Category Archives: Diabetes

M. May Zhang, PharmD Candidate

However, weight is a dynamic measure, and trajectories vary over time. Little is known about how onset time or cumulative exposure to obesity impact diabetes risk. Now, a recent study published in Diabetologia shows that diabetes risk is associated with younger age at onset of obesity, and longer exposure to obesity.2

Researchers used data from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Womens Health, a population-based analysis of Australian women studying the effect of various factors on health. Over 19 years, they gathered data from 11,192 initially diabetes-free women aged 18-23 years, focusing on BMI and incidence of type 2 diabetes.

The researchers identified 6 BMI trajectories, which varied by baseline BMI and rate of increase. Women who were initially overweight or obese, or became so over the course of the study, had a significantly increased risk of developing diabetes.

However, the data also showed that cumulative exposure to obesity increased diabetes risk. The researchers measured exposure using obese-years, which account for both duration and magnitude of obesity. A higher number of obese-years, indicating more cumulative exposure, was positively associated with diabetes. Women with less than 10 obese years were 2.18 times more likely to develop diabetes, while women with 30 or more years were 5.88 times more likely.

Researchers also found a negative association between age at onset of obesity and diabetes risk. This may be because women with early-onset obesity are likely to have a longer duration of obesity, thus increasing cumulative exposure. Additionally, obesity at a young age may have more impact on insulin resistance.

Women with rapidly increasing BMIs were more at risk than women with stable trajectories. Normal weight subjects classified as rapid increasers were more likely to develop diabetes than their stable weight counterparts. Likewise, overweight and obese rapid increasers were more at risk than the baseline-only overweight and obese groups.

This study sheds new light on the importance of obesity timing and exposure in young women. Early-onset obesity should be considered an independent risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Over half of the cohort experienced a rapid BMI increase in young adulthood, highlighting this age group as a population that should be routinely counseled about weight management.

Health care providers should encourage these patients to monitor their weight and weight change over time to prevent early-onset and rapid-increase obesity. Not only preventing obesity, but even delaying age at onset and reducing exposure, may significantly decrease diabetes incidence.

REFERENCES

Excerpt from:
Increased Diabetes Risk Due to Age at Onset of Obesity and Cumulative Exposure - Pharmacy Times

Some people watch what they eat. Paige and Tanner Szczesekhave to watch when they eat.

The two children, ages 6 and 2, from Cheektowaga, have Type 1 diabetes. Like others with their condition, they must take extra insulin before meal and snacks. It takes time to work. Eat too soon, and blood sugar can climb dangerously high a constant worry for their mother, Ashley.

My biggest goal is that my children can just feel like children, she said.

Thanks to a new drug developed with an assist in Western New York, they have more of a chance.

The Food and Drug Administration last month approved of a drug that brings researchers a step closer to developing an artificial pancreas that will provide fast-acting insulin in proper amounts at just the right time for those with diabetes.

Fiasp, made by Novo Nordisk, starts working in 2 minutes, hits full force within 10 minutes and even can be taken shortly after someone withdiabetesstarts eating.

Previous fast-acting insulins took at least two or three times as long to do that job.

The newest drug has been available to adults since 2017, but the Food and Drug Administration wanted testing on children before making it available to them. More than 700 children in 17 countries participated in the clinical trial, including five children ages 13 to 17 who have been patients in the diabetes centers at UBMD Pediatrics and next door at Oishei Childrens Hospital on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.

This was a big commitment for the families, said Dr. Kathleen E. Bethin, a clinical professor in the Department of Pediatrics in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo, and a physician at both diabetes centers. The kids were in the study for almost a year. There were a lot of extra blood draws and more blood sugar checks than are typically required.

Fiasp brings diabetes researchers closer to mimicking a closed-loop system that uses a glucose monitor, continuous insulin infusion pump and other technologies to allow people whose bodies dont make insulin to live like those whose do.

The new fast-acting insulin drug Fiasp boosts the prospects for a closed-loop insulin system often referred to as "an artificial pancreas," diabetes researchers in Buffalo and elsewhere say. (John Hickey/Buffalo News)

The goal in the diabetes field is to develop insulin analogs that behave more like natural insulin, which is rapid on, rapid off, meaning its quickly released, then quickly dissipates, said Dr. Lucy D. Mastrandrea, chief of the Division of Endocrinology/Diabetes at UBMD Pediatrics and medical director for the Oishei Childrens Hospital Diabetes Center. Part of the reason this drug was developed was to have a better timeline of action thats closer to natural insulin.

The body breaks down carbohydrates into blood sugar to use for energy. Insulin is a hormone needed to bring glucose from the bloodstream into human cells. When blood sugar gets too low, the process breaks down and can lead to learning challenges, seizures, loss of consciousness and death. When it spikes, especially often and over time, complications include limb amputation, heart and kidney disease, and stroke.

For those without diabetes, the pancreas, liver and other organs work together to automatically and seamlessly produce insulin and adjust levels as needed.

Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed when the body doesnt use insulin properly. It often can be managed through a combination of healthy eating, regular exercise and oral medications. Sometimes, insulin also is needed.

Those with Type 1 diabetes produce no insulin. They need to inject manufactured basal insulin to maintain levels throughout each day, load carbs or take medication when blood sugar levels get too low, and add fast-acting insulin to lower them when blood sugar levels climb.

Nearly 18,000 new cases of Type 1 diabetes are diagnosed each year. The majority of children have Type 1, while the majority of those diagnosed in adulthood have Type 2.

Our goal is to keep them in as best control as possible during their childhood years, so that they're not running the risk of dealing with complications when they're in their 20s and 30s, Mastrandrea said.

Drug-maker Eli Lilly engineered the first human-derived insulin, Humulin, in 1981. The company in 1996 developed a faster-acting insulin, Humalog, which is still routinely used. NovoLog and Apidra are among other brands that can lower blood sugar within 20 to 30 minutes after they are injected through a needle or an insulin pump, said Dr. Paresh Dandona, a leading international diabetes researcher, head of the Western New York Center of Diabetes-Endocrinology in Amherst and distinguished professor and chief of endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism in the UB medical school.

Administering the drugs takes planning and guesswork because eating, exercise, stress, illness and other factors affect blood sugar levels. That means those with diabetes need to predict related dips and spikes well in advance. Mealtimes generally are the most challenging because they can spark pronounced spikes.

The food hits you a lot faster than the insulin does, said Szczesek.

Fiasp changes the equation. The newer formulation of NovoLog includes niacinamide (vitamin B3) to boost the speed of absorption.

There still is a lag, but it's the best thing we have, said Dandona, whose clinic helped with adult trials several years ago and who has prescribed the drug to some of his patients during the last two years, with good results.

Paige Szczesek, 6, of Cheektowaga, looks at her personal diabetes manager, which helps her and others more closely track her blood glucose levels and insulin use. (John Hickey/Buffalo News)

Paige and Tanner Szczesek are on the front end of the learning curve when it comes to keeping a proper balance. Their father, Shane, also was diagnosed as a child with Type 1 diabetes.

Greater speed is a godsend for the children, each of whom has a continuous glucose monitor and insulin pump to help control their blood sugar. Paige also has a personal diabetes manager, as part of her pump, that helps her family determine when she needs more insulin and how much. Sweet treats are always on hand for times when their blood sugar drops.

When she needs more fast-acting insulin, someone needs to decide when to administer it, then see how it's working. Ashley Szczesek uses a smartphone to keep tabs on blood glucose levels for both children. She teams up with Paiges school nurse and teachers to address shortfalls and spikes. There are phone calls or text messages every time blood sugar readings warrant, as well as reports about when and what the first-grader has eaten.

I can't just send my kid into school and say, I'll see you at the end of the day,' Ashley Szczesek said. I have an alarm set on my phone for when they're high or they're low. On top of that, especially during the night, I'll normally set several alarms to get up and check their blood sugars. If they're low, I go wake them up and give them something to bring up their blood sugar. If they're high enough, I give them some extra insulin. Between us as parents and the children, there's a lot of sleep loss."

Paige started using Fiasp last year after the clinical trial ended. Mastrandrea prescribed it off-label. Her brother started taking it a few weeks ago.

Paiges A1c level has dropped by 1 percent, to about 7 percent, higher than those without diabetes but in a good range for someone Paiges age with the condition.

Fiasp can ease the diabetes burden, but not erase it.

Those without adequate health insurance may be unable to cover higher co-pays or other out-of-pocket costs. Some people have not wanted to switch for that reason, Mastrandrea said.

Meanwhile, researchers continue to pursue a biologic cure, as well as an insulin pump that works with a continuous glucose monitor to deliver insulin on a minute-by-minute basis as needed.

In order to do that really well, Mastrandrea said, you want to have insulins that are faster-acting, absorb better and behave the way my pancreas does. Fiasp is in that category.

Some of Dandonas patients already have the most advanced insulin pump, the Medtronic 670G, though the device can be complicated for most adults to use, let alone children, he said, and still needs agents to more quickly bring blood sugars into the balanced range.

Still, for those in the field and for families like the Szczeseks, recent progress has been nothing short of remarkable.

Early prototypes of closed-looped models like the 670G once weighed two to three times that of adult patients, Dandona said, and now we have a tiny device doing the same thing.

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Breakthrough diabetes insulin drug developed with help from Buffalo - Buffalo News

The report on the global diabetes devices market provides qualitative and quantitative analysis for the period from 2017 to 2025. The report predicts the global diabetes devices market to grow with a CAGR of 6.

New York, Jan. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Diabetes Devices Market: Global Industry Analysis, Trends, Market Size, and Forecasts up to 2025" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p04947545/?utm_source=GNW 7% over the forecast period from 2019-2025. The study on diabetes devices market covers the analysis of the leading geographies such as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW for the period of 2017 to 2025.

The report on diabetes devices market is a comprehensive study and presentation of drivers, restraints, opportunities, demand factors, market size, forecasts, and trends in the global diabetes devices market over the period of 2017 to 2025. Moreover, the report is a collective presentation of primary and secondary research findings.

Porters five forces model in the report provides insights into the competitive rivalry, supplier and buyer positions in the market and opportunities for the new entrants in the global diabetes devices market over the period of 2017 to 2025. Further, IGR- Growth Matrix gave in the report brings an insight into the investment areas that existing or new market players can consider.

Report Findings1) Drivers Growing prevalence of diabetes Rapidly changing lifestyles Rising occurrence of obesity2) Restraints Low awareness about diabetes management and monitoring devices3) Opportunities The introduction of advanced insulin delivery devices

Research Methodology

A) Primary ResearchOur primary research involves extensive interviews and analysis of the opinions provided by the primary respondents. The primary research starts with identifying and approaching the primary respondents, the primary respondents are approached include1. Key Opinion Leaders associated with Infinium Global Research2. Internal and External subject matter experts3. Professionals and participants from the industry

Our primary research respondents typically include1. Executives working with leading companies in the market under review2. Product/brand/marketing managers3. CXO level executives4. Regional/zonal/ country managers5. Vice President level executives.

B) Secondary ResearchSecondary research involves extensive exploring through the secondary sources of information available in both the public domain and paid sources. At Infinium Global Research, each research study is based on over 500 hours of secondary research accompanied by primary research. The information obtained through the secondary sources is validated through the crosscheck on various data sources.

The secondary sources of the data typically include1. Company reports and publications2. Government/institutional publications3. Trade and associations journals4. Databases such as WTO, OECD, World Bank, and among others.5. Websites and publications by research agencies

Segment CoveredThe global diabetes devices market is segmented on the basis of type of devices, and end user.

The Global Diabetes Devices Market by Type of Devices Monitoring Deviceso Self-Monitoring Blood Glucose (SMBG)o Continuous Blood Glucose Monitoring (CGM) Treatment Deviceso Manual Injectiono Pumps

The Global Diabetes Devices Market by End User Diagnostic Centers Hospitals Home Care Ambulatory Surgery Centers

Company Profiles Abbott Laboratories F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ag Johnson & Johnson (LifeScan, Inc.) DexCom Inc. Bayer Corporation Arkray, Inc. Sinocare, Inc. Medtronic PLC Sanofi Novo Nordisk Eli Lilly and Company Other companies

What does this report deliver?1. Comprehensive analysis of the global as well as regional markets of the diabetes devices market.2. Complete coverage of all the segments in the diabetes devices market to analyze the trends, developments in the global market and forecast of market size up to 2025.3. Comprehensive analysis of the companies operating in the global diabetes devices market. The company profile includes analysis of product portfolio, revenue, SWOT analysis and latest developments of the company.4. IGR- Growth Matrix presents an analysis of the product segments and geographies that market players should focus to invest, consolidate, expand and/or diversify.Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p04947545/?utm_source=GNW

About ReportlinkerReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.

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Global diabetes devices market is expected to grow with a CAGR of 6.7% over the forecast period from 2019-2025 - Yahoo Finance

A recent paper outlines an intriguing new theory. The authors ask whether the microbes that inhabit the human body could transfer diseases such as diabetes and heart disease from person to person.

The importance of the microbiome is currently at the forefront of scientific discourse. Experts and the public are equally absorbed by the fascinating influence of microbes on human health.

A new theoretical paper, published in the journal Science, takes the discussion one step further. The authors ask whether conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and chronic respiratory illnesses could be transmitted from one individual to another via the bacteria, fungi, and viruses that live on and in us.

The paper, which is titled Are noncommunicable diseases communicable? is likely to spark lively debate and a glut of new research. Because scientists now believe that the microbiome plays a role in many diseases, the authors ask whether it could also play a part in transmitting diseases among individuals.

Heart disease, cancer, and lung conditions are called noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) because they result from genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors: Therefore, they cannot be passed from person to person.

Over the last 100 years, mortality rates from communicable diseases, caused by infectious microbes, have fallen dramatically. During the same period, mortality rates from NCDs have risen sharply, now accounting for 71% of deaths globally.

Researchers have demonstrated that changes in the microbiome accompany a wide range of diseases, including diabetes, Parkinsons disease, heart disease, and cancer.

At the same time, scientists have found that the composition of our microbiome appears to mirror those of the people we live among.

For instance, the paper explains that unrelated people who live together have more similar gut bacteria than close relatives who live apart. Scientists currently believe that this similarity results from the shared diet and environment of people who cohabit; but could there be more to it?

The authors of the current paper synthesize these ideas; they explain that Some NCDs could have a microbial component and, if so, might be communicable via the microbiota. This would make NCDs communicable.

As it stands, evidence for this brave new theory is circumstantial, but it certainly merits further scrutiny.

The authors refer to a study of 12,067 individuals that spanned 32 years and report that Having an obese friend was associated with a 57% higher chance of being obese, and there was a 40% higher chance of obesity if a sibling was obese.

Once again, this association could be due to diet, environment, and genetics. Friends and siblings may be more likely to live in similar locations and eat similar foods. But aside from shared behaviors, the authors of the present paper wonder whether individuals might pass along certain microbes that increase the risk of developing obesity.

Obesity is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, and if we suppose that obesity is transmissible from our microbiome to anothers, it would imply that diabetes could also be considered a communicable disease.

Of course, this is a theory based on a theory, and there is only circumstantial evidence to back it up. As an example of this evidence, the authors explain that Within a year of a [type 2 diabetes] diagnosis, spouses have a higher chance of developing [type 2 diabetes], and this trend remains over 3 years after the initial diagnosis.

Again, this could just as easily be explained by two people sharing an environment and dietary habits.

More convincingly, the authors refer to results of various studies that have found that transferring feces from one mouse with a certain disease to another mouse without that disease can cause the second animal to develop the illness; they write:

[Fecal microbiota transplant] of dysbiotic microbiota from individuals with various NCDs into healthy animals results in disease, such as [cardiovascular disease, irritable bowel disorder, type 2 diabetes], and many others.

In short, the authors explain that disturbances in the microbiome can produce disease and that when scientists transplant these microbial communities into another animal, that animal becomes sick. They continue:

These observations suggest that the microbiota could be a causal and transmissible element in certain diseases that have been traditionally classified as NCDs.

This theoretical road may run both ways, too; the authors outline how transmissible microbiota, especially early in life, may also have a protective role against NCDs.

To date, bacteria are the most studied components of the microbiome, but it is possible that viruses which outnumber resident bacteria could also play a role in making NCDs transmissible.

As the authors write, scientists will need to carry out specific research to prove whether NCDs can, in fact, be communicated. Distinguishing between the effects of environment and any effects of microbial transfer will be challenging indeed.

This recent paper, however, is not meant to convince us that gut bacteria are transferring NCDs throughout the population. The authors simply hope that their hypothesis stimulates additional discussion and research. It is sure to do just that.

Read more:
Can you 'catch' heart disease, cancer, and diabetes? - Medical News Today

Its often said that Alzheimers disease is the medical condition people fear mosteven more than cancer. This is understandable, considering the staggering statistics around Alzheimers and the fact that, at least so far as we currently know, there are no truly effective treatments and no cure. (According to the Alzheimers Association in the US, between the years 2000 and 2017, deaths from Alzheimers disease (AD) increased 145%,1 while deaths from other noncommunicable conditions, such as heart disease, actually decreased. In the US alone, approximately 5.8 million people are living with Alzheimers, and this is projected to more than double to about 13.8 million people by 2050.)

Alzheimers may seem mysterious, and the lack of progress toward treatments has been disheartening, but a robust body of scientific evidence suggests that this illness may be a metabolic condition rooted in dysregulated glucose metabolism and insulin signaling.2,3 With this in mind, lets take a closer look at the connections between type 2 diabetes and Alzheimers.

Alzheimers disease is sometimes referred to as type 3 diabetes and has also been described as brain insulin resistance.4,5 In fact, associations between metabolic syndrome (a.k.a. insulin resistance syndrome6) and cognitive impairment are so strong that researchers have coined the term metabolic cognitive syndrometo emphasize these links.7,8,9 The primary malfunction in the brain of someone afflicted with AD is that neurons in affected regions lose the capacity to metabolize glucose properly.10,11 Being unable to harness energy from glucose, these cells atrophy and wither, and the resulting breakdown in neuronal communication may be what leads to the memory loss, cognitive impairment, personality changes, and other hallmarks of the illness.12

Weve known since the research of Rosalyn Yalow in the 1960s that T2D is a disease of too much insulin (unlike type 1 diabetes in which there is not enough insulin). Many researchers believe T2D is the final stage of chronically elevated insulin. Another factor affecting proper insulin secretion and development of type 2 diabetes is the accumulation of fat in the pancreas. (Compromised liver function resulting from the buildup of fat in the liver is called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, or NAFLD. The analogous condition in the pancreas is non-alcoholic fatty pancreas disease15, although it is not as widely recognized as NAFLD.) Abnormal accumulation of fat in the pancreas may interfere with healthy beta cell function and insulin secretion, and is associated with increased risk for type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.16,17,18

In some people, chronically elevated insulin can precede a T2D diagnosis by a decade or more. Theres a parallel in Alzheimers: in people at risk for AD, reduced brain glucose metabolism is measurable when theyre in their 30s and 40s.19 At this young age, though, they are cognitively healthy and show no signs or symptoms of AD. Even though the brains energy supply from glucose is already compromised, the brain is able to compensate and overcome this fuel shortage. Its only when the damage is so severe and widespread and the brain is no longer able to compensate that problems with cognition and memory begin to manifest.

Turning back to T2D, for many people, the elevated fasting blood glucose or A1c that would trigger a diabetes or pre-diabetes diagnosis is a late developmentin the disease process. Chronically high insulin preceded this for some length of time, going undetected because measuring insulin levels is not a routine part of a checkup or standard bloodwork. In the same way, its possible that the memory problems and cognitive impairment associated with AD are late developments, becoming apparent after years or possibly decades during which the brain has suffered from a progressive decrease in energy.20

Disruptions in either the supply of fuel to the brain or the brains ability to usethis fuel can have catastrophic consequences for cognitive function. The brain accounts for just 2% of a typical adults body weight, but it consumes as much as 20-25% of the bodys glucose and oxygen:

Given the high energy requirement of the brain and its critical dependence on the delivery of a constant supply of fuel, the consequences of leaving such an energy shortfall untreated can be dire. When the brains energy supply is insufficient to meet its metabolic needs, the neurons that work hardest, especially those concerned with memory and cognition, are among the first to exhibit functional incapacity (e.g., impairment of memory and cognitive performance).21

People with type 2 diabetes have an increased risk for Alzheimers disease and other types of dementia compared to those without diabetes.22,23,24 However, even in the absence of high blood sugar, people with chronically high insulin are also at greater risk for AD. In fact, one study showed that risk for AD was highest among people with elevated insulin but who were notdiabetic.25 In a study of subjects with newly diagnosed T2D or pre-diabetes who had seemingly normal cognitive function, greater insulin resistance was associated with reduced brain glucose metabolism and subtle cognitive impairments.26 Its possible that hyperinsulinemia and a disruption in brain fuel usage are the first dominos to fall in the Alzheimers cascade, setting the stage for future cognitive decline.

An interesting point to note is that while elevated insulin in the bloodappears to be a major risk factor for AD, many AD patients havelowerthan normal insulin levels in the brain.27,28 Insulin is not required to transport glucose across the blood-brain barrier, nor for neurons to take up and use glucose. However, insulin receptors are scattered richly throughout the brain, and insulin is believed to play a role in facilitating healthy cognition and the viability and proper functioning of neurons.29,30

Chronically elevated blood glucose and/or insulin have negative impacts on nearly every organ and tissue system in the body: the eyes, the kidneys, the skin, the liver, the ovaries, the prostate gland, nerve cells, and more. The brain is no less susceptible to the detrimental effects of deranged glucose metabolism. In fact, owing to its high energy demands, it might even be moresusceptible than other parts of the body, and Alzheimers disease could be the most severe manifestation of this.

Written by Amy Berger, MS, CNS

Amy Berger, MS, CNS, is a U.S. Air Force veteran and Certified Nutrition Specialist who specializes in using low-carbohydrate and ketogenic nutrition to help people reclaim their vitality through eating delicious foods, and showing them that getting and staying well don't require starvation, deprivation, or living at the gym. Her motto is, Real people need real food! She blogs atwww.tuitnutrition.com, where she writes about a wide range of health and nutrition-related topics, such as insulin, metabolism, weight loss, thyroid function, and more. She has presented internationally on these issues and is the author ofThe Alzheimer's Antidote: Using a Low-Carb, High-Fat Diet to Fight Alzheimers Disease, Memory Loss, and Cognitive Decline.

More:
The Connection Between Type 2 Diabetes and Alzheimer's Disease - A Sweet Life

Danish company Novo Nordisk specializes in the diabetes market. The company appears to be making an entry into the Alzheimers market, which isnt as unusual or unexpected as it initially sounds.

It has been postulated for some time that Alzheimers disease is related to blood glucose levels and has been dubbed type 3 diabetes. Type 1 is an autoimmune disease, sometimes referred to as insulin-dependent diabetes. Type 2 is typically acquired and appears more related to insulin resistance and is related to obesity.

Back in 2017, Mayo Clinic participated in a multi-institution clinical trial evaluating an insulin nasal spray on Alzheimers patients.

This study has furthered our understanding of the gene that is the strongest genetic risk factor known for Alzheimers disease, said Guojun Bu, a Mayo neuroscientist, at the time. About 20% of the human population carriers this riskier form of [the gene] APOE, called E4.

About 50% of Alzheimers cases are associated to APOE4 according to the study, which was published in the journal Neuron. And people with type 2 diabetes have a higher risk of Alzheimers disease, although the reasons for it are not completely clear. In fact, type 2 diabetes almost doubles the risk of developing Alzheimers disease. One possible reason is reduced blood flow to the brain because of damage to blood vessels caused by diabetes.

Now, Novo Nordisk is involved in a clinical trial using the companys GLP-1 analogue diabetes drug Victoza to evaluate if the drug can improve brain function and cognition in Alzheimers patients. It is a Phase IIb clinical trial. In laboratory studies it has been shown to improve Alzheimers symptoms and decrease the amount of amyloid plaques in the brain, which are associated with the disease.

In an update on the trial site, it was noted that patients receiving the drug had a perceived change in their symptoms after they stopped taking it. As a result, at the end of the 12-month trial, all patients will be offered the opportunity to join a 12-month open-label extension trial.

Novo Nordisk shares recently popped, and Evaluate Pharma speculates that this was related to the companys participation in the trial after the Danish newspaper Brsen made the link. They also cited a recent note by analysts at Bernstein titled Is Alzheimers type 3 diabetes? suggesting a role for GLP-1 drugs.

Despite the evidence, not a lot of clinical trials have been conducted testing the hypothesis. Evaluate Pharma notes, Correlation does not equal causation, and a skeptical pharma sector has remained on the sidelines. Indeed, it is striking that the number of clinical trials testing the hypothesis can be counted on the fingers of one hand, and none has a corporate pharma company sponsor.

These include studies by the University of Aarhus, which published data in 2016, the third Military Medical University, whose trial was completed last year but has not published the data yet, the trial mentioned earlier with the Imperial College London and Victoza, one by the Universitaria di Parma, with results expected last year, and an ongoing trial by the National Institute on Aging due in December 2022.

The trial of Victoza by the Imperial College London will enroll 204 patients with mild Alzheimers dementia and is a double-blind, placebo-controlled design that will last 12 months. Its primary endpoint is measuring rates of glucose metabolism in the brain. Secondary endpoints will look at various measures of cognition, including Adas, CDR-sum of boxes and ADSC-ADL.

The University of Aarhus study demonstrated that six months of Victoza was linked to an increase in glucose metabolism compared to placebo but was not deemed statistically significant.

Continued here:
Is Alzheimer's Type 3 Diabetes? Novo Nordisk is Willing to Find Out - BioSpace

MCALLEN, Texas Just a day before Matthew Garrett and his family were to celebrate his 3rd birthday, matthew became lethargic and was not himself. Even wanting to cancel his Chuck E. Cheese birthday party. It was the weekend so his parents researched his symptoms online.

Harlan Garrett, Matthews father, We really didnt like what we were reading. We didnt tell each other because we were really hoping and praying that we were wrong.

First thing on a Monday morning a visit to his pediatrician showed Matthew had a blood sugar reading of 654.

He goes your son had diabetes. Ive already contacted the hospital we have a room ready for him to go in there. You do not go home, you do not go get clothes. Said Harlan Garrett.

Matthew had Type 1 Diabetes and it took 8 days to stabilize him, leaving his parents time to wonder what they did wrong. Harlan Garrett says after leaving the hospitalhe was lost and wanted answers. The answers would from the South Texas Juvenile Diabetes Association.

Debra Franco, Executive director, STJDA, We work really hard to work with our local hospitals to make sure that families know upon diagnosis that they are not alone in their journey. That theres a local organization thats there for them.

Debra Franco says the organization was born out of sheer need. It was founded 8 years ago after her own son was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and sent to Driscoll Childrens Hospital in Corpus Christi for treatment. She said there were no doctors or hospitals in the Valley who could treat him.

Its just really frightening not to have a support system when you have a child that has been diagnosed with a chronic disease. Said Franco.

The organization is often the first resource for parents through programs like the Shot Spot Bears Program. With Type 2 Diabetes on the rise with children in the Valley, educational outreach programs like Stomp Out Diabetes, which reached more than 22,000 children.

Felipe Salinas, Board President STJDA, Families receive that box along with helpful literature books to get them started in the journey and a form they can fill out asking them for information so they can reach out to them.

Matthew Garrett is now 5 and has his diabetes under control. Thanks to a monitor which test his blood sugar every five minutes sending a notification to his parents smartphone.

Matthews doctor says his diabetes stems form a virus which attacks cells in his pancreas blocking it from producing insulin.

Harlan Garrett says he cant say enough good things about STJDA and all the support his family has received.

Franco adds, We are there to support families. We ourselves are families dealing with this disease. The compassion is there, the empathy is there and the support system is there.

Thanks to the work the South Texas Juvenile Diabetes Association does, there are now three pediatric endocrinologists in the Valley and every hospital can now treat children with diabetes.

Follow this link:
South Texas Juvenile Diabetes Association helping families struggling with the disease - KVEO-TV

With 2019 being such an environmentally-focused year. It is no surprise that this years CES 2020 was focused on renewable energy, but it didnt stop there. Health technology is always an important sector at CES 2020. There were two wearable devices that allow diabetics to control their glucose levels through non-invasive methods in a new, innovative way. There are advantages for users, but they also have their limitations.

The Add Care Glutrac

The Glutrac by Add Care aims to provide non-invasive continuous glucose monitoring. Considering that more than 29 million people in the United States have diabetes, the Glutrac hasnt fully made good on their promise to do so.

While achieving the level of accuracy not only helps a person monitor their glucose levels without pricking their finger, it provides the data you need at any given moment. Currently only the thing that is close to this are sensors that enter interstitial fluid, which require a small amount of penetration. The watch claims to be able to detect glucose levels from just optical sensors. Add Care, which is a company from Hong Kong, needs to prove the upmost accuracy to get approved by the FDA.

The goal of Glutrac is to monitor blood sugar without pricking your finger to get blood. These new technologies use artificial intelligence to estimate the persons glucose levels. In its early stages, this technology could expect to see more of these products at CES.

Basically the Glutrac is a smartwatch that will measure blood sugar. It watches your vital signs, including heart rate and uses AI to calculate glucose. According to the site MoneyPug, which is known as a platform to find the best health insurance, the watch has sensors on the back of the watch that can record health data every 15 minutes, providing data on where your blood sugar is at interminably. Furthermore there is a sensor to watch where you can take on-demand readings. The process takes about one minute to measure and analyze in the cloud and deliver measurements.

AerBetic

Believe it or not, dogs can smell when your blood sugar is fluctuating. AerBetic was designed a device using this idea. Not only can this help you recognize the pain and expense of traditional diabetes management, it can help you keep track of your glucose levels. For a while there has needed to be a change in the way we approach diabetes. AerBetic uses the latest gas-sensing technology to create a truly non-invasive, affordable, and wearable diabetes product.

AerBetic is a non-invasive wearable diabetes monitor that continuously provides your blood sugar levels. It also comes with an application that allows the user to set up alerts in order to communicate to a network of health care providers.

To monitor the changes in blood sugar levels, the AerBetic uses a nano sensor that detects gases humans emit. Scientists have identified that this can be an early indicator of conditions such as hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia.

Nano sensors are the core technology of the AerBetic. These devices are customized to the application. The sensors acts like a dogs nose, and it has the ability to sense multiple gases simultaneously. These low detection levels are necessary to monitor your blood sugar.

Health & Tech

Like renewable energy, the health industry is going to be revolutionized by technology. There is seemingly no end to the innovations that technology will provide for health and health care. As the health of our world continues to fluctuate with foods full of sugar and fat and we exercise less and sit at our desks. With such a pervasive disease like diabetes, new technologies are essential.

Despite that renewable energy and eco-friendly products took center stage at CES 2020, health will continue to be a focus of the conference. Not only is creating a closed loop insulin dispenser a key issue for diabetes, these non-invasive wearables will sense when your blood sugar is fluctuating. Diabetes isnt the only disease that could be facilitated by technology, the whole industry will change as new technologies like these become more commonplace. It will continue to be a focus of the CES conference, just like renewable energy products.

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Two Innovative Wearables Took Diabetes Control to the Next Level at CES 2020 - HealthTechZone

Patients on the road to recovery from type 2 diabetes

MONTREAL , Jan. 13, 2020 /CNW/ - What if you were told you could reverse the course of type 2 diabetes through exercise and a healthy diet? That was the challenge this past year for patients at the Montreal Heart Institute's Diabetes Prevention Clinic supported by Sun Life Financial. The health team is thrilled with the progress achieved by its 180 participants during the clinic's first year.

"These are impressive results after just one year!I congratulate the patients who undertook this challenge and I thank the clinic's health care professionals who've helped guide them on their road to recovery," said Jacques Goulet , President of Sun Life Canada. "With so many Canadians affected by diabetes, Sun Life is committed to fighting the disease and its potentially serious complications. This initiative aligns with our purpose, which is to help our Clients achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives. "

"Lifestyle is better than medication for treating diabetes, and doesn't involve the side effects frequently associated with medication. The clinic delivers the best tools to patients, so they can minimize complications related to their disease," said Dr. Martin Juneau , Director of Prevention at the Montreal Heart Institute and Diabetes Prevention Clinic supervisor.

A multidisciplinary team of health practitioners meets periodically with participants and gives them the tools they need to make healthy lifestyle changes and improve their health. This multidisciplinary program is offered at the Montreal Heart Institute's EPIC Center, thanks to a donation of $450,000 from Sun Life.

A tailored program to meet growing demandThe Diabetes Prevention Clinic's mission is to turn the tide on diabetes through early detection and healthy lifestyle strategies. This program meets a growing demand for preventive services for patients with diabetes and prediabetes, chronic conditions currently affecting 1 in 3 Canadians. Cardiovascular disease is the most common complication and leading cause of death in patients with type 2 diabetes1. Fortunately, many studies show that type 2 diabetics who make lifestyle changes, including a high-quality diet, regular moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, no tobacco use and moderate alcohol consumption, reduce their risk of premature death from cardiovascular disease.

Diabetes is the 5th-leading cause of premature death in the world. Hyperglycemia from the onset of diabetes has multiple adverse effects on cardiovascular risk factors, including atherosclerosis, hypertension and dyslipidemia. These issues, together with the damage hyperglycemia causes to small blood vessels, mean type 2 diabetes increases the incidence of coronary heart disease by 2 to 4 times2.

Sun Life in the community At Sun Life, we are committed to building sustainable, healthier communities for life and we're proud to hold the Caring Company designation from Imagine Canada. Community wellness is an important part of our sustainability commitment and we believe that by actively supporting the communities in which we live and work, we can help build a positive environment for our Clients, Employees, advisors and shareholders. Our philanthropic support focuses on two key areas: health, with an emphasis on diabetes awareness, prevention, care and research initiatives through our Team Up Against DiabetesTM platform; and arts and culture, through our award-winning Making the Arts More AccessibleTM program. Since 2012, Sun Life has committed $31 million globally to support diabetes awareness, prevention, care and research initiatives. In Quebec our sponsorship and donation initiatives also focus on home economics and financial education.

We also partner with sports properties in key markets to further our commitment to healthy and active living. Our Employees and advisors take great pride in volunteering over 29,000 hours each year and contribute to making life brighter for individuals and families across Canada .

About the Montreal Heart InstituteFounded in 1954, the Montreal Heart Institute constantly aims for the highest standards of excellence in the cardiovascular field through its leadership in clinical and basic research, ultra-specialized care, professional training and prevention. It houses the largest cardiovascular research center in Canada , the largest cardiovascular prevention center in the country, and the largest cardiovascular genetics center in the country. The Institute is affiliated with the University of Montreal and has more than 2,000 employees, including 245 doctors and more than 85 researchers.

Story continues

About the Montreal Heart Institute FoundationFounded in 1977, the Montreal Heart Institute Foundation raises and administers funds to support the Institute's priority and innovative projects and fight cardiovascular diseases, the world's number one cause of mortality. Its philanthropic events and the contributions of its donors have enabled this leading cardiovascular health care organization to become the largest cardiac research centre in the country. Since its creation, the Foundation has raised more than $283 million in donations. Its 27,514 donors helped make important discoveries and support specialists, professionals and researchers of the Institute to provide care at the cutting edge of technology to tens of thousands of patients in Quebec .

About the EPIC CenterThe MHI's EPIC Center is the largest centre for cardiovascular disease prevention in Canada , with more than 5500 registered members. The Center has a bit more than 80 employees and is part of the Prevention Branch of the Montreal Heart Institute. The centre is for healthy people who wish to keep it that way (primary prevention) as well as for patients who had a cardiac accident (readaptation and secondary prevention). The staff includes physicians, cardiologists, internists, emergency physicians, a physiologist, visiting professors, nurses, nutritionists, kinesiologists and rescuers.

Montreal Heart Institute Foundation Isabelle Pelletier 514 238-4178Ipelletier.pr@gmail.com

Sun LifeMylne Blanger514-904-9739mylene.belanger@sunlife.com

One year after the opening of the Montreal Heart Institutes Diabetes Prevention Clinic supported by Sun Life Financial, the health team is thrilled with the progress achieved by its participants. (CNW Group/Sun Life Financial Inc.)

Sun Life Financial Inc. (CNW Group/Sun Life Financial Inc.)

Montreal Heart Institute Foundation (CNW Group/Sun Life Financial Inc.)

SOURCE Sun Life Financial Inc.

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/January2020/13/c1437.html

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First year of the Montreal Heart Institute's Diabetes Prevention Clinic supported by Sun Life Financial - Yahoo Finance

Diabetes is a massive market in the healthcare sector. An estimated 415 million people have diabetes worldwide, and those numbers are growing. It's also an on-going healthcare issue, one that patients have to manage, often for the rest of their lives. As such, there is a lot of recurring revenue. It's not a bad idea to find a strong company focused on this vertical to add to your portfolio.

Over the last decade, one of the biggest stocks in healthcare has been diabetes specialistDexCom (NASDAQ:DXCM), a wireless health company that allows patients and doctors to track glucose levels in real-time. Another potential winner in this space isLivongo Health(NASDAQ:LVGO), an up-and-coming small-cap that sends updates, reminders, and coaching tips to all its clients with diabetes (and other health issues). And biotech companyProvention Bio(NASDAQ:PRVB)is hoping to get approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a drug that delays the onset of type 1 diabetes. Read more to see if any of these stocks are buys right now.

Image source: Getty Images

DexCom, a $21 billion large-cap stock, has been dominant in healthcare for a long time. Over the last 10 years, shareholders have been rewarded with a 2,563% return. DexCom achieved that impressive return with a singular focus on diabetes. Traditionally, people with diabetes had to prick their finger to check their blood in order to monitor their insulin level. DexCom introduced a wireless device inserted under their skin. This sensor, called a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), is appreciated by patients because of its ease of use and valued by doctors because of its superior data and better health outcomes.

DexCom recently signed a distribution deal withWalgreens Boots Allianceto sell the CGM device. Patients insert a tiny sensor under the skin using an automatic applicator.DexCom's sensor starts automatically and continuously taking glucose readings in the patient's interstitial fluid. A micro-transmitter sends the data wirelessly to a receiver. Patients can read their own data in any connected smart device. The CGM can also be set to alert the patient if certain glucose levels are reached.

In its most recent quarter, DexCom reported $396 million in revenue for the quarter, 49% higher than the previous year. Net income was $60 million for the quarter. DexCom's main competition in this space is withAbbott Laboratories(NYSE:ABT)that sells a popular CGM device calledFreestyle Libre. Abbott's CEO Miles White predicted in a conference call last year that his company's device would achieve sales of $5 billion a year (which would dwarf DexCom's $1.35 billion). So far, DexCom's fantastic numbers suggest DexCom is still winning in the diabetes space. Even with competition, clearly the market opportunity is vast.

Livongo Health is a fascinating company and a rising star in personalized medicine. While unprofitable, the company has phenomenal revenue growth. It brought in $46 million in sales in its most recent quarter,up 148% year over year. Over 200,000 diabetes patients are on Livongo's messaging platform, up 118% year over year, and the company has 771 enterprise clients.The company is creating additional verticals in prediabetes, hypertension, weight management, and behavioral health. Livongo specializes in helping all patients with chronic conditions, giving them advice, coaching tips, and interpretations of data readouts.

The company has conducted 48 studies measuring return on investment (ROI) and found that 90% of its clients had positive ROI in the first year. Indeed, some corporate clients are so happy with Livongo's offering, the clients are offering to reduce or eliminate the co-pay for hypertension or diabetes drugs for their employees, as long as the employees subscribe to Livongo.

So far, Livongo's stock has been a disappointment, down 30% from the company's initial public offering in July 2019.The company has a $2.5 billion market cap, $400 million in cash, and no debt. Its price-to-sales ratio is 17, about the same as DexCom, while Livongo is growing revenues three times as fast.Gross margins are 74%, suggesting the company can become profitable at any time. Right now though, the company is focused on escalating its top-line growth.Livongo has formed partnerships with MDLIVE and Doctor on Demand to enable virtual access to doctors for all its clients, which will roll out in 2020.The future looks bright for Livongo Health.

Provention Bio is an interesting biotech focused on preventing diseases before they become acute. It's a tiny company right now, with a market cap of $658 million.But the stock has been running wild, up 741% last year. What caused the stock to take off? The company reported amazing results in its phase 2 study for Teplizumab, a drug designed to delay the onset of diabetes in at-risk patients.

In this long-term study, the median patients on placebo developed diabetes in two years. That's in sharp contrast to the group on Provention's drug. Those median patients developed diabetes in four years. In fact, 73% of the people on placebo developed diabetes, compared to 43% of those on Teplizumab. Thus the drug not only delayed the onset of diabetes, on average, but many patients avoided diabetes altogether. The numbers were so good, the FDA decided the company can file its new drug application on the basis of its phase 2 study.

Provention has no profits and no revenues, so like many biotech stocks, it has to be considered speculative. On the other hand, the risk/reward ratio is very intriguing, since the diabetes market is so large.

After all, diabetes is a $45 billion market in the U.S. alone.Worldwide, the diabetes market will surpass $85 billion by 2022. It's a huge market opportunity for all three of these companies. Of the three stocks, DexCom has the largest upside. The stock has quadrupled over the last two years, so patient investors might wait for a better price.

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3 Top Diabetes Stocks to Watch in January - The Motley Fool