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Metformin is a widely prescribed drug for managing type 2 diabetes. In recent years, indications of its potential anticancer properties have emerged in research. A study has found that metformin activates the body's immune cells. The effect was particularly observed in what are known as dendritic cells, which are the most effective in helping the immune system identify cancer cells as foreign entities. "Our study found that metformin contributed to the metabolism of dendritic cells so that they became active and enhanced the immune response against cancer cells," says Rita Turpin. Identifying this effect can help to develop anticancer therapies...

A new meta-analysis shows sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with either diabetes at high risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), heart failure, or chronic kidney disease (CKD). SGLT2 inhibitors, also called gliflozins, are a class of drug that lower blood glucose by increasing its excretion in the urine. While late-stage trials of these medicines have demonstrated reductions in heart failure and adverse kidney outcomes, the effects on major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and stroke, were less clear. Researchers analyzed data across 11 trials involving...

New research conducted in mice offers insights into what's going on at the molecular level that could cause people with diabetes to develop Alzheimer's disease. The study adds to a growing body of research on the links between type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease, which some scientists have called "type 3 diabetes." The findings suggest that it should be possible to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's by keeping diabetes well controlled or avoiding it in the first place, according to researchers. Narendra Kumar led the study. "We think that diabetes and Alzheimer's disease are strongly linked," Kumar said, "and by...

There has been a redistribution in the risk of arterial disease in type 1 and 2 diabetes. The risks of heart attack and stroke have decreased significantly, while complications in more peripheral vessels have increased in relative importance, according to studies. The researchers studied two decades of disease trends for virtually all peripheral arterial diseases. The studies include data on 34,263 individuals with type 1 diabetes and 655,250 individuals with type 2 diabetes from the Swedish National Diabetes Register between 2001 and 2020. In relative terms, there has been a gradual shift in risk from arterial diseases in the central...

Researchers have uncovered a mechanism by which a hormone can protect the blood vessels in the kidneys from the damage caused by diabetes. In doing so, the team has identified a potential early treatment strategy to prevent or slow progression of kidney disease in people with diabetes. Kidney damage from diabetes usually happens slowly over many years. One of the ways damage can be caused is by disruption of the glycocalyx—a thin gel-like layer lining the surface of the blood vessels forming part of the tiny filters of the kidney ('glomeruli')—due to high blood sugar levels over a long period...

Surgery patients on blockbuster weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy could be at risk of choking to death, a study warns. Researchers in California looked at nearly 1 million Americans who had an endoscopy, which examines the upper digestive tract. They found that patients who underwent the procedure - which involves inserting a tube with a camera on the end down the throat while the patient is sedated- were 33 percent more likely to suffer aspiration pneumonia. This causes food, liquids, or saliva to get sucked into the airway, which could lead to choking and kills nearly 60,000 Americans a...

Scientists in Brazil have engineered a cow to produce human insulin in its milk, making history as the world’s first transgenic cow capable of such a feat. Though still a long way off, the researchers hope that this bovine breakthrough could open doors for sustainable insulin production and help tackle the world's insulin supply problems. For now, the achievement is just a proof-of-concept – but with additional testing and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval, it could be scaled up to rival current insulin production methods, which involve genetically modified yeast and bacteria. "Mother Nature designed the mammary gland as...

A high dose of vitamin D could improve the function of insulin-producing beta cells in children and young adults recently diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.The discovery, published in JAMA Network Open, could mean that a more cost-effective way of managing the disease affecting 1.45 million Americans has been on pharmacy shelves all along.“Type 1 diabetes affects millions of people and treatment options can often be costly,” Dr. Benjamin Nwosu, chief of endocrinology and director of the diabetes center at Cohen Children’s Medical Center and the principal author of the research paper, said in a press release. “It is exciting to...

A team of medical researchers and doctors reports that administration of vitamin D2 to patients newly diagnosed with diabetes type 1 can prolong the so-called honeymoon phase of the disease. The group conducted a clinical trial involving giving vitamin D2 supplements to children newly diagnosed with diabetes. Prior research has shown that at the time of diagnosis, most diabetes type 1 patients still have approximately 30% to 50% function in pancreatic beta cells (diabetes occurs when such cells stop making insulin). Sometimes the beta cells continue to function for several months or even years. This time period is known as...

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared for marketing the first over-the-counter (OTC) continuous glucose monitor (CGM). The Dexcom Stelo Glucose Biosensor System is an integrated CGM (iCGM) intended for anyone 18 years and older who does not use insulin, such as individuals with diabetes treating their condition with oral medications, or those without diabetes who want to better understand how diet and exercise may impact blood sugar levels. Importantly, this system is not for individuals with problematic hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) as the system is not designed to alert the user to this potentially dangerous condition.

Doughnuts and democracy really do go hand-in-hand.Krispy Kreme wants to reward you for doing your civic duty. On Tuesday, March 5, a.k.a "Super Tuesday," the bakery chain is giving everyone the chance to come in and get two Original Glazed doughnuts absolutely free. As Krispy Kreme noted in a press release, it's their version of "Super TWOsday." "While encouraging everyone to vote, our primary role on Super TWOsday will be to sweeten your day," Dave Skena, the global chief brand officer for Krispy Kreme, shared in the statement, adding that there's no purchase necessary. You don't even need to show...

Type 2 diabetes alters the behavior of disks in the vertebral column, making them stiffer, and also causes the disks to change shape earlier than normal. As a result, the disk's ability to withstand pressure is compromised. This is one of the findings of a new study. Low back pain is a major cause of disability, often associated with intervertebral disk degeneration. People with type 2 diabetes face a higher risk of low back pain and disk-related issues. Yet the precise mechanisms of disk degeneration remain unclear. Investigating the biomechanical properties of the intervertebral disk is crucial for understanding the...

High consumption of soybean oil has been linked to obesity and diabetes and potentially autism, Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety, and depression. Add now to this growing list ulcerative colitis, a form of inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, characterized by chronic inflammation of the large intestine. Researchers at the University of California, Riverside, examined the gut of mice that were consistently fed a diet high in soybean oil for up to 24 weeks in the lab. They found beneficial bacteria decreased and harmful bacteria (specifically, adherent invasive Escherichia coli) increased — conditions that can lead to colitis. Soybean oil is the most...

A new study showed that a teaspoon a day of cinnamon might help reduce a person’s diabetes risk. So, how much of it does a person need to eat? Teaspoon a day of common spice may reduce diabetes risk (WKRC, CNN Newsource, CBS Newspath) The study was conducted in those with prediabetes, which means a person’s blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not yet high enough to be considered type two diabetes. It’s also a time when increasing a person’s activity can really make a difference, something that Samantha Goldfeder knows about. "Just the consistency of coming kind...

An international academic consortium has identified 13 biomarkers that significantly improve the ability to accurately predict cardiovascular disease risk in people with type 2 diabetes. The analysis, conducted by 23 experts from 11 countries, was led by The Johns Hopkins University in the United States, the Chinese University of Hong Kong in Hong Kong, and Lund University in Sweden. Although people with type 2 diabetes are two times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than those without diabetes, it is a challenge for clinicians to predict who in this population is most at risk. Traditional risk scores, which reflect risk...

Many of the foods consumed by Americans are contaminated with harmful plastic chemicals that contribute to health complications like diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, and infertility, said a recent report by the nonprofit group Consumer Reports (CR).Bottles of Coca-Cola at a supermarket of Swiss retailer Denner, as the spread of the COVID-19 disease continues, in Glattbrugg, Switzerland, on June 26, 2020. (Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters)CR tested 85 food items from 11 categories—beverages, canned beans, condiments, dairy, fast food, grains, infant food, meat and poultry, packaged fruits and vegetables, prepared meals, and seafood, according to the Jan. 4 report. Researchers examined the presence of plasticizers—a...

Understanding diabetes today requires holding two conflicting realities in your head simultaneously. First, diabetes therapy has been revolutionized by a world of new drugs that have become available since the turn of the century—most notably, drugs of the same class as Wegovy and Ozempic that began their existence as diabetes medications and are now hailed as wonder drugs for treating obesity. These drugs do the best job yet of controlling blood sugar and, of course, body weight, which is critical for those Type 2 diabetes, the common form of the disease that constitutes over 90 percent of cases and is...

Research has revealed how, in diabetics, high levels of blood sugar disrupt the function of key cell subsets in the lungs that regulate the immune response. It also identifies a potential strategy for reversing this susceptibility and saving lives. Prof. Eran Elinav's team subjected multiple mouse models of types 1 and 2 diabetes to a variety of viral lung infections. The immune reaction, which in nondiabetics eliminates the infection and drives tissue healing, was severely impaired in the diabetic mice, leading to uncontrolled infection, lung damage and eventual death. "High blood sugar levels severely disrupt certain subsets of dendritic cells...

In a heartwarming display of loyalty, Spy, a yellow Labrador service dog, demonstrated the incredible abilities of our four-legged friends. Trained to monitor blood sugar levels in her young companion with Type 1 diabetes, Spy's remarkable actions one night showcased the extraordinary bond between service dogs and those they assist.

A study suggests a class of medications used to treat type 2 diabetes may also reduce the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). "Our results clearly demonstrate that GLP-1 RAs are significantly more effective than popular anti-diabetic drugs, such as Metformin or insulin, at preventing the development of CRC," said Nathan Berger. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, or GLP-1 RAs, are medications to treat type 2 diabetes. Usually given by injection, they can lower blood-sugar levels, improve insulin sensitivity and help manage weight. They've also been shown to reduce the rates of major cardiovascular ailments. Importantly the protective effect of GLP-1 RAs...