Diabetes
New Statement Reaffirms Insulin Resistance Syndrome Definition
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Recently, several medical organizations have published statements reflecting changes in their definitions and assessment of “Metabolic Syndrome” (MS). Because of concern that these statements would create uncertainty and controversy among physicians and further confuse the general public, the American College of Endocrinology (ACE) and American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) empowered a rapid response team to assess these statements and review their position in the new ACE and AACE: Reaffirmation of the 2003 ACE Insulin Resistance Syndrome (IRS) Position Statement.
According to the 2003 ACE Position Statement, IRS describes the cluster of abnormalities that are more likely to occur in insulin resistant/hyperinsulinemic individuals. The statement goes on to explain the label “metabolic syndrome” relies on an unclear definition of “metabolic” and is likely to become even less appropriate as the abnormalities associated with insulin resistance and compensatory hyperinsulinemia continue to be elucidated.
High blood glucose impairs coronary vasodilation in diabetics
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In the heart muscle of type 1 diabetics, high blood glucose is a significant contributor to poorly opening vessels, or poor vasodilation, according a study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Even administration of high levels of insulin, which usually enhances vasodilation, can’t counteract the negative effect of high glucose on the heart.
“Since it is typical for type 1 diabetics to periodically experience insulin deficits or increased blood glucose, we systematically isolated the effect of insulin and glucose to see which had a greater effect on dilation of blood vessels in these patients.”
Kidney disease outlook improving in diabetics
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New research suggests that the number of type 1 diabetics with the most advanced form of kidney disease—end-stage renal disease or ESRD—may be lower than previously estimated. The research also suggests that the outlook with regard to ESRD in diabetic patients has improved over the years.
In ESRD, the kidneys lose their ability to filter waste products from the blood and excrete them in the urine. People with ESRD need kidney dialysis or a kidney transplant to stay alive.
Link Between Tequin (gatifloxacin) and Hypoglycemia Strengthened
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Treatment with the fluoroquinolone Tequin (gatifloxacin) was strongly associated with hypoglycemia in elderly patients, particularly those with Diabetes, according to a prospective cohort study.
Of 196 elderly patients enrolled in the study, 77 were taking Tequin and 119 a non-quinolone antibiotic. Ten patients developed hypoglycemia after Tequin dosing, whereas only one case occurred in the non-quinolone group, researchers reported at a meeting here of the Infectious Disease Society of America.
Elderly Diabetics at Double the Risk of Falling
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Diabetic nursing home residents are much more likely to suffer dangerous falls than those without Diabetes, researchers report.
“Our study clearly indicated that nursing homes, assisted living facilities and others that care for the elderly should consider Diabetes a significant risk factor for falling,” researcher Dr. Mathew S. Maurer, assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University Medical Center and director of the Clinical Cardiovascular Research Laboratory for the Elderly at New York-Presbyterian/The Allen Pavilion, said in a prepared statement.
New Diabetes Drug may Help
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New research is turning up mixed results on the benefits of a Diabetes drug.
British researchers studied 5,200 patients with type 2 diabetes and heart disease, half of who took the drug pioglitazone in addition to their regular medications. They found the pioglitazone patients had a slightly reduced risk of problems like heart attack and stroke but an increased risk of heart failure compared to patients who took their regular medications and a placebo.
High-Normal Blood Sugar Could Signal Diabetes Risk
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Young men with fasting plasma glucose levels in the high-normal range appear to be at increased risk for type 2 diabetes, especially if they are on the heavy side and have high serum triglyceride levels.
That’s the finding of researchers here who studied more than 13,000 apparently healthy young men in the Israeli defense forces. The investigators found that so-called “normal” test values may actually predict type 2 diabetes. The results of their study were published in today’s issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Diabetes Mellitus Is Associated With an Increased Risk of Falls in Elderly Residents of a Long-Term
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Background. Diabetes mellitus is common among elderly persons, with several potential complications that could contribute to falls. However, diabetes mellitus is not widely recognized as an important risk factor for falls among elderly persons. Accordingly, the purpose of the current study was to determine whether diabetes is an independent risk factor for falls in elderly residents of a long-term care facility.
Women who live alone face higher diabetes risk
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The lifestyle of older women who live alone seems to put them at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, new research suggests.
In a study that followed 461 Swedish women for more than two years, researchers found that those who lived alone were roughly three times more likely than women who lived with family to develop type 2 diabetes.
Elderly with diabetes run risk of falling
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Diabetes may substantially raise the risk of falls among elderly adults living in nursing homes, new research shows.
In a study of 139 nursing home residents, researchers at Columbia University in New York found that men and women with diabetes were four times more likely than those without the disease to suffer a fall—a major cause of disability and death among the elderly.
Importance of blood sugar control from onset of diabetes
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Mayo Clinic researchers have found that subtle change in nerve conduction is the first reliable sign of nerve complications from Diabetes and that this change can be measured long before other symptoms or signs of nerve damage develop.
“We’ve found what we believe is the earliest sign of nerve change due to diabetes,” says Peter J. Dyck, M.D., Mayo Clinic neurologist and lead researcher on the study. Results were published in the September issue of Diabetes Care. “Changes begin much earlier than previously demonstrated,” he says.
Cholesterol drug approved for diabetics
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Pfizer Inc. said Tuesday U.S. regulators have approved its blockbuster cholesterol drug Lipitor to reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack in diabetic patients.
Pfizer said the approval is for patients with type 2, or adult onset, diabetes who have no signs of heart disease but with other risk factors for the condition.
Scorecard to help in diabetic risk assessment of the Indian Population
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A new scorecard to enable easy identification of diabetics has been developed as a joint venture by researchers in India, Britain and Australia.
This venture has been materialized following the initiative of the International Diabetes Federation, and the WHO centre for diabetes and the M.V. Hospital for Diabetes.
Corporate Toronto rides hard for diabetes research
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More than 5,000 people, made up of employees from some of Canada’s top corporations, put their pedal to the metal today in support of the 2005 Ride for Diabetes Research held at Nathan Phillips Square to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).
In its 17th year, the Ride for Diabetes Research is a unique fundraising event where each of five members of a corporate team rides a stationary bike in eight-minute intervals within an hour. Last year, the Ride for Diabetes Research raised nearly $1.2 million. This year, Ride participants are on track to surpass that figure and raise $1.4 million.
Exercise your Type 2 Diabetes
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My colleagues in graduate school used to laugh at me when I would explicitly mention Type 2 Diabetes as my favourite illness. I was not making light of this illness that has been on the rise for the past 10 years and which is beginning to affect young children and teenagers. Type 2 Diabetes is my favourite illness because I know exercise can have a positive impact on preventing, managing and even reversing the disease.
