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Mount Sinai and City of Hope scientists first to demonstrate a combination treatment can increase human insulin-producing cells in vivo

Researchers from Mount Sinai and City of Hope demonstrate a combination treatment that increases human insulin-producing beta cells by 700% in mice with diabetes. This breakthrough could lead to new treatments for the hundreds of millions of people with diabetes worldwide.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJul 10, 2024

Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists and 13 obesity-associated cancers in patients with type 2 diabetes

Researchers found GLP-1 receptor agonists lower risks of certain obesity-associated cancers in patients with type 2 diabetes, suggesting potential benefits for cancer prevention in high-risk populations. The study provides preliminary evidence supporting further preclinical and clinical studies to prevent specific obesity-linked cancers.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateJul 5, 2024

Proteins and fats can drive insulin production for some, paving way for tailored nutrition

Researchers found that individual responses to proteins and fats can drive insulin production, challenging the long-held belief that fats have negligible effects on insulin release. This study has implications for tailored dietary guidance to manage blood sugar and insulin levels in individuals with diabetes or those at risk.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalCell Metabolism·TypeObservational study·DateJul 2, 2024

Paternal use of metformin during sperm production not associated with major birth defects

A study of almost 400,000 live births found that paternal use of metformin monotherapy was not significantly associated with major congenital malformations. However, researchers noted that fathers prescribed metformin had higher rates of cardiovascular and metabolic conditions, which could affect reproductive health.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeNews article·DateJun 17, 2024

Sister hormone of GLP-1 can lead to better weight-loss drugs

Researchers have made a breakthrough in understanding the GIP hormone's role in regulating insulin levels and weight loss. The study, involving over 500,000 individuals, found that inhibiting the GIP receptor may result in weight loss, while activating it without arresting its signal is crucial.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences·JournalNature Metabolism·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 13, 2024

Unveiling secrets of aging beta cells and their ability to secrete insulin

Aging human pancreatic beta cells display features of senescence but maintain elevated levels of genes crucial for function and exhibit an ability to release insulin in response to glucose. This sheds light on the potential role of aging beta cells in immune regulation and their relevance to autoimmune reactions in type 1 diabetes.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalNucleic Acids Research·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 3, 2024

Can triglycerides-HDL-C ratio, HOMA-IR, ApoB, non-HDL cholesterol, and free cholesterol be laboratory-associated flags of female coronary atherosclerosis regardless of being diabetic?

Research finds insulin levels correlate with triglycerides, ApoB, non-HDL cholesterol, and free cholesterol in women with atherosclerotic coronary disease. The study suggests these laboratory-associated flags indicate early coronary atherosclerosis in both diabetic and non-diabetic women.

SourceBentham Science Publishers·JournalThe Open Biomarkers Journal·DateMay 24, 2024

Do sex differences in how adipose tissue responds to insulin explain why type 2 diabetes is more common in men?

Researchers found that men with obesity have increased adipose tissue insulin resistance and higher levels of free fatty acids in the blood. This may partly explain why type 2 diabetes is more common in men. The study suggests that sex differences in adipose tissue insulin sensitivity could be a key factor in this disparity.

SourceEuropean Association for the Study of Obesity·JournalInternational Journal of Obesity·DateMay 10, 2024

Repurposed cancer drug could treat diabetes by nudging pancreatic acinar cells to produce insulin

Researchers have discovered a repurposed cancer drug that can convert acinar cells into insulin-producing cells, which could provide a new avenue for treating diabetes. The treatment partially improved hyperglycemia and persisted without additional treatment in diabetic mice and non-human primates.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 6, 2024

Childhood sedentariness causes excessive insulin, raising the risk of type 2 diabetes

A new study found that increased childhood sedentary time is associated with higher blood insulin concentration and a greater risk of excess insulin and insulin resistance. Light physical activity was shown to reduce the risk of excess insulin by 20%, while moderate-to-vigorous physical activity had a smaller effect.

SourceUniversity of Eastern Finland·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism·DateApr 9, 2024

Annual vaccination campaign with second dose protects high-risk groups from SARS-CoV-2 and may save health care costs

A study found that an annual vaccination campaign with a second dose for children under 2 years old and individuals aged 50 and over can significantly reduce hospitalizations, deaths, and healthcare spending. The optimal timing for the second vaccination is delivering it 5 months after initial vaccination.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeNews article·DateMar 25, 2024

Comparative study of type 2 diabetes medications show differences in medication acceptance, quality-of-life, insulin secretion and mortality

A comparative study of four major type 2 diabetes medications reveals differences in medication acceptance, quality of life, insulin secretion, and mortality. The GRADE Study found that younger age and higher blood sugar levels at baseline were associated with poor blood sugar control over time.

SourcePennington Biomedical Research Center·JournalDiabetes Care·DateMar 25, 2024

Insulin affects the recycling of cellular power plants

In nerve cells, insulin facilitates the elimination of defective mitochondria when energy is available. However, during energy scarcity or disrupted insulin signaling, mitochondrial recycling is reduced, allowing potentially damaged power plants to continue operating. This process affects ageing processes and neurological diseases.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Metabolism·DateMar 19, 2024

Milk to the rescue for diabetics? Cow produces human insulin in milk

Researchers have successfully created a transgenic cow capable of producing human insulin in its milk. This breakthrough could lead to the mass production of insulin without the need for complex facilities or infrastructure. With further testing and FDA approval, this technology has the potential to revolutionize insulin production and...

Lighting the way to noninvasive blood glucose monitoring using portable devices

A novel approach estimates metabolic activity and infers blood glucose levels from near-infrared measurements in commercial smartphones and smartwatches. The phase delay between oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin signals closely relates to oxygen consumption during cardiac cycles, serving as a gauge for metabolism.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalJournal of Biomedical Optics·DateMar 8, 2024

New medicine can create a new life for diabetes patients – without needles!

Researchers have developed a new oral insulin medicine that uses nano-carriers to protect insulin from stomach acid, allowing for precise delivery to the liver and reducing the risk of hypoglycemia. This innovation has been successfully tested on baboons, mice, and rats with diabetes, paving the way for human trials starting in 2025.

SourceUiT The Arctic University of Norway·JournalNature Nanotechnology·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 19, 2024

A novel angle on type 1 diabetes: RNA editing disruption mimics early-stage disease with no involvement of virus

A recent study by the Hebrew University proposes a new etiology for early stages of type 1 diabetes, attributing it to disrupted RNA editing within pancreatic beta cells. This perspective challenges long-held beliefs about viral involvement, suggesting potential implications for treatments and cures.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalCell Metabolism·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 25, 2023

Prenatal exposure to GLP-1 receptor agonists and other second-line antidiabetics may not pose greater risk to infants than insulin

A new study found no increased risk of major congenital malformations in infants exposed to second-line non-insulin antidiabetic medications during pregnancy compared to those treated with insulin. The study examined over 3.5 million pregnancies and provided reassurance on the safety of these medications for fetuses.

SourceHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateDec 11, 2023

World-first trial offers new hope for type 1 diabetes

A world-first human trial shows that a commonly prescribed rheumatoid arthritis drug can safely and effectively preserve the body's own insulin production and suppress the progression of type 1 diabetes. The drug, baricitinib, was found to be effective in maintaining insulin production in people who initiated treatment within 100 days ...

SourceSt Vincent's Institute of Medical Research·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateDec 6, 2023

Under-the-skin implant could treat Type I diabetes

Researchers from Cornell and University of Alberta have developed an under-the-skin implant that can secrete insulin without immunosuppression. The approach offers an easier alternative to traditional transplants or insulin injections, with the potential for long-term management of Type I diabetes.

SourceCornell University·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·DateDec 5, 2023

Drug screen points toward novel diabetes treatments

A drug currently in clinical trials as a cancer therapy can also stimulate pancreatic beta cells to secrete insulin, revealing a new mechanism for insulin regulation in type 2 diabetes. The preclinical discovery provides a new chemical tool for probing the biology of diabetes and could lead to better treatments.

SourceWeill Cornell Medicine·JournalNature Chemical Biology·DateNov 9, 2023

Human insulin less temperature-sensitive than previously thought

A new Cochrane review has found that human insulin can be stored at room temperature for up to six months without losing potency. This breakthrough research offers hope to millions of people living with diabetes in low- and middle-income countries, particularly those with limited access to refrigeration or healthcare.

SourceCochrane·JournalCochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·TypeSystematic review·DateNov 2, 2023

New technology ‘game changing’ for pregnant women with diabetes

A new study published in the University of East Anglia shows that automated insulin delivery technology can help pregnant women with type 1 diabetes better manage their blood sugars. The technology, known as Hybrid Closed-Loop or Artificial Pancreas, helps to substantially reduce maternal blood sugars throughout pregnancy.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 24, 2023