Gene flaws may increase kids' risk for type 1 diabetes
Filed under: Type 1, Childhood, Research, Daily News
A new study, a report of which has been published in Nature, has identified gene flaws that increase the risk for type 1 diabetes in children. By examining the genetic codes of thousands of children, some with and some without diabetes, as well as those of parents of diabetics, the researchers identified three changes on one specific gene present in those with diabetes. They then looked at 1600 additional diabetes patients' genetic codes and again found the very same marks, sometimes called "flavors" or "flaws." Two of these variations increase a person's odds of developing diabetes by fifty percent, say the researchers. However, the third seems to decrease risk for the disease.Type 1, says lead author Hakon Hakonarson, is a complex genetic disorder "involving mutations in several genes acting in concert to predispose someone to the condition." Important? Very. Best case scenario: understanding how these genes operate is the kind of knowledge that could lead to a cure. At the very least, such knowledge could help medical caregivers identify at-risk children - a step that could eventually precede the standard diagnosis procedure as we know it today.
Click here for more details about this study.
Diabetes Doubles in the Last 10 Years
Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Childhood, Adult Onset, Diet, Lifestyle, Research, Exercise, Daily News
An area in Seattle, WA is reporting a two-fold increase in the number of diabetics, up from ten years ago. In addition to this -- type 1 diabetes is on the rise.
The numbers show that 84,000 adults (nearly 6% of the adult population of the county) were diagnosed with diabetes in 2006, compared with 2.8% in 1996. Even more are unaware they have the condition. Type 1 diabetes, for which there is no known prevention, is showing a dramatic increase in the area, as well.
A researcher involved in the study explains "this is not a question of raising awareness of diabetes anymore -- we're beyond that. We need to understand why people aren't listening." The comment pertains to type 2 diabetics and why they have not altered unhealthy lifestyles choices such as high-fat foods and not enough exercise. Both contribute to skyrocketing obesity rates. And obesity is a major risk factor for Type 2 diabetes, by far the most common form.
Seattle has one of the highest rates of type 1 diabetes in children under 5, and they don't know why. But early research shows that oral insulin in family members of those already diagnosed showed a 4 1/2-year delay in the onset of the disease.
History underway in type 1 diabetes cure
Filed under: Type 1, Childhood, Research, Events, Support
Dr. Faustman's lab is currently collecting blood samples from individuals with established Type 1 diabetes. These samples are being used to quantify the number of autoreactive T-cells and develop the adequate dosage for Phase 1 of human trials to cure Type 1 diabetes.
The research has been presented and the NIH confirmed it. By reeducating the confused T-cells and instructing them not to attack healthy islets, an apparent cure of established type 1 diabetes in non-obese diabetic mice is possible. Now, Dr. Faustman is collecting human samples to bestow the same cure for diabetes in humans.
If you wish to be a part of this revolutionary event for curing Type 1 diabetes, please contact the Clinical Coordinator or call Dr. Faustman's lab at (617) 726-4084. Each participant is asked to bring a control person along with them - an unrelated person without Type 1 diabetes or another autoimmune disease. Diabetic or not - you can be a part of history in curing Type 1 diabetes!
Gladys Knight supports type 2 diabetes research and prevention in memory of mother
Filed under: Type 2, Adult Onset
My soul is inspired whenever I discover a celebrity advocate for diabetics. The famous R&B performer, Gladys Knight, has been singing the praises of type 2 diabetes prevention for years.
Her mother, Elizabeth Knight, passed away 10 years ago from type 2 complications. In her honor and all those living with type 2 diabetes, Gladys Knight and family established the Elizabeth Knight Fund through the American Diabetes Association (ADA) to support peer-reviewed diabetes research and awareness programs in communities nationwide. Ms. Knight also collaborated with the ADA on a cookbook of diabetic recipes, At Home With Gladys Knight, initially released in 2001.
The Knight family believes education is critical to living a long and healthy life with type 2. Their mother's legacy lives on in the hearts of diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetics alike, thanks to the good works of the Elizabeth Knight Fund.
[RESEARCH] Pharmacological and lifestyle interventions to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes in people with impaired glucose tolerance: systematic review and meta-analysis
Objective To quantify the effectiveness of pharmacological and lifestyle interventions to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes in people with impaired glucose tolerance.
Data sources Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane library searched up to July 2006. Expert opinions sought and reference lists of identified studies and any relevant published reviews checked.
Study selection Randomised controlled trials that evaluated interventions to delay or prevent type 2 diabetes in individuals with impaired glucose tolerance.
Results 21 trials met the inclusion criteria, of which 17, with 8084 participants with impaired glucose tolerance, reported results in enough detail for inclusion in the meta-analyses. From the meta-analyses the pooled hazard ratios were 0.51 (95% confidence interval 0.44 to 0.60) for lifestyle interventions v standard advice, 0.70 (0.62 to 0.79) for oral diabetes drugs v control, 0.44 (0.28 to 0.69) for orlistat v control, and 0.32 (0.03 to 3.07) for the herbal remedy jiangtang bushen recipe v standard diabetes advice. These correspond to numbers needed to treat for benefit (NNTB) and harm (NNTH) of 6.4 for lifestyle (95% credible interval, NNTB 5.0 to NNTB 8.4), 10.8 for oral diabetes drugs (NNTB 8.1 to NNTB 15.0), 5.4 for orlistat (NNTB 4.1 to NNTB 7.6), and 4.0 for jiangtang bushen (NNTH 16.9 to NNTB 24.8).
Conclusions Lifestyle and pharmacological interventions reduce the rate of progression to type 2 diabetes in people with impaired glucose tolerance. Lifestyle interventions seem to be at least as effective as drug treatment.
Mapping Diabetes
Filed under: Type 2, Adult Onset, Diet, Lifestyle, Research, Daily News
Scientists have mapped the genes responsible for causing type 2 diabetes. This new research is giving hope to new tests that can predict an individuals risk for developing the disease and future treatments.
The study compared the genetic make-up of 700 people with type 2 diabetes and a family history of the condition, with 700 diabetes-free people. Four points on the gene map linked to a person's diabetes risk and were confirmed with another group of 5,000 type 2 diabetics. The findings of this research could explain up to 70% of the genetics related to developing diabetes. A particular zinc transporter, known as SLC30A8, which regulates insulin secretion, was shown to have a mutation. Researchers feel they may be able to treat some cases of diabetes by correcting this mutation.
These findings will allow for the creation of a genetic test to predict people's risk of developing type 2 diabetes, as well as better treatments for the presiding cause of their diabetes. Nary a day passes that I am not motivated for the future of all diabetics. This is the type of research that strengthens my faith in the coming of a cure. Identify the nature of the problem and nip it in the bud.
Inspired by Diabetes global contest
Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Childhood, Adult Onset, Diet, Lifestyle, Exercise, Fundraisers, Support, Care
Do you or a loved one have diabetes? Are you a healthcare professional caring for people with diabetes? Living with the disease or caring for a person with diabetes is an up and down journey. Inspired by Diabetes is a global campaign asking all those impacted by diabetes to share their story.
The campaign's Creative Expressions Competition just opened to the world on June 21, and is accepting creative entries through January 31, 2008. If you have a creative bent, tell your story through a short essay or narrative; up to three photographs; an original drawing/painting or musical score.
Entries will be judged across category, art type and age group, starting as young as age five. The Grand Prize Winner across each category will win a $5,000 donation to the charity of their choice, a trophy and a paid trip for two to the media announcement of the winners and the global exhibition. I wish I could tell you the exhibition is planned for an exotic location, but it hasn't been announced, yet!
Inspired by Diabetes, a collaboration between Eli Lilly and the International Diabetes Federation's Unite for Diabetes Initiative, is bringing those close to the disease together to try and raise awareness of the global burden of diabetes. All entrants will receive two blue circle pins, the global symbol of diabetes. I had never heard of the blue circle before, this is one pin I would like to sport. Perhaps the blue circle will become as powerful and recognizable as the beautiful pink ribbon for cancer awareness.
Mary Tyler Moore champions research for kids with type 1 diabetes
Filed under: Type 1, Childhood, Research
I have always loved Mary Tyler Moore. I remember snuggling on the couch with my mom one night a week to watch the Mary Tyler Moore show. I don't know what was more comical -- the humor of the storyline or hearing my mom's roaring laugh each Saturday.
I found out years ago Moore has type 1 diabetes. Right away, it comforted me. Maybe it was because I admired her acting skills and love her warm smile. My young brain logic went something like this, "If Mary Tyler Moore has type 1, then maybe it's not so bad my older brother has juvenile diabetes." Whatever the reason, I did some research to catch up on Moore's activities these days.
Born in 1936, Moore turns 71 this year. Her activism in support of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International (JDRF) is remarkable. As JDRF's International Chairman, Moore has regularly testified before Congress for juvenile diabetes research. She is heading to Washington D.C. later this month to testify once again at Children's Congress 2007. Moore and over 100 kids with type 1 diabetes will meet with top U.S. Government officials to advocate for the cause. These pioneering delegates represent all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
I applaud Mary Tyler Moore for her efforts on behalf of type 1 diabetics worldwide. Watch for future posts on Children's Congress 2007 -- this influential event only comes around every two years.
Rats it's a Virus
Filed under: Type 1, Childhood, Lifestyle, Drugs, Research
No kidding! The rats are leading researchers to triggering events causing diabetes. The new findings suggest that there is, indeed, a genetic susceptibility to diabetes, but that the precipitating event is a viral infection.
The virus in question is the Ljungan virus. Previous reports indicate that infections with the Ljungan virus can induce diabetes in laboratory rats, and that the diabetes can be reversed if the animals are treated with antiviral drugs before the destruction of insulin-secreting islet cells becomes widespread.
I'm not sure how everybody else out there got their D-card. My diagnosing event happened shortly after I had the chicken pox, back in '85. The childhood christening event apparently left me out in the cold and caused the love-hate relationship between my islets and my insulin autoantibodies. Lucky me. Thanks to all the readers out there who have already shared their sequence of diagnosis with me. What's your story? Please, share with us.
Diabetes drugs and pregnancy: the Good, the Bad, the Ugly
I just read that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that it is re-classifying the drug NovoLog to allow its use by women with Type 1 diabetes who are pregnant. NovoLog is manufactured by drug-producing giant Novo Nordisk. The change came after a trial which found that pregnant women with T1 diabetes who took NovoLog had HbA1c levels and rates of maternal hypoglycemia comparable to women on regular insulin. The study did not, however, evaluate whether babies whose moms take the drug while pregnant have a greater risk of congenital malformations. On the other hand, women taking NovoLog benefited from a lower risk of diabetes-related pregnancy dangers such as preterm delivery.Pregnancy and drugs. It's a complicated issue. What's safe? What's not? If only it were so simple as dividing all drugs into one category or the other - the Good or the Bad. Unfortunately, many common medications are in a third category - the Ugly? These drugs, known as category B drugs, constitute a sort of pharmaceutical no-man's land. You see, these meds have not been proven to cause harm to unborn children, like category C drugs. Yet they have not been proven safe, either, like category A drugs. This means, as I discovered when I was pregnant in 2006, if you're sick and could benefit from some specific No-Man's-Land drug, odds are your doc will offer to write you a prescription for it. He or she will warn you that it's possible the drug causes harm and leave the decision of whether or not to take it up to you. Now, I don't want to go back to the Bad Old Days when doctors told patients "do this" or "do that," "take this" or "take that," and, by golly, you did it and didn't ask questions. But wouldn't it be nice to just know what to do? Or to know that your doc knows all the answers? What's a gal to do??