Where there’s type 1 diabetes, Celiac Disease may follow
BY SERENA GORDON: Parents of young children with type 1 diabetes need to be on the lookout for symptoms of another autoimmune condition — celiac disease, new research suggests.
The study found these youngsters appear to face a nearly tripled risk of developing celiac disease autoantibodies, which eventually can lead to the disorder.
“Type 1 diabetes and celiac disease are closely related genetically,” explained study author Dr. William Hagopian. (read more)
Flu shot key for people with diabetes
BY MARY ELIZABETH DALLAS: With predictions calling for a potentially bad flu season this year, doctors are urging people — particularly those with diabetes — to get vaccinated.
Many people with diabetes don’t get a seasonal flu shot each year, according to the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE). Some people with the blood sugar disease don’t realize they’re at risk for flu-related complications. Others have misguided fears that the shot will trigger an adverse reaction, the group explained. (read more)
Targeting vitamin D receptors could prevent type 2 diabetes
BY HONOR WHITEMAN: Researchers found that treating mice with vitamin D, lithocholic acid (LCA) propionate, and other vitamin D receptor agonists stopped dedifferentiation in mouse-derived beta cells, which is a process that has been linked to the development of type 2 diabetes.
Study co-author Fang-Xu Jiang, of the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research in Western Australia, and colleagues recently reported their findings in the journal Diabetes & Metabolism.
It is estimated that around 30.3 million people in the United States have diabetes, and around 1.5 million new cases are diagnosed every year. (read more)
Omega-6 could lower type 2 diabetes risk by 35 percent
BY HONOR WHITEMAN: From an analysis of almost 40,000 adults across 20 studies, researchers found that people who had higher blood levels of linoleic acid — a main form of omega-6 — were less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those with lower levels of the fatty acid.
Study co-author Dr. Jason Wu, of the George Institute for Global Health in Australia, and colleagues recently reported their findings in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body is no longer able to effectively use insulin — the hormone that regulates blood glucose — or when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin. As a result, blood glucose levels become too high.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 30.3 million people in the United States have diabetes, and the majority of cases are type 2. (read more)
New testing system could be good news for diabetics, pose challenges for Broward company
BY MARCIA HEROUX POUNDS: Every day, diabetics must draw blood from their fingertips to test their glucose levels. It’s a nuisance to many, but it helps them determine how much they can eat, and for some, how much insulin they need.
But a new “continuous” glucose monitoring system by Abbott Laboratories, which is designed to work without a blood sample, has the potential to shake up the status quo. In late September, the Food and Drug Administration approved the monitor for marketing. Before it has even hit stores in the U.S., the system, which is expected to become available in December, is turning some heads in the medical device industry. (read more)
