal Diabetes, discovered the fifth and final critical target at which the immune system errantly takes aim. The team at the University of Lincoln say the findings could help develop new ways to prevent and treat the disease. Diabetes UK said the findings were "impressive". In type 1 diabetes, the immune system destroys the beta cells that make insulin - the hormone needed to keep blood sugar levels under control. Studies looking at the unique antibodies made by patients with type 1 showed there were five key targets that the immune system attacked. But working out exactly what they were has been like identifying someone from their silhouette. Studies long ago discovered some of the targets, but the final one has proved elusive for two decades. Dr Michael Christie, who led the research at the University of Lincoln, told the BBC: "With this new discovery, we have now finished identifying what the immune system is targeting - we have the complete picture."


http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/8E93/production/_89399463_c0244494-treating_diabetes,_woman-spl.jpg
Woman having insulin injection

The targets are:

Insulin
Glutamate decarboxylase
IA-2
Zinc transporter-8
And the final piece of the puzzle, tetraspanin-7

The more technically named ones are largely involved in secreting or storing the hormone insulin. Knowledge of some of these targets is already being used in a trial at King's College London that is aiming to stall the progression of type 1. But Dr Christie says having the complete picture could help transform care for type 1 patients. He said: "Once the immune system decides it wants to get rid of something it's very hard to stop, so diabetes has proved to be a difficult disease to prevent. "So we're hoping that, by having identified the major targets in the disease, we can find ways to prevent it by blocking the immune response to these five proteins without leaving that person vulnerable to infections. "With recent improvements in our understanding of the disease I'm very hopeful we'll develop a treatment now; I have a lot more confidence than even five years ago."

Diabetes (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-36113773)

[waltky]

Is it really useful?...
http://www.politicalforum.com/images/smilies/confused.gif
FDA staff question utility of Novo Nordisk combo diabetes drug
May 20, 2016 - A preliminary review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of Novo Nordisk A/S's experimental diabetes drug, IDegLira, questioned the interpretability of the study findings and practical use of the treatment, according to a review posted on the agency's website on Friday.


The review comes ahead of a May 24 meeting of an FDA advisory panel that will discuss the drug and make recommendations as to whether it should be approved. The FDA is not obliged to follow the advice of its advisory panels but typically does. The drug combines Novo's drug Tresiba, known also as insulin degludec, with its GLP-1 agonist Victoza, known also as liraglutide. The company is seeking FDA approval for the combination product, IDegLira, to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes. The drug was approved in Europe in 2014 under the brand name Xultophy.

On May 25 the advisory committee will consider a similar drug, Sanofi SA's iGlarLixi, which combines the company's experimental GLP-1 agonist lixisenatide with its insulin treatment Lantus, also known as insulin glargine. The two companies' products would be the first to combine a GLP-1 and a basal insulin in a single injection. The idea is to treat patients earlier with a combination drug rather than waiting for patients to lose control of their blood sugar on one drug before moving to another. In its review of Novo Nordisk's drug, the FDA said, "The enhanced convenience that derives from combining two products into one dosage form generally comes at the cost of loss of dosing flexibility."


https://www.yahoo.com/sy/ny/api/res/1.2/hGqOQmrxJOZO88BnA9Hskw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjtzbT0xO3c9NDUwO2g9Mjg3O2lsPX BsYW5l/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2016-05-20T125622Z_1_LYNXNPEC4J0V1_RTROPTP_2_NOVO-NORDISK-RESULTS.JPG.cf.jpg
Employees stand in the insulin production plant of Danish multinational pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk in Chartres, north-central France

The FDA reviewers found no new safety issues with IDegLira that were not already known for degludec and liraglutide but said, "It is important to note that use of IDegLira would expose patients to safety risks associated with both products." The reviewers also said the use of IDegLira allows for lower doses of liraglutide than have been proven efficacious while incurring safety risks associated with liraglutide use. The reviewers said there were limitations with the clinical trials that make the results difficult to interpret.

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by abnormally high blood sugar levels that can lead to blindness, heart disease and other serious conditions. Lixisenatide was approved by regulators in Europe and Japan in 2013 and is sold under the brand name Lyxumia. Sanofi licensed lixisenatide from Denmark's Zealand Pharma A/S.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/fda-staff-utility-novo-nordisk-combo-diabetes-drug-125622450--finance.html?ref=gs

See also:

FDA targets sugar in new labeling rules
May 20, 2016) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it would update guidelines for nutritional labels on packaged food and beverages to include information on added sugar and to prominently display calorie count and servings.


The move comes at a time the United States is staring at increasing childhood and adult obesity and lifestyle diseases such as heart problems. The FDA said on Friday that the modified guidelines, which companies would have to adopt within two years, would help consumers "make informed decisions about the foods they eat and feed their families." (http://1.usa.gov/1ODAIin) "What and how much people eat and drink has changed since the last serving size requirements were published in 1993," the FDA said.

Currently, companies are required to provide details on the total amount of sugar in a product. Under the modified guidelines, they will have to break down details on the amount of added sugar such as corn syrup and white and brown sugar.

Information about "Calories from Fat" will be removed because research shows the type of fat is more important than the amount, the FDA said. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than a third of U.S. adults are obese. First Lady Michelle Obama, who has used her White House position to launch the "Let's Move" campaign to fight childhood obesity, had called for the changes two years ago.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/fda-modify-nutrition-label-guidelines-packaged-food-drinks-134549972--sector.html?ref=gs

[waltky]

Diabetes link to cancer in Asia...


Study: Diabetes Linked to Cancer in Asia
March 07, 2017 - Researchers at New York University's School of Medicine found that diabetes increased the risk of cancer death among Asians by an average of 26 percent, a statistic similar in the West.


Data for the new study drew on an analysis of 770,000 people with Type 2 diabetes throughout East and South Asia. Diabetics were followed for an average of 13 years to see if they developed cancer and what types. During that time more than 37,300 cancer deaths were identified. Yu Chen, an epidemiology professor at the NYU School of Medicine’s Department of Population Health who was the study's lead author, says Asians with Type 2 diabetes are more likely to be diagnosed with rarer cancers than Westerners, including cancers of the liver, thyroid and kidney which was double the risk compared to non-diabetics in Asia.


There was also a 2.7 percent increased risk of cancer of the endometrium and a 1.7 percent higher risk of breast cancer among diabetic Asians compared to those who were not diabetic. The number of cancers of the gallbladder and bile ducts in Asia were comparable to those in the West, according to Chen. Those sites are closer in the body to the pancreas, where insulin is made.



https://gdb.voanews.com/7D08D9F3-088B-41BC-98D9-ECD66BB5C1CD_w1023_r1_s.jpg
A paramedic checks the blood sugar level of a patient at a diabetes clinic in Jakarta, Indonesia




Chen thinks there may be several mechanisms at work, but data suggests that insulin may in some way stimulate the growth of cancer. “Patients with diabetes that have high levels of insulin, some cancers are very sensitive to insulin, so it may promote the tumor growing,” she said. The findings were published in the journal Diabetologia.


Chen said the study was undertaken because there's been little research on an association between diabetes and cancer in Asia. She said the research suggests Type 2 diabetes should be added to the list of cancer risk factors, along with diet and cigarette smoking. “Cancer prevention needs to take into account for diabetes the lifestyles related to diabetes – [which] may reduce the risk of diabetes and also cancer,” she said. Chen suggested that diabetics should receive more cancer screenings, in addition to medical interventions to reduce the risk of diabetes overall.


http://www.voanews.com/a/diabetes-cancer-link-asia/3754817.html


See also:


Researchers Develop Blood Test to Pinpoint Location of Cancer
March 07, 2017 - Researchers are developing a blood test that can tell not only whether someone has cancer, but in what organ the tumors are lurking. The test could mean more prompt, potentially life-saving treatment for patients.


Researchers describe their blood test as a kind of dual authentication process. It is able to detect the presence of dying tumor cells in blood as well as tissue signatures, to signal to clinicians which organ is affected by the cancer. There already are tests that screen for traces of DNA released by dying cancer cells. Such blood tests show promise in the treatment of patients to see how well anti-cancer therapies are working. But researchers at the University of California, San Diego discovered a new clue, using organ-specific DNA signatures, that leads them to the particular organ that is affected.


The finding makes the new blood test potentially useful as a screening tool in people suspected of having cancer. UC-San Diego bioengineering professor Kun Zhang is senior author of a paper in Nature Genetics about the experimental test. "So when you try to do these kinds of early screening or early detection [tests], these people are healthy. So if you take a blood draw and then you do a test, and you find some signature of cancer, that is not enough because you do not know what to do next," Zhang said. "And so, in this case, we developed a method where we can say whether there is a cancer growing in the body and if the answer is 'Yes,' we can also say something about where does it grow."



https://gdb.voanews.com/4C0E454C-830B-4009-B07C-715EC5A891B4_w1023_r1_s.jpg
A patient has her blood drawn at Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania



The test screens for a DNA signature called a CpG methylation haplotype, which is unique for each tissue in the body. When a cancer grows in an organ, it competes with healthy tissue for nutrients and space, killing off healthy cells, which release their DNA into the bloodstream. The haplotype signatures, identified by the blood test, could tell doctors what cells are being destroyed, and therefore what organ is being invaded by cancer. Zhang says knowing a tumor's location is especially crucial for early detection and treatment.


Researchers created a database of complete CpG methylation patterns for 10 different normal tissues: the lungs, liver, intestine, colon, brain, pancreas, spleen, stomach, kidney and blood. To put together the genetic marker database, the investigators also analyzed tumor and blood samples of cancer patients. They screened the blood samples of 59 patients with lung or colorectal cancer, comparing those findings to people without cancer. "It could be potentially used as a screening test," Zhang said. "So I think that is the real potential. We need to do a few more rigorous clinical observations before we can get to that point." Zhang envisions eventually using the blood test to look for markers of cancer as part of routine blood work.


http://www.voanews.com/a/researchers-develop-blood-test-pinpoint-location-cancer/3754822.html

[waltky]

Sniffing out hypoglycemia...
:cool2:
Dogs Trained to Monitor Low Blood Sugar May Save Lives
May 07, 2018 — Dogs can be trained to sniff out drugs and explosives, so Mark Ruefenacht wondered if their exquisite sense of smell could be used to detect changes in a diabetic’s blood sugar level.


A near fatal episode prompted the forensic scientist, who’s had diabetes for most of his adult life, to ask that question. In 1999, while he was training a puppy to be a guide dog for the blind, his blood sugar suddenly dropped to a dangerously low level. “More than likely, I had a seizure, from the low blood sugar,” Ruefenacht recalled, as he explained how the puppy kept trying to rouse him. “And he stuck with me and I was able to get my blood sugar up.” That incident made him wonder if dogs could be trained to detect the inherent chemical changes that accompany a drop in blood sugar, called hypoglycemia, then alert their owners.


Dogs4Diabetics


Ruefenacht worked with scientists and funded research which determined that the “smell” of hypoglycemia shows up in both breath and sweat. He also worked with and studied professionals who train dogs to sniff out everything from explosives to cancer. And most important of all, Ruefenacht started training a fun-loving yellow Labrador retriever named Armstrong to alert him when he was having a dangerously low blood sugar. The training proved so successful, Armstrong is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the first diabetes-detection dog. Sitting under a poster of Armstrong, who died in 2012, Ruefenacht recalls that those early successes led some organizations to offer him large sums of money for the rights to his discoveries. Ruefenacht says he turned those opportunities down. Instead, in 2004, he founded Dogs4Diabetics. He says properly training a diabetes detection dog and its owner can cost $50,000. The organization raises money to cover these expenses, then provides the dogs at no cost to people who qualify.


The smell of hypoglycemia


The dogs are trained to identify the scent of hypoglycemia on a reliable and consistent basis. Ruefenacht uses jars containing swabs of sweat from a diabetic who had low blood sugar, randomly mixed with jars of other distracting smells, such as peanut butter, dog food and eucalyputus. The dogs are rewarded when they select the correct jar. This "sweat jar" method for training diabetes alert dogs has been validated scientifically. The next step is to teach them to alert their owner. The dogs are trained to use subtle signals, but if those go unnoticed, to put their paws on his lap, or balance on their back legs and put their front paws on his shoulders. They learn to snuffle at his nose and mouth, lick his face and bark. And if all else fails, they’re trained to get someone else to come and help.



https://gdb.voanews.com/D39A8536-5687-4406-B792-97F4E50A5911_w650_r0_s.jpg
Mark Ruefenacht and Armstrong, the first diabetes alert dog.


Ruefenacht says the dogs are often aware of blood sugar drops long before electronic monitoring systems send a warning alarm. Dogs4Diabetics has placed more than 100 dogs with diabetics. They hope to expand the program - training humanity's most loyal companion to save lives and help diabetics around the world.


https://www.voanews.com/a/dogs-for-diabetics/4382782.html