Diabetes NZ Rotorua --- NEWS

News Archives

July 4th 2009

Living Cell Technologies trial gets the go-ahead from government

Good news for the progress of research into potential new treatments for Type 1...

The New Zealand Minister of Health, the Honourable Tony Ryall, has authorized LCT’s New Zealand Phase I/IIa clinical trial of DIABECELL® for Type 1 diabetes.

Read about it on our blog by clicking here.

July 4th 2009

Lantus (insulin glargine) - Cancer link

Following recent reports published in the medical journal Diabetologia, the possibility of a link between Lantus and cancer has been raised in the media.

If there is a link between Lantus and Cancer, then it still needs to be confirmed. If you are worried, contact your doctor or diabetes nurse. Whatever you do, do not stop taking your insulin!

You can read the research and notes for patients from the EASD by clicking here.

Read about it on our blog by clicking here.

November 16th 2008

Gestational diabetes may affect child language

According to recent reports published in the medical journal Pediatrics, children born to mothers who suffer from gestational diabetes (GDM) during pregnancy may have twice the risk of poor language development. The research suggests that those women that develop GDM are more likely to have a baby who develops language problems, including problems with vocabulary and grammar.

>> Read the original article in Paediatrics

November 3rd 2008

Living Cell Technologies finally aproved to go ahead with Pig Cell Transplants

Last month, the go-ahead for a controversial clinical trial - involving the transplantation of insulin-producing pig cells into humans to treat Type 1 diabetes - was finally granted. Pig cells that are programmed to produce insulin on demand are transplanted into the abdomen and it is hoped that this may ultimately lead to the situation in which multiple daily injections of insulin are no longer required.

October 18th 2008

Aspirin - helpful or harmful for people with diabetes?

New research has found that for people with diabetes, neither aspirin nor an antioxidant reduced the risk of having a heart attack, even in those groups that would usually be considered “high-risk”.

As reported, there are high-risk groups who will still need the drug, for whom the benefits continue to outweigh the harms. These include patients with diabetes who are known to have heart disease already.

The current advice is that anyone taking prescribed aspirin should discuss any concerns they have with their doctor. Local pharmacists may also be able to offer advice.

>> More from the NHS

>> Read the original article in the British Medical Journal

October 11th 2008

Call For Treatment Standards For Type 2 Diabetes And Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA)

obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a condition that leads to temporary stops in breathing during sleep and recent studies have shown this to be closely linked to Type 2 diabetes(1-5). OSA is also commonly referred to as sleep apnoea and studies indicate that up to 50 percent of people living with diabetes have sleep apnoea.

ResMed, a leading manufacturer of sleep and respiratory medical equipment, urges for more awareness of the connection between Type 2 diabetes and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). At this year's annual meeting of the European Respiratory Society (ERS) in Berlin, leading researchers in the field of sleep-related diseases discussed these closely related conditions and their implication on public health. With the plea for more awareness, ResMed expresses its support for the recommendations from the recently published report from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) taskforce which highlighted the need for increased recognition and research on this health issue.

>> More from Medical News Today

References:

1 Punjabi NM, at al.. Sleep-disordered breathing, glucose intolerance, and insulin resistance: the Sleep Heart Health Study. Am J Epidemiol 2004;160:521–530

2 Coughlin SR et al. Obstructive sleep apnoea is independently associated with an increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome. European Heart J 2004;25:735-741

3 Reichmuth K et al. Association of sleep apnea and type II diabetes: a population-based study. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2005;172(12):1590-5

4 Ip MS, et al. Obstructive sleep apnea is independently associated with insulin resistance. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2002;165:670–676.

5 Punjabi NM, Sorkin JD, Katzel LI, Goldberg AP et al. Sleep-disordered breathing and insulin resistance in middle-aged and overweight men.Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2002; 165:677-682

September 26th 2008

Study suggests cleanliness may increase risk of diabetes

A combined UK/US study has found that living in sterile environments can stop the absorption of 'friendly' gut bacteria, which in turn can help prevent development of Type 1 diabetes. The study, published in the journal 'Nature', used genetically modified mice that lacked the part of the immune system that responded to bacteria. They found that 80% of the mice raised in a completely germ-free environment, and therefore lacking 'friendly' gut bacteria, developed diabetes.

Obviusly, there's still some way to go before we can link this to what happens in humans - but it's an interesting concept all the same.

>> Read the orignal article in Nature

>> Unbiased commentary from the NHS (UK)

September 26th 2008

Internet program helps people with diabetes monitor blood sugar levels

An Internet-based blood glucose monitoring program may help people with Type 1 diabetes better manage their condition. In a new study, researchers looked at whether an online program in "blood glucose awareness training" could help Type 1 diabetics better manage the disease. The program, dubbed BGAThome, is an adaptation of a well-studied program that uses group sessions to teach people with diabetes tactics for predicting and preventing blood glucose ups-and-downs - such as keeping daily diaries on glucose levels and recording symptoms of hypos.

September 20th 2008

Camomile tea 'can help keep diabetes under control'

Camomile isn't everyone's cup of tea, but research on rats suggests that it may be of benefit in helping to prevent long term complications of diabetes. Well that's what's been reported in the newspapers and on the news websites.

Although this study provides an insight into the effects of camomile and its components on rats and cells in the laboratory, the extrapolation of these findings to humans with diabetes is very premature. More research is definitely needed before we can be sure about this.

Do drink camomile tea - if you like it - but don't bank on it negating the long term effects of diabetes on your body. Keep testing your blood glucose levels and keep taking your medications!

>> Read the original article in the
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry

>> Read a UK press article on the story
(The Daily Telegraph)

September 20th 2008

A chemical found in food and drink containers may double risk of heart disease and diabetes

Everyone seems to be talking about this story. A study published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) suggests that a chemical found in tin food cans and plastic drinks bottles could more than double the chance of developing heart disease and diabetes. Scientists estimate that nine in 10 people (90%) have traces of the chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) - in their bodies. BPA, which mimics the effects of the female sex hormone oestrogen, has previously been at the centre of claims that it can cause developmental problems in children. It is one of the world's most commonly used chemicals, found in everything from plastic bottles and the protective inside lining of tin cans to dental sealants, compact discs and credit card receipts. BPA can reportedly leach from plastics into drinks and food, especially when containers are heated.

Is this real? Should we be worried? This could turn into a debate lasting years. Some scientist and clinicians are dubious as to the certainty of the link between this chemical and the risk of heart disease and diabetes. More research is definitely needed.

>> Read the original article in JAMA

>> Read a UK press article on the story
(The Daily Telegraph)

September 12th 2008

A weekly injection for people with Type 2

Research just published in the Lancet suggests that it may be possible to replace twice daily injections of exenatide (Byetta) - used to control Type 2 diabetes - with a single shot given just once a week. Scientists found a new formulation of the drug exenatide gave better control of blood sugar levels than the current twice-daily regimen. The University of Toronto finding could potentially have a big impact on diabetes management. But experts said research was needed to confirm the findings

Exenatide is not currently available in New Zealand, so although this is 'news' it doesn't mean much to us here, who have limited access to these new treatments. For more details see the BBC website.

September 8th 2008

More encouraging results published from the ADVANCE trial

According to new data presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) congress, combining intensive blood sugar control based on gliclazide modified release (Diamicron MR®) with intensive blood pressure lowering based on a fixed combination of perindopril and indapamide (Preterax®) can reduce the risk of death from heart disease by nearly one quarter (24%) and the risk of kidney complications by one third (33%) in patients with type 2 diabetes.

These latest results from ADVANCE (Action in Diabetes and Vascular Disease), the largest ever trial performed in patients with type 2 diabetes, provide further evidence for a new therapeutic strategy with the potential to save lives and protect millions of diabetics worldwide from serious complications.

The new ADVANCE results show that the benefits of tight blood glucose control and blood pressure lowering are both independent and fully additive. This new evidence represents an important step forward for the management of millions of people with diabetes worldwide, as the treatment strategy used in ADVANCE reduced both the likelihood of developing and dying from the complications of diabetes.

Source: New ADVANCE findings show how to combine intensive blood glucose and blood pressure lowering for further benefits in type 2 diabetes

September 7th 2008

Another study supports the low vitamin D-diabetes link - this time for Type 2 Diabetes

People with lower levels of vitamin D in their blood may be at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to research published in the journal Epidemiology this month. Dr. Paul Knekt of the National Public Health Institute in Helsinki, Finland and colleagues found that men with the highest serum vitamin D levels were the least likely to have developed Type 2 Diabetes 22 years later. Lack of vitamin D interferes with insulin secretion, and studies suggest a link between low vitamin D and diabetes, Knekt and his team note. But most research has been cross-sectional, meaning it only focused on a single time point. Prospective studies, which follow people over time, are possibly a better way to investigate potentially causal relationships.

Genes may link birth weight, diabetes in adulthood

A large study of Swedish twins indicates that a common genetic cause underlies both low birth weight and the propensity to develop type 2 diabetes. While low birth weight is more common among individuals with type 2 diabetes, poor fetal nutrition and other environmental factors leading to low birth weight do not "cause" diabetes, according Dr. Stefan Johansson and colleagues. Rather, data from their study suggest that common genes may be responsible for both reduced fetal growth and development of diabetes in adulthood, said Johansson, of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.

August 15th 2008

New wonder drug based on component of red wine

A new type of drug that reportedly halts the onset of the diabetes - as well as cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer's - could be a reality within the next five years. The wonder drug has been based on a component found in the skin of red grapes (and also in wine) known as resveratrol. The drug mimics the action of the compound, and researchers say that it cuts the impact of high-fat diets, doubles stamina levels and even extends lifespan (well, in mice anyway).

But before you start pouring your next glass, note that to be affective, the dose of the drug needs to be huge, and we would have to drink a good 1,000 bottles of wine!!

The pharmaceutical company Sitris have reportedly developed a pill based on two chemicals that acts in the same manner.

August 8th 2008

Broccoli may undo diabetes damage

Yes, eating broccoli could reverse the damage caused by diabetes to heart blood vessels, research suggests. In the UK, a University of Warwick team believe the key is a compound found in the vegetable, called sulforaphane. This encourages production of enzymes which protect the blood vessels, and results in a reduction in high levels of harmful molecules that are known to cause significant cell damage in people with diabetes.

Don't overdo it on the broccoli just yet though. Dr Iain Frame, director of research at Diabetes UK, pointed out that the current research had focused on cells grown in a lab - this is some way from real life.

Read the unbiased commentary from NHS Choices (UK)

Read the original article published in Diabetes:

Xue1 M, Qian Q, Antonysunil A, et al. Activation of NF-E2-related factor-2 reverses biochemical dysfunction of endothelial cells induced by hyperglycemia linked to vascular disease. Diabetes 2008; Published online ahead of print July 15

June 10th 2008

Results of the ADVANCE Study are published

The major findings of ADVANCE show that intensive blood glucose lowering treatment:

Safely controlled blood glucose to a mean HbA1c level of 6.5%;
Significantly reduced the overall risk of serious diabetes complications (by 10%), with a one-fifth reduction in kidney disease (21%) and 30% reduction in the development of proteinuria, a well established marker of increased cardiovascular risk;
Achieved a positive trend towards reduction in the risk of cardiovascular death (12%), although not statistically significant.

Read the original article and related editorials in the New England Journal of Medicine

Link to the official ADVANCE Trial website

June 2nd 2008

Prevent Type 2 with a Mediterranean diet

Eating a Mediterranean diet could provide 'substantial' protection against type-2 diabetes, according to a new study. A diet rich in olive oil, fruits, vegetables and fish but low in meat and dairy products has already been linked with a protective role against cardiovascular disease. Now researchers at the University of Navarra, Spain, say their study showed that people who followed the diet strictly had an 83 per cent reduction in the risk of developing diabetes.

Read more on the netdoctor website

20 Feb 2008

The national Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) has been released.

QIP was jointly developed by the Ministry of Health, DHBs, medical experts and consumers (patients). The guidance gives the health sector with a structured three-year plan to approach ways to improve health outcomes and the quality of health care for people with diabetes and/or heart disease.

>> More details (from the MOH website)

January 2008

Congratulations to Eve Waldman, who is the first society member to receive honourary life membership of Diabetes NZ Rotorua. Diabetes New Zealand president Mike Smith presented the award to Eve at our December 2007 meeting, which coincided with our 30 year Birthday Celebrations and our annual Christmas Party.

>> More