Did You Know

Metformin appears to reduce the risk for pancreatic cancer in patients with diabetes, whereas insulin therapy appears to increase the risk, according to the results of a large case-control study. See This Week’s Item #8.  

A vaccine to prevent heart attacks could transform the treatment of heart disease. The new vaccine works by reversing the narrowing of the arteries, a leading cause of heart attacks. See This Week’s Item #5.  

Another new category of anti-diabetic medicines called SGLT-2 inhibitors have been found to reduce blood sugars without the use of insulin. These drugs make the kidneys spill sugar into the urine. This has two potentially beneficial effects. First, it lowers blood sugar levels by helping the body eliminate high sugars …

There is good evidence that the insulin-producing cells of the body are damaged and destroyed by inflammation in Type 2 diabetes. That puts it in a similar category with other inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and gout. One new agent being investigated is called interleukin-2 (IL-2) beta receptor antagonist. …

Children with Type 1 diabetes are at an increased risk of developing tuberculosis, according to a new report. Dr. E. A. Webb, from the Desmond Tutu Tuberculosis Center, Cape Town, South Africa, and colleagues found that almost one in three children with Type 1 diabetes tested positive for TB, placing them …

Long known for its antioxidants, immune boosting and, most recently, antihypertensive properties, black tea could be used to control diabetes, according to a study. Next to water, tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world. Researchers studied the polysaccharide levels of green, oolong and black teas and whether …

Doing something unusual, like knocking on wood or patting yourself on the head, while taking a daily dose of medicine may be an effective strategy to help seniors remember whether they’ve already taken their daily medications, suggests new research from Washington University in St. Louis. We’ve all heard warnings that some …

Oramed’s oral insulin capsule, (ORMD-0801), was well tolerated by patients and no serious adverse events were observed. The insulin absorption was not affected when given before meal ingestion. Oramed the developer reported positive results from a Phase 2A study of its oral insulin capsule, ORMD-0801, on Type 1 diabetic patients. …

A team of Canadian scientists have discovered that naringenin, a flavonoid found in citrus fruit, and especially grapefruit, makes the liver burn fat instead of storing it after a meal. (This chemical compound also gives grapefruit its bitter taste.) Potentially, without having to change diets or cut out particular foods, …

Hopping on a bicycle or walking to work is positively associated with fitness levels in men and women, as well as inversely associated with obesity, triglyceride levels, blood pressure, and insulin levels in men, according to the results of a new study. What are you waiting for? In men, the statistical associations …