Insulin News and Research

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Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert glucose, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. Insulin allows cells to use glucose for fuel and is secreted by beta cells in the islets of Langerhans. The release of insulin from the pancreas is stimulated by increased blood glucose, vagal nerve stimulation, and other factors. Insulin is obtained from various animals and available in a variety of preparations. Commercial insulin preparations differ in a number of ways, including differences in the animal species from which they are obtained; their purity, concentration, and solubility; and the time of onset and duration of their biologic action. An oral hypoglycemic agent is not a form of insulin therapy.

TWi Pharmaceuticals completes AC-201 phase II study on type II diabetes

TWi Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company based in Taiwan, today announced its fully owned subsidiary, TWi Biotechnology, Inc. has completed a multinational phase II dose-ranging study of AC-201, an orally available IL-1 Beta modulator, in 259 patients with type II diabetes uncontrolled on up to three oral medications.

6 Aug 2012

Neutrophils play an unexpected role in mediating insulin resistance

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine say neutrophils, an abundant type of white blood cell typically tasked with attacking bacteria and other foreign invaders, also plays an unexpected role in mediating insulin resistance - the central characteristic of type 2 diabetes, which afflicts an estimated 26 million Americans.

6 Aug 2012

Mechanism provides beneficial characteristics of energy-burning brown fat to white fat

Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) researchers have identified a mechanism that can give energy-storing white fat some of the beneficial characteristics of energy-burning brown fat. The findings, based on studies of mice and of human fat tissue, could lead to new strategies for treating obesity and type 2 diabetes.

3 Aug 2012

Diabetes impairs women’s sex life

Women with diabetes are less likely to find sex satisfying than those without the condition, despite having similar levels of interest and engagement in sexual activity, show study findings.

3 Aug 2012

Fatty acid synthase provides new target for treatment of obesity and diabetes

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified a potential target for treating diabetes and obesity.

3 Aug 2012

Combination of sitagliptin and lansoprazole offers clinical benefits for T1D patients

Sanford Project researchers have reached a critical milestone in a clinical trial testing a combination of two medications to determine if the drugs can help patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) keep their blood glucose levels under control with less or no insulin. The full number of patients needed to complete this first trial, termed Restore Pancreatic Insulin Response in type 1 diabetes (REPAIR-T1D), has been reached.

2 Aug 2012

Ginger muscles in on diabetes

Ginger, the common spice and ancient Asian remedy, could have the power to help manage the high levels of blood sugar which create complications for long-term diabetic patients, a University of Sydney study reports.

2 Aug 2012

Atlantic fish improves glucose and fat metabolism

Eating saury, a type of fish common to the Atlantic, has immediate beneficial effects on glucose and fat metabolism, show findings from a Japanese study.

2 Aug 2012

Investigational drug shows promise against most severe form of congenital hyperinsulinism

A pilot study in adolescents and adults has found that an investigational drug shows promise as the first potential medical treatment for children with the severest type of congenital hyperinsulinism, a rare but potentially devastating disease in which gene mutations cause insulin levels to become dangerously high.

2 Aug 2012

Diabetes impairs women’s sex life

Women with diabetes are less likely to find sex satisfying than those without the condition, despite having similar levels of interest and engagement in sexual activity, show study findings.

1 Aug 2012

Childhood obesity could be related to growing problems with infertility

A dramatic increase in childhood obesity in recent decades may have impacts that go beyond the usual health concerns - it could be disrupting the timing of puberty and ultimately lead to a diminished ability to reproduce, especially in females.

1 Aug 2012

Teplizumab type I diabetes prevention study now enrolls younger children

A type I diabetes prevention study that is part of the TrialNet program at Vanderbilt is now enrolling children as young as 8 years old, following an FDA decision allowing the drug Teplizumab (anti-CD3) to be used in younger children.

1 Aug 2012

Sleep related diabetes risk needs attention

Strategies aimed at improving sleep quality among individuals without Type 2 diabetes may act as an additional tool in diabetes prevention, report researchers.

30 Jul 2012

Takeda resubmits alogliptin and fixed-dose combination therapy NDAs with FDA

Furiex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today confirmed that Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Takeda Global Research & Development Center, Inc. has resubmitted New Drug Applications (NDAs) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for alogliptin and fixed-dose combination therapy alogliptin and pioglitazone for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in adults.

28 Jul 2012

Long-term linagliptin effective treatment for Type 2 diabetes

Linagliptin is an effective and well-tolerated therapy for the long-term management of Type 2 diabetes, say the authors of an open-label extension study published in the International Journal of Clinical Practice.

27 Jul 2012

Diabetes cutoffs don’t quite cut it for South Asians

Individuals of South Asian origin may require closer monitoring for Type 2 diabetes, suggest researchers.

27 Jul 2012

Novel method of identifying molecules that can help prevent diabetes

Pancreatic beta cells produce insulin, responsible for controlling blood sugar levels and thus essential for our survival. Among the numerous factors that affect the workings of these cells, a protein called Cx36 was identified a few months ago by a research team at the UNIGE.

27 Jul 2012

A2bAR receptor plays a significant role in regulation of type 2 diabetes and obesity

A recent study led by Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) demonstrates that the A2b-type adenosine receptor, A2bAR, plays a significant role in the regulation of high fat, high cholesterol diet-induced symptoms of type 2 diabetes.

27 Jul 2012

Anakinra can dramatically limit amount of brain damage in stroke patients

Scientists led by the President of The University of Manchester have demonstrated a drug which can dramatically limit the amount of brain damage in stroke patients.

From The University of Manchester 27 Jul 2012

Biodel to develop ultra-rapid-acting insulin formulations for use in closed loop pump system

Biodel Inc. announced today that the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded Biodel a grant for the development of concentrated ultra-rapid-acting insulin formulations for use in an artificial pancreas, also known as a closed loop pump system.

27 Jul 2012