[acb-diabetics] many articles

[Patricia LaFrance-Wolf]

1. Jan 2010 FDA Patient Safety News Nationwide Recall of AccuSure Insulin
Syringes  Qualitest Pharmaceuticals is recalling all lots of  AccuSure
insulin

syringes because the syringe needle may detach from the syringe. If that
happens, the needle could get stuck in the insulin vial, or get pushed back
into

the syringe, or even stay

in the skin after injection. The recalled AccuSure insulin Syringes were
distributed to wholesale and retail pharmacies nationwide between Jan 2002 &
Oct

2009.  call Qualitest at 1-800-444-4011.

 

2.%%  Office-Based Childhood Measures May Help Predict Future T2DM 1/6/10
The goal of the study was to assess whether pediatric office measures (waist

circumference,  [BMI], systolic and diastolic BP, and parental DM) and lab
measures (glucose, triglyceride, high- density lipoprotein cholesterol, and

insulin levels) could help predict T2 risk at ages 19 & 39 years. [1889
subjects 6 -18 yr at entry] The likelihood of T2 at age 39 years was 2% if
childhood

BMI, systolic and diastolic BP were all lower than the 75th percentile, and
this decreased further to 1% if the parents had no DM. The likelihood of T2

at age 19 was 0.2% if childhood BMI, systolic and diastolic BP were all
lower than the 75th percentile..Arch Pediatr Adol Med. 2010;164:

 

3.%% MM Smoking Cessation Linked to Higher Short-Term Risk for T2DM 1/6/10
The goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that smoking cessation
would

increase DM risk in the short term, possibly caused by weight gain related
to quitting smoking. [10,892 adults] ..The highest risk for the development

of T2 occurred in the first 3 years after quitting (HR, 1.91), but this risk
gradually declined to 0 at 12 years."For smokers at risk for diabetes,
smoking

cessation should be coupled with strategies for DM prevention and early
detection."

 

4.%% MW Metformin May Have Higher Failure Rate Than Glyburide  for
Gestational Diabetes (GDM) 1/7/10  The failure rate of metformin was
approximately twice

that of glyburide when used in  management of GDM .. "Future studies are
needed to determine whether there is a benefit in continuing these agents as
adjuvant

therapies in patients requiring insulin. Obstet Gynecol. 2010;115

 

5.%% MSU News  Researcher links DM [retinopathy], nerve damage in bone
marrow 1/6/10 Researchers at Michigan State University have discovered a
link between

DM and bone marrow nerve damage .. The key to better treating retinopathy -
damage to blood vessels in the retina that affects up to 80 % of DM patients

- lies not in the retina but in damage to the nerves found in bone marrow
that leads to the abnormal release of stem cells... "With retinopathy, blood

vessels grow abnormally in the retina, distort vision and eventually can
cause blindness," the team leader said.. They  found that nerve damage in
diabetic

bone marrow - where stem cells known as endothelial progenitor cells reside
- affects the daily release of those EPCs into the bloodstream. Normally
EPCs 

exit the bone marrow and repair damage done in the vascular system during
sleep. Using animal models, the team observed that the pattern of EPC
release

is faulty in DM bone marrow, creating abnormally low levels of EPCs during
sleep, when they are needed most. That decrease in EPC release preceded the

development of retinopathy. "When the bone marrow suffers nerve damage in DM
patients, it no longer provides a signal for the timely release of these
reparative

stem cells," Thisl finding shows a new therapeutic target for treatment of
all DM vascular complications, such as retinopathy. "This opens up new
avenues

to better treatments outside of the retina that focus on stem cells and the
causes of the nerve damage in bone marrow," ..

 

6.%% FDA,MedWatch  Dec 2009  Janumet (sitagliptin /metformin HCl) tablets
Safety Labeling Changes There have been postmarketing reports of acute
pancreatitis,

including fatal & non-fatal hemorrhagic or necrotizing pancreatitis, in
patients taking Janumet... persistent severe abdominal pain, sometimes
radiating

to the back, which may or may not be accompanied by vomiting, is the
hallmark symptom of acute pancreatitis. Patients should be instructed to
promptly

discontinue Janumet and contact their physician if persistent severe
abdominal pain occurs 1/07/2010

 

7.%% MNTD  Claims That Diabetes Triples Risk Of Dementia In Some Older
People 1/12/10 A new study claims that some older people with mild
memory-loss are

3 times more likely to develop dementia if they also have DM. The research,
investigated the connection between mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in older

people and dementia. [61 subjects]"We already know that T2 is considered to
be a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, "Further studies should
investigate

the ability to not only identify those at particular risk but also target
treatment programmes aimed at preventing progression to dementia in people
with

T2 and mild cognitive impairment." Diabetes UK

 

8.%% MNTD Study Finds Patients More Likely To Skip Diabetes Medicine While
In The 'Doughnut Hole' 1/11/10 Consumers experiencing a gap in their
Medicare

Part D prescription drug coverage were more likely to forgo DM medications
than those who had supplemental drug benefits.  The doughnut hole occurs
because

Medicare covers prescription drug costs up to a certain amount and then
consumers must pick up the tab until they've hit another spending threshold.
Compared

with those who had supplemental drug benefits, people with the doughnut-hole
coverage had higher out-of-pocket drug costs and were more likely to skip

their diabetes medications, the study found"

 

9.%% MNTD Book Investigates Leading Scientific Hypotheses To Explain
Mysterious Increase In Type 1 Diabetes 1/7/10  The incidence of T1DM is now
twice

as high among children as it was in the 1980s, and 10-20 times more common
than 100 years ago, according to research uncovered in a new book. While
rising

levels of T2 are well known, the corresponding rise in T1 has rarely  been
described in the news. medical journalist Dan Hurley has gathered the
evidence

from  studies and investigative reporting in Diabetes Rising: How A Rare
Disease Became A Modern Pandemic.. the book examines 5 leading scientific
hypotheses

that offer an explanation: The "accelerator hypothesis,"-- that the rising
weight and height of children over the past century has "accelerated" their

tendency to develop T1 by putting the insulin- producing beta cells in their
pancreases under stress. The "sunshine hypothesis," -- that the increased

time spent indoors is reducing children's exposure to sunlight, which in
turn reduces their level of vitamin D The "hygiene hypothesis," -- that lack
of

exposure to once-prevalent pathogens results in autoimmune hypersensitivity,
leading to destruction of the body's insulin- producing beta cells by rogue

white blood cells. The "cow's milk hypothesis,"  exposure to cow's milk in
infant formula during the first 6 months of life wreaks havoc on the immune

system and increases the risk to later develop T1. "POP hypothesis," - that
exposure to persistent organic pollutants increases the risk of both types

of DM..” 

 

10.%% MNTD Leptin-Controlled Gene Can Reverse Diabetes 1/7/10

Leptin is a hormone that controls the activity of a gene known as IGFBP2 in
the liver, which has antidiabetic effects in animals and could have similar

therapeutic effect in humans.  The report confirms leptin's antidiabetic
effects are independent of the hormone's well- known ability to reduce body
weight.

The team looked to see how that very low-level infusion of leptin changes
the activity of genes in the animals' livers which led them to IGFBP2.
Treatments

designed to increase IGFBP2 expression in obese and DM mice reversed their
DM. future experiments in mice lacking IGFBP2 altogether are needed to
confirm

that the protein is required for leptin's antidiabetic influence.

 

11.%% MNTD New Discovery By Harvard Scientists Aims To Correct Cellular
Defects Leading To Diabetes 1/6/10 Researchers identified a protein (G6PD)
and

its antioxidant product (NAPDH) that both prevent the death and promote the
growth of cells which produce and release insulin in the pancreas (beta
cells).

"Abnormally high levels of oxidants are thought to be a major cause of DM &
its complications, [and] many other diseases," the scientists said. "By
understanding

the specific defects in processes that either produce too many oxidants or
not enough antioxidants, a new era of highly specific, targeted treatments
will

emerge that very effectively treat or possibly prevent many of these
diseases." The team studied beta cells from humans and mice to determine the
effects

of increasing sugar on the cells, the G6PD protein, and NADPH antioxidant. .
Results showed that increasing the level of sugar causes a decrease in NADPH

and increased beta cell death. Increasing the activity of G6PD rescued the
beta cells from cell death, leading them to conclude that treatments that
directly

prevent G6PD decrease or promote G6PD increases could hold great promise in
treating diabetes..

 

12.  MNTD More Evidence On Benefits Of High Blood Pressure Drugs In Diabetic
Eye Disease 1/8/10 Scientists are reporting new evidence that certain high

BP drugs may be useful in preventing and treating diabetic retinopathy [DR]
The study could lead to new ways to prevent or treat the sight -threatening

disease.  DR is a common complication of diabetes involving damage to blood
vessels in the retina. The team identified 65 abnormal proteins in the DM
mice

Treatment with the medication, candesartan, prevented the abnormal changes
in more than 70% of the proteins. 

 

13.%% JH Alerts: Treating Type 2 Diabetes With Lap-Band Surgery

1/14/10 If you are obese and have DM, losing weight can help improve your
blood glucose control and lower your risk of complications. A recent report
suggests

that bariatric surgery may help those patients with diabetes who have not
been able to lose weight through diet and exercise. Now a study suggests
that

laparoscopic adjustable gastric

banding (lap-band) surgery may be effective for certain patients with DM.
[60 patients] After 2years, diabetes remission was achieved in 73% of the
lap-band

participants compared with 13% of those in the conventional weight loss
group. Average weight loss was 21% in the surgery group versus less than 2%
in

the conventional weight loss group. . all of the subjects had relatively
mild cases of DM, so it's still not clear whether obesity surgery is
effective

for people with advanced diabetes. Jour Amer Med Asso vol 299

 

14.%%  Eye (2010) 24, Diabetic retinopathy and blockade of the renin–
angiotensin system: new data from the DIRECT study - 5 years of candesartan
treatment

in T1 reduced the incidence of retinopathy by 2 or more steps in severity by
18% and reduced the incidence of retinopathy by three-step progression by

35%.. in T2, 5 years of candesartan treatment resulted in 34% regression of
retinopathy. Although there is still no absolute proof that these effects
were

specific to RAS blockade, or just an effect of lower BP, it is reasonable to
conclude that candesartan has earned a place in the medical management of

diabetic retinopathy, to prevent the problem in T1 and to treat the early
stages in T2.

 

15.%% JH Alerts What Is Non-HDL Cholesterol? ..about half of all heart
attacks occur in people with normal LDL levels. So researchers have looked
at other

measurements that can help identify people at risk for cardiovascular
disease [CVD] Non- HDL cholesterol is obtained by subtracting the level of
HDL from

total cholesterol. The resulting value measures not only LDL cholesterol,
but also cholesterol contained in metabolic "remnants" of very low-density
lipoproteins

(VLDL), the main carriers of triglycerides. Like LDL, these remnants promote
the buildup of plaque in arteries. Studies have shown that non-HDL
cholesterol

is better than LDL cholesterol alone at predicting CVD, especially in people
with elevated triglycerides. People with T2 often have elevated triglyceride

levels but relatively normal LDL values, so measuring their non-HDL
cholesterol can be useful in assessing their risk and guiding their
treatment. According

to guidelines from the Nat Cholesterol Ed Program, desirable levels for
non-HDL cholesterol are 30 mg/dL above target levels for LDL. Thus, if you
have

T2, your level of non-HDL cholesterol should be no higher than 130 mg/dL
(since the LDL cholesterol target is 100 mg/dL for anyone with DM). If your
triglyceride

level is above 200 mg/dL, ask your doctor about your non-HDL cholesterol.
Heart Health 1/22/10

 

16.%%  MNTD Stress Peptide And Receptor May Have Role In DM 1/22/10 The
neuropeptide corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) has its leading role in
the stress

response..Researchers have found that CRF also plays a part in the pancreas,
where it increases insulin secretion and promotes the division of the
insulin-

producing beta cells. These findings  may provide new insights into
diabetes, particularly T1DM. The pancreas is both an exocrine gland,
producing enzymes

that are secreted into the gut to help digest food, and an endocrine gland,
secreting hormones, including insulin, which is manufactured by beta cells

that reside in endocrine islets within the "sea" of exocrine tissue. In T1,
the immune system attacks the beta cells, which then are unable to produce

sufficient insulin. In T2 patients have sufficient beta cells, which still
secrete insulin, but the body is unable to respond correctly, and plasma
glucose

remains constantly elevated.. The team discovered that beta cells exposed to
CRF can respond in at least two ways. First, they increase their secretion

of insulin if they simultaneously encounter high levels of glucose..&  beta
cells exposed to CRF also activate the key pathway implicated in beta cell

division.. [Resulting] in somewhat more rapid cell devision, which is
especially relevant in the context of T1. T1 patients usually have a few
beta cells

left in their pancreas, so those remaining beta cells may seed a population
of regenerating beta cells..being able to stimulate beta cells to divide a

little faster may be part of a solution that may , hopefully, allow
management of T1. But because it is an autoimmune condition, making the
cells divide

won't be enough. . researchers are working hard to solve the problem of
destruction of beta cells."

 

17.%%Siblings Key in Gestational Diabetes [GDM] Risk (Reuters Health) Jan 13
- The risks associated with having a sibling with DM is  much higher than

having one or even two parents with the disease.  [4,566 women]. while
having 2 diabetic parents boosted the likelihood of having DM eight-fold, it
only

doubled the likelihood of GDM. On the other hand, having a DM brother or
sister increased GDM risk more than 7-fold, but only slightly upped the risk
of

T2. The findings suggest that GDM may follow a different pattern of
inheritance than T2, which is closely associated with being overweight or
obese.

 

18.%%Diazoxide Improves Glycemic Control in Type 1 Diabetes

(Reuters Health) Jan 13 - Daily treatment with diazoxide prompts a decrease
in HbA1c in patients with newly diagnosed T1DM. In the current study, the
researchers

used once-daily treatment with 100 mg, a regimen that's been successful in
T2.[41 patients]  randomized to 6 months treatment with placebo or
diazoxide,

given at bedtime. In the active treatment group, mean HbA1c fell to 6.5% at
12 months- a significant improvement over the 8.3%, 7.3% and 7.5% seen in
placebo

patients. 3 patients dropped out of the study due to treatment-related side
effects (dizziness, rash, and sleep disturbance). No others had adverse
effects.

Diabetes Care 2009.

 

19.%%Reconstituted HDL: A Therapy for Atherosclerosis and Beyond

1/11/10; Clin Lipidology. 2009;4(6) Abstract - Cardiovascular disease is the
leading cause of death in developed countries. As low levels of the
cardioprotective

particle HDL are associated with cardiovascular disease, raising HDL levels
may lead to positive outcomes. (rHDL) Reconstituted HDL therapy in humans
has

resulted in regression of atheroma volume and plaque remodeling. . improving
glucose uptake and insulin levels have also been reported in T2DM. The
potent

anti-inflammatory properties of rHDL can also be exploited to reduce
inflammation is diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. ..

 

20.%% NIH News 1/17/10  Newly Identified Genes Influence Insulin and Glucose
Regulation  An international research consortium has found 13 new genetic

variants that  influence blood glucose regulation, insulin resistance, and
the function of insulin-secreting beta cells in populations of European
descent.

5 of the newly discovered variants increase the risk of developing T2DM. The
results provide important clues about the role of beta cells in  development

of T2.. About 2.5 million genetic variants were analyzed in 21 genome -wide
association studies [ 46,186 subjects]. None of the variants found in this

studies were associated with T1DM an autoimmune disease that has been traced
mainly to genes that regulate immune function.  Beta cell impairment may
play

a larger role in T2 than previously recognized .. Also, the environment may
contribute to insulin resistance more than it does to insulin secretion. The

variants were found in populations of European descent, but the researchers
expect that some will have similar effects in other populations.This 

 

21.%% MNTD  Insulin Pumps Might Have Slight Advantage In Type 1 Diabetes
1/17/10 .. the new review analyzed the results of 23 studies [976 subjects]
While

participants using the insulin pump had significantly lower HbA1c levels
than those using multiple daily injections, no differences existed between
the

two for non-severe low blood glucose levels. However, there appeared to be a
reduction in severe incidents of low blood glucose among those using the
pump.

"Good evidence is now available to support the use of continuous
subcutaneous insulin infusion in the appropriate patient. It is essential to
consider

adverse events, late complications of DM, mortality and cost when deciding
whether [a pump] is appropriate for the patient," the team leader said. For

people who likely have to deal with their condition for the rest of their
lives, convenience is another consideration that comes into play. The
advantages

of using the insulin pump include being able to avoid possibly painful
injections several times a day. The downside to pump use includes having to
wear

it like a pager or cell phone throughout the day, concerns about protecting
the tubing that goes into the body - although wireless pumps have recently

come on the market - and worries about breaking the pump during rough play
or exposure to water..

 

22.%% MNTD Obstructive Sleep Apnea May Worsen Diabetes 1/15/10

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) adversely affects glucose control in patients
with T2DM.The study "demonstrates for the first time that there is a clear,

graded, inverse relationship between OSA severity and glucose control in
patients with T2," wrote the lead author. The study also confirmed other
reports

that undiagnosed OSA is very common among T2 patients.. that it is largely
unrecognized additional

medical risk factor in these patients.[60 patients] The team  found that
more severe OSA was associated with poorer glucose control.."Thus effective
treatment

of OSA may represent a novel  non-pharmacologic intervention in the
management of T2.

 

23.%% MNTD  Discovery Points Toward Anti- Inflammation Treatment For DM
retinopathy 1/15/10  Interleukin-6, known to contribute to the debilitating
joint

inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis, also helps ignite inflammation of the
retina, a first step in a disease that is the leading cause of blindness is

working-age adults, The finding has the scientists looking at whether an
interleukin-6 antibody, which is showing success in treating rheumatoid
arthritis,

can halt inflammation in mice with DM retinopathy. Angiotensin II, a
powerful constrictor of blood vessels, is typically associated with the
kidneys where

it plays a vital role in regulating BP. The scientists suspect angiotensin
II helps promotes wound healing and regulation of pressure within small
blood

vessels in the eye. However in DM  angiotensin II levels increase in the eye
- probably in response to high glucose levels - and help promote
inflammation,

spurring remodeling of blood vessels and tissue destruction. "Vascular
inflammation is one of the first steps to inducing the changes in the
retina." With

the help of interleukin-6, angiotensin II induces white blood cells to stick

to the endothelial cells lining blood vessels of the retina, which slows
blood flow. The WBCs also start producing inflammatory and vascular growth
factors

that cause blood vessel walls to leak and thicken, further constricting
blood flow. Retinal cells start dying from the reduced blood and oxygen
supplies

that result. In response, the body prompts growth of new blood vessels,
presumably to help but

instead causing more vision impairment. [in mice] when we knock out
interleukin-6, we can block the effects of angiotensin II," The team  wants
to see

whether the interleukin-6 antibody can be used to prevent damage by giving
it shortly after the onset of DM in rodents and as a treatment by using it
later

in the disease process.

 

24.%% Calorie, Sodium Intake Linked to Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) Progression
in African Americans 1/20/10  — High caloric and sodium intake appear to be

associated with the progression of  (DR) among African Amer patients with
T1DM.  [469 subjects] After adjustment for clinical risk factors for DR
progression,

baseline total caloric intake was significantly associated with a 6-year
incidence of vision- threatening DR (either proliferative DR or macular
edema

[ME]) and of severe hard exudates. High sodium intake at baseline was a
significant, independent risk factor for 6-year incidence of ME.

 

25.%% MedWatch -Nipro GlucoPro Insulin Syringes: Recall  Nipro Med Corp and
FDA notified healthcare professionals of a voluntary nationwide recall of
all

GlucoPro Insulin Syringes. These syringes may have needles that detach from
the syringe. If the needle becomes detached from the syringe during use, it

can become stuck in the insulin vial, push back into the syringe, or remain
in the skin after injection. This recall includes all product codes and lot

numbers

with expiration  dates before 2011-11 (November 1, 2011). Product was
distributed nationwide, including Puerto Rico. Consumers who have GlucoPro
Insulin

Syringes should stop using and return them to

point of sale for reimbursement.

 

26.%% Nat Reviews Endocrinology 6, Feb 2010  Diabetes: Self-titration of an
insulin analog premix reduces HbA1c  levels in patients with T2DM
Researchers

report evidence that patients with T2 achieve decreased levels of HbA 1c by
self-titration of an insulin analog premix (a subcutaneous injection of
biphasic

insulin aspart 70/30) twice daily, with or without dietary counseling.
[4,875 subjects  with T2 unresponsive to oral hypoglycemic agents.] “The
initial

dose was self-adjusted [by the patient] using a titration algorithm based on
the average self-measured blood glucose value of the preceding 3 days,”
write

the authors. Patients were randomly assigned  to attend none, 1 or 3 dietary
counseling sessions in addition to primary care visits. The mean baseline

HbA1c  level decreased similarly in patients from all 3 groups. However,
patients who attended 3 dietary  sessions had significantly lower rates of
hypoglycemia

than those individuals who received no counseling. Notably, the ADA glycemic
target (HbA1c <7.0%) was achieved by ~41% of individuals in each group..

 

27.%% Nat Rev Endo 6, Feb 2010 Diabetic angiopathy, the complement system
and the tumor necrosis factor superfamily

Abstract - Among the most serious consequences of diabetes mellitus is the
development of diabetic angiopathy [disease of blood vessels], of which the

clinical features are cardiovascular disease, retinopathy, nephropathy
[kidney disease] and neuropathy. Diabetic kidney problems affect up to one
third

of all patients with DM and are a major cause of end-stage renal failure.
Recent data support the hypothesis that dysregulation of the complement
system

and of members of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily may be
involved in the development of diabetic vascular complications. In addition,
two components

of the TNF superfamily. Several ways of specifically manipulating the
complement and TNF superfamily systems already exist, but whether or not
these drugs

provide new targets for intervention for late diabetic complications is
still to be revealed. [note - publication is aimed at health professionals]

 

28.%% Nat Rev Endo 6,Feb 2010 Metabolic surgery: the role of the
gastrointestinal tract in diabetes mellitus  Abstract - Several conventional
methods of

bariatric surgery can induce long-term remission of T2DM; novel
gastrointestinal surgical procedures are

reported to have similar effects. These procedures also dramatically improve
other metabolic conditions, including hyperlipidemia and hypertension, in

both obese and nonobese patients. Several studies have provided evidence
that these metabolic effects are not simply the results of drastic weight
loss

and decreased caloric intake but

might be attributable, in part, to endocrine changes resulting from surgical
manipulation of the gastrointestinal tract. In this Review, we provide an

overview of the clinical evidence that demonstrates the effects of such
interventions—termed metabolic surgery—on T2 and discuss the implications
for future

research. we speculate that the gastrointestinal tract might have a role in
the pathophysiology of T2DM and obesity.

 

29.%% MW -1/26/10 — Liraglutide injection (Victoza) was approved yesterday
by (FDA) for the treatment of T2DM in adults. Liraglutide is the first
once-daily

human glucagon-like peptide 1 analog indicated for the treatment of T2DM in
conjunction with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults

with T2 failing first-line therapy. [3900 patients in 3 trials] it
significantly reduced hemoglobin A1c levels and was also associated with
weight loss.

Common adverse reactions noted included headache, nausea, diarrhea, and
anti-liraglutide antibody formation. 

 

30.%% MW Risk Factors Identified for Intentional Skipping of Insulin
Injections 1/26/10 — Risk factors have been identified associated with
intentional

omission of insulin injections in patients with T1 and T2. "Intentionally
skipping insulin injections may be more common than clinicians think," the
lead

author, said. We hope that in the future doctors will work closer with
patients to determine their individual needs, so that they can better plan
activities

to facilitate patients'

adherence with their treatment regimens." [Internet survey of 502 US adults
using insulin injections for DM] More than half of respondents reported
intentional

insulin omission, and 20% reported regular omission. Significant risk
factors associated with insulin omission were younger age, lower income and
educational 

attainment, T2 rather than T1, poor adherence to a healthy diet, more
frequently prescribed daily injections, interference of injections with
daily activities,

and injection pain and embarrassment. diet nonadherence was more common in
T1; age, ed, income, pain, and embarrassment more common in patients with
T2.Diabetes

Care. 2010;33:

 

31.%%Blood Glucose and Risk of Incident and Fatal Cancer in the Metabolic
Syndrome and Cancer Project ..1/19/10; PLoS Med. 2009;6(12) Prospective
studies

have indicated that elevated blood glucose levels may be linked with
increased cancer risk.[544,000 +- subjects ] Conclusions -  Data from our
study indicate

that abnormal glucose metabolism, independent of BMI, is associated with an
increased risk of cancer overall and at several cancer sites. Our data
showed

stronger associations among women than among men, and for fatal cancer
compared to incident cancer.

 

32. %% MNTD - Switch In Glucose Processing Triggered By Lack Of Cellular
Enzyme  25 Jan 2010  A study investigating how a cellular enzyme affects
blood

glucose levels in mice provides clues to pathways that may be involved in
the regulation of longevity and the proliferation of tumor cells. "We found
that

SIRT6 functions as a master regulator of glucose levels by maintaining the
normal processes by which cells convert glucose into energy," says the study

leader. SIRT6 belongs to a family of proteins called sirtuins, which
regulate important biological pathways in organisms from bacteria to humans.
., sirtuins

in mammals have been shown to have important roles in metabolic regulation,
programmed cell death and adaptation to stress. ..since knocking out SIRT6

causes blood sugar to drop, limited SIRT6 inhibition could be a strategy for
treating T2.

 

33.%%  MSU News  researcher identifies cell mechanism leading to diabetic
blindness 1/29/10   Scientists have long known that high blood sugar levels
from

diabetes damage blood vessels in the eye, but they didn't know why or how.
Now a Susanne Mohr has discovered the process that causes retinal cells to
die,

which could lead to new treatments that halt the damage.  She found the
siah-1 protein is produced by the body when blood sugar levels are high and
that

the siah-1 protein serves as a type of chauffeur for another protein,
glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), shuttling it into the
nucleus of

Müller cells, special cells that have contact with the blood vessels in the
eye. When GAPDH accumulates in their nuclei, the Müller cells die, which
leads

to the vascular damage associated with diabetic retinopathy.. This  research
also found that lowering levels of siah-1 proteins stopped GAPDH from moving

into the nuclei of Müller cells, which stopped them from dying. "This is
very exciting," she said. "We know that we can't regulate production of
GAPDH

because it's necessary for producing energy throughout the body. But since
siah-1 is produced only when glucose levels are high, regulating it doesn't

cause any problems. If we can figure out how to stop siah-1 production, it
may lead to new treatments for diabetic retinopathy." "Our next step is to
figure

out if both the GAPHD and the siah-1 proteins have to be together in a
complex to cause cell death." 

http://news.msu.edu/story/7390/

  research is funded by NIH

 

MSU News - Michigan State University

- Abbreviations:  DM - diabetes Mellitus;T1DM - type 1 diabetes mellitus
T2DM - type 2; DME - diabetic macular edema; GDM gestational diabetes; FPG -
fasting

plasma glucose BP - blood pressure; CV - cardio-vascular; MI -myocardial
infarction or heart attack ;HTN - hypertension or high BP; OCT - optical
coherence

tomography; VA - visual acuity  -ADA - Amer Diabetes Ass; FDA - Federal Drug
Administration; JH - Johns Hopkins Alerts ; MW Medscape Web MD; NIH -
National

Institutes of Health;  MNTD- Medical News Today  

Definitions - Medical dictionaries  Google.  Disclaimer, I am a BSN RN but
not a diabetic or diabetic educator. Reports are excerpted unless otherwise

noted. This project is done as a courtesy to the blind/visually impaired and
diabetic communities. Dawn Wilcox BSN RN Coordinator The Health Library at

Vista Center contact above e-mail or 

thl at vistacenter.org     

           s

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