Blood Sugar News and Research

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Blood sugar concentration, or glucose level, refers to the amount of glucose present in the blood of a human or animal. Normally, in mammals the blood glucose level is maintained at a reference range between about 3.6 and 5.8 mM (mmol/l). It is tightly regulated as a part of metabolic homeostasis.

Researchers receive NIDDK grant to identify pre-diabetes symptoms

A Biodesign team of researchers, led by Randall Nelson, PhD, has received a new five-year, $3.1 million award from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health. Their goal is to discover and validate telltale molecular signs to learn how to predict who will develop the disease long before any symptoms of diabetes appear.

5 May 2010

Osiris Therapeutics' Prochymal granted FDA Orphan Drug Designation

Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that it has been granted Orphan Drug designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Prochymal as a treatment for type 1 diabetes mellitus. The FDA instituted the Orphan Drug Act to promote the development of treatments for underserved patient populations. To be eligible for Orphan Drug designation, the treatment must target a disease that affects fewer than 200,000 new patients per year in the United States.

5 May 2010

FDA issues advisory on prostate cancer drugs

Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) agonists, a class of medications primarily used to treat men with prostate cancer, have been associated with a small increased risk for diabetes, heart attack, stroke, and sudden death in men treated with one of the medications, according to a preliminary and ongoing analysis of several studies by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

3 May 2010

Majority of patients who appear healthy may be at risk for cardiovascular disease

Three separate studies announced today at the American Society of Hypertension Inc.'s 25th Annual Scientific Meeting and Exposition (ASH 2010) examined the cardiovascular consequences of relatively healthy patients - those who were asymptomatic and not classified as hypertensive or diabetic - and found that many patients who appear healthy may still be at risk for cardiovascular disease.

3 May 2010

Philadelphia insurer to implement pay-for-performance model

The Philadelphia region's largest health insurer, Independence Blue Cross, will begin a pay-for-performance model that pays physicians more if their patient's health gets better. The program rewards primary care doctors who provide higher quality care at less cost. "A key element of the program rewards doctors who meet standards as so-called patient-centered medical homes.

3 May 2010

Health outcomes explored at DDW 2010

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which may soon be the leading indication for liver transplant, is found to be significantly associated with worse transplant outcomes. In addition, a new tool for diagnosing NAFLD represents an alternative to liver biopsy, which is more expensive and prone to complications, and ultrasound and alfafeprotein blood test screening are an effective alternative to CT scan and MRI for patients with cirrhosis at high risk for hepatocellular cancer.

3 May 2010

MicroCHIPS receives 2010 Edison Best New Product Award for Illume System

MicroCHIPS, Inc., a developer of intelligent implant systems, today announced that it has received a 2010 Edison Best New Product Award for its Illume product. The product was awarded Gold in the Science and Medical Category, recognizing the benefit that it will bring to millions of people with diabetes who must manage their blood sugar intensively to stay healthy.

30 Apr 2010

Many Americans aren't taking necessary steps to protect against diabetes: Study

Diabetes affects more than 23 million people in the United States today and another 54 million people have pre-diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, while nearly 60 percent of Americans are concerned about developing diabetes, many aren't taking the necessary steps to protect their health, according to a recent study by the International Diabetes Center and Abbott.

28 Apr 2010

Takeda settles with six defendants in generic ACTOS, ACTOplus met patent infringement lawsuit

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited announced today that Takeda and its wholly owned subsidiary, Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc., have completed settlement agreements with six out of eight defendants in patent infringement litigation brought against these parties in response to their Abbreviated New Drug Applications for generic ACTOS® (pioglitazone HCl) and ACTOplus met® (pioglitazone HCl and metformin HCl). Takeda recently concluded litigation with the sixth settling defendant.

28 Apr 2010

Transplanted pig cells may bring relief from insulin injections in type I diabetics

Living Cell Technologies, a New Zealand based biotechnology company that is investigating the use of living pig cells in the treatment of diabetes has now received $700,000 (US$500,000) grant from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International for further human trials.

28 Apr 2010

Phase II clinical trial to test safety and efficacy of transplanted encapsulated islets

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation announced today that it is partnering with Living Cell Technologies, a New Zealand-based biotechnology company focused on developing cell based therapeutics, in a Phase II clinical trial to study the safety and effectiveness of transplanting encapsulated insulin-producing cells from pigs as a treatment for type 1 diabetes with significant hypoglycemia unawareness.

28 Apr 2010

Chocolate and depression?

The ‘chocoholics’ of the world may also be the most depressed people around. A recent study found that those who were suffering from depression ate an average of 8.4 servings of chocolate a month, compared to just 5.4 servings eaten by those who were not depressed. And the people who suffered from major depression ate 11.8 servings per month.

27 Apr 2010

Bayer Diabetes Care launches DIDGET blood glucose monitoring system in the US

Bayer Diabetes Care today announced the introduction of the DIDGET™ blood glucose monitoring system in the United States. The DIDGET meter is unique because it is the only blood glucose meter that connects directly to Nintendo DS™ and DS Lite gaming systems to help kids manage a lifelong disease by rewarding them for building consistent testing habits and meeting personalized blood glucose target ranges. Bayer's DIDGET meter is now available for purchase in the U.S. through CVS.com, Drugstore.com and Walgreens.com.

26 Apr 2010

Chokeberry extract reduces weight gain in insulin-resistant animals

Chokeberry bushes have for centuries been residents of eastern deciduous forests where their bright red and dark purple fruits continue to be favorite snacks of local bird species. Native Americans have also traditionally eaten dried chokeberries and prepared teas from parts of the plant, and several domesticated varieties now grace contemporary lawns and gardens from coast to coast.

26 Apr 2010

Serum cortisol levels linked with increased mortality in patients with ACS: Research

Growing evidence suggests that serum cortisol levels are associated with increased cardiovascular mortality in patients with chronic heart failure, research presented at this week's European Congress of Endocrinology shows.

26 Apr 2010

Highlights from AACE 19th Annual Meeting and Clinical Congress

today's highlights from the AACE Annual Meeting & Clinical Congress in Boston

24 Apr 2010

Study finds AFREZZA comparable to standard of care insulin therapy

Pulmonary function test results (PFTs) in patients treated with AFREZZATM (insulin human [rDNA origin]) Inhalation Powder, a well-tolerated, ultra rapid acting insulin, at follow-up measurements were similar to PFT results observed in patients receiving standard antidiabetic therapy, according to data presented today at the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists 19th Annual Meeting (Poster #267).

24 Apr 2010

AFREZZA Inhalation Powder reduces incidence of hypoglycemia in patients with Type 1 diabetes

Diabetes treatment regimens containing AFREZZATM (insulin human [rDNA origin]) Inhalation Powder, a well-tolerated, ultra rapid acting insulin, provide glucose control similar to standard insulin therapy along with weight loss and reduced incidence of hypoglycemia in patients with Type 1 diabetes and poorly controlled blood sugar levels, according to a two-year study presented today at the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists 19th Annual Meeting (Poster #283).

24 Apr 2010

ACE, Lilly Diabetes create "Diabetes Disaster Plan"

The Power of Prevention: Diabetes Disaster Plan is a checklist of essential items and tips to help diabetes patients prepare for the unexpected. Since Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005, ACE and Lilly Diabetes have worked together to create a comprehensive checklist of items for diabetes patients to prepare in anticipation of disaster.

24 Apr 2010

Victoza produces greater reductions in A1C, FPG and body weight than Januvia: Study

Yesterday, The Lancet published online the results of the first study comparing the once-daily human GLP-1 analog, Victoza (liraglutide [rDNA] injection) with a DPP-4 inhibitor, Januvia. The 26-week trial showed that Victoza produced significantly greater reductions in A1C, fasting plasma glucose, and body weight than Januvia, with similar or better overall treatment satisfaction.

24 Apr 2010