Diabetes In Control. A free weekly diabetes newsletter for Medical Professionals. News and information for Medical Professionals.
Letter from the Editor
Although every news day is filled with information about COVID-19, patient deaths and the seemingly snail’s pace of vaccinations, only one illness has seemingly been positively affected by the corona virus, and that is the flu. It appears that the use of masks, social distancing, and fewer sick people in the workplace has reduced the incidence of the flu by over 40%. However, other diseases like diabetes and heart disease have not slowed down and appear to be worsening as well.
This week our intern from South College of Pharmacy, Destiny Funchess, has a great article on how best to treat your diabetes patients to prevent a cardiovascular accident.
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We can make a difference!
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Dave Joffe
Editor-in-chief
TOP STORIES — Diabetes News and Research
Initiating the right medications upon diabetes diagnosis can help mitigate heart attack risk.
A new study shows that a potato-based diet does not disturb blood sugar control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
Does gestational diabetes pose the same risks in twin pregnancies?
Fact: The Six Distinct Types of Prediabetes
Scientists have, for the first time, distinguished six different subtypes of prediabetes. The research, tracking data from an intensive 25-year longitudinal study, suggests these new subtypes will allow clinicians to identify those patients most likely to develop diabetes and provide the most effective treatment for each subtype. It has not been possible for people with prediabetes until now to predict whether they would develop diabetes and be at risk of severe complications such as kidney failure, or whether they would only have a harmless form with slightly higher blood glucose levels without significant risk.
Using a method called cluster analysis, the research homed in on six different prediabetes subtypes, each distinguished by other metabolic markers.
Each of the six prediabetes subtypes is distinguished by specific metabolic parameters and results in different long-term outcomes. Three subtypes (clusters 1, 2, and 4) are the healthiest types of prediabetes. These subjects present as generally healthy. Cluster 4, for example, encompasses overweight subjects with broadly healthy metabolic markers. Clusters 3, 5, and 6 were linked to the highest risk of developing type 2 diabetes and secondary diseases. Cluster 5 grouped those subjects with pronounced fatty liver, while cluster 3 grouped those who produced significantly lower insulin levels.
In another study, the researchers examined data from another longitudinal study. Called Whitehall II, the UK study tracked nearly 10,000 subjects’ metabolic health for over 20 years. The six subtypes accurately fit that large dataset, affirming prediabetes can be distinguished into separate disease stratifications. One of the goals is to develop precise prevention and therapy measures, i.e., the appropriate prevention or treatment for the right group of people at the right time.
The new study was published in the journal Nature Medicine, Jan 2021
Diabetes in Control gratefully acknowledges the assistance of the following pharmacy doctoral candidates in the preparation of this week’s newsletters:
Abdullah Al-Ajmi, PharmD Candidate, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Brianna Belton, PharmD. Candidate, Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Destiny Funchess, PharmD Candidate, Tougaloo College, South College School of Pharmacy
Aleksandra Kusic, PharmD Candidate, Florida A&M University, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Arjay Mendoza, PharmD Candidate, University of Colorado Denver Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Sandra Zaki, PharmD Candidate, Florida A&M University
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