Medical Research

How Diabetic Retinopathy Progresses to Blindness

Diabetic retinopathy is a serious eye complication that can occur in people with diabetes. It is a leading cause of blindness in adults. The progression of diabetic retinopathy to blindness involves several stages, as outlined below: 1. Background (Non-Proliferative) Diabetic Retinopathy (NPDR): – In the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, there may be mild changes […]

Weighing heart attack vs. diabetes

Comparing the risks and impact of heart attacks (cardiovascular disease) and diabetes is essential as they are both significant health concerns. Let’s explore the differences between the two: Prevalence and Global Burden: Cardiovascular Disease (CVD): Diabetes: Overlapping Risks: Complications: Preventive Measures: Conclusion:Both heart attacks and diabetes are serious health conditions that require attention and proactive […]

Diabetes linked to the higher rate of birth defects

There is evidence to suggest that diabetes, particularly uncontrolled diabetes during pregnancy, may be linked to a higher rate of birth defects. Let’s explore this connection in more detail: Gestational Diabetes and Birth Defects:Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy and usually resolves after childbirth. When blood sugar levels are well-managed […]

What Connects Cancer, Type 2 Diabetes, and Parkinson’s?

An enzyme that plays a major role in the development of cancer and type 2 diabetes also activates a protein that contributes to Parkinson’s, researchers say, potentially providing a new research avenue that could someday help treat all three diseases. Read more

Disturbed Glucose Metabolism Common in Heart Condition

A recent study of patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) had disturbed glucose metabolism, despite having no history of diabetes diagnosis. This points to the need for careful monitoring of glucose metabolism to identify prediabetes or diabetes, the researchers say. Read more

New Drug Tirzepatide Shows Promise for Glucose Control, Weight Loss

Tirzepatide, a new once-weekly GIP/GLP-1 medication, is now in phase 3 testing for blood glucose management and chronic weight management in individuals with type 2 diabetes. GIP is a hormone that may help GLP-1 receptor agonists work better, and has been found in early testing to reduce food intake while increasing energy expenditure, resulting in […]

COVID-19 May Damage the Pancreas

Scientists are still investigating ongoing health issues in those who have recovered from COVID-19. Now, new research suggests that COVID-19 may damage the pancreas, and thus cause diabetes. The virus attacks and damages cells within the body, including cells that are critical in preventing diabetes. Read more

Bariatric Surgery and the Heart

Obesity is linked to an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD), as well as type 2 diabetes. A recent study examined whether bariatric surgery could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients who have diabetes and obesity. Read more

ADA Updates Standards of Care with New Clinical Trial Data

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) has updated its Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes guidelines with recent data from clinical trials. The trials investigated cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease in type 2 diabetes and delay of type 1 diabetes. Read more

Intensive Insulin Therapy Increases Retinopathy Risk for Some

While insulin therapy reduces the overall incidence of diabetic retinopathy and other diabetic complications, intensive insulin therapy with rapid glycemic reduction could actually worsen retinopathy progression in some patients. Healthcare professionals should assess patient’s current retinopathy status before selecting the type of insulin and intensiveness of treatment. Read more

Reducing Certain Amino Acids May Help Obesity, Diabetes

Researchers say that reducing the amount of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) in the diet could help reduce type 2 diabetes and obesity. While some athletes use BCAAs to improve their performance, the researchers say that in more sedentary people, particularly those at risk of obesity or diabetes, reducing BCAAs could promote better health. Read more

Including Multiple Ethnicities Benefits Diabetes Genome Research

A major genetic study has identified more regions of the genome linked to type 2 diabetes-related traits as a result of including multi-ethnic participants than if the research had been conducted only in Europeans, the researchers say. Previously, almost 90% of this type of genetic research had been conducted in Europeans. Read more

How Fat Distribution Affects Diabetes & Other Health Conditions

Abdominal obesity, also known as central obesity or central adiposity, has been associated with higher risk for many health conditions, including insulin resistance, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart conditions. A recent study looked at how fat distribution really impacts these conditions. Read more

Type 2 Diabetes at Younger Age Increases Dementia Risk

With the prevalence of type 2 diabetes increasing worldwide, research into the need to prevent or at least delay the development of the condition is ongoing worldwide. A new analysis underscores the urgency of delaying diabetes onset, finding that developing type 2 at a younger age is associated with increased risk of developing dementia. Read […]

Diabetes & Poor Sleep a Dangerous Combination

People with diabetes who experienced difficulty falling or staying asleep were almost 90% more likely to die of any cause over the next nine years than people who did not have diabetes or sleep problems, according to a recent study published by the Journal of Sleep Research. Read more

A Potential Type 1 Vaccine Shows Promise

Researchers have devised a new potential type 1 diabetes vaccine that might be able to stop or slow the destruction of insulin-producing beta cells. The Swedish researcher developed a vaccine made from glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), a protein anchored to the surface of beta cells that many people with type 1 diabetes form antibodies against. […]

Can Pain Increase Risk for Death?

A study that looked at the effect pain associated with diabetic polyneuropathy has on heart-damaging vascular events and mortality found that patients who experience painful are at increased risk. They found that when patients experience pain it can lead to more complications than for patients that are not experiencing pain. Read more

Treating Prediabetes Can Reduce Functional Decline

Functional decline is the loss of mental or physical abilities that often comes with age or various health conditions. It has been established that diabetes is associated with faster physical functional decline. Now, researchers say that prediabetes, too, is associated with faster physical decline, and more aggressive treatment of prediabetes can reduce or delay physical […]

CGM Helpful for COVID-19 Patients, Healthcare Workers

During the COVID-19 pandemic, more hospitals moved to using continuous glucose monitors (CGM) for hospitalized diabetes patients. Using CGM rather than fingersticks lessens healthcare workers’ need to use personal protective equipment (PPE) to monitor patients’ blood sugar. Researchers are using this opportunity to evaluate the accuracy and effectiveness of CGMs used in a hospital setting. […]

Genetic Mapping May Help Predict Type 1 Diabetes

Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine say they have identified specific cell types that can contribute to causing type 1 diabetes. The researchers made their findings through mapping details of how and when genes are turned on and off in cells, which affects production of proteins needed for specific cellular functions. […]