alex revision
June 30th, 2010, 10:13 AM
Insulin pump better than injections
Wed, 30 Jun 2010 11:25:26 GMT
http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=132781§ionid=3510210
insulin pump is better than multiple daily injections of the medication in controlling blood glucose levels in patients with Type 1 diabetes, a new study finds.
According to the study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, continuous glucose monitoring can help improve glucose control without increasing the risk for hypoglycemia, a potentially dangerous side effect associated with many diabetes therapies.
The levels of HbA1C -- commonly used to measure blood sugar levels -- was four times lower in individuals using insulin pump and continuous glucose monitoring device compared with those receiving regular insulin injections.
These individuals are also reported to be less likely to develop long-term diabetes-related complications such as eye, kidney and heart disease, the study found.
The device has also shown promising results in children, a group in which controlling the glucose levels have traditionally been reported to be harder.
"What we've been able to show is that by combining this technology, you can lower the A1C, which reduces your risk of complications, and you can do it safely without increasing your rate of hypoglycemia," said lead researcher Richard Bergenstal.
He added that patients who failed to achieve the treatment goals by receiving multiple daily injections should consider using a pump and a sensor.
New drug found for type 2 diabetics
Wed, 30 Jun 2010 12:46:35 GMT
http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=132791§ionid=3510210
An experimental drug has shown promising results in reducing blood levels of sugar in patients suffering from advanced Type 2 diabetes, a new study finds.
According to the study published in The Lancet, dapagliflozin not only lowers blood glucose levels but also contributes to a significant weight loss and a slight reduction in the needed daily insulin dose.
Significant reductions were also reported in the blood HbA1C levels -- a variable commonly used to measure blood sugar -- of those receiving dapagliflozin.
Serious hypoglycemia, or dangerous attacks of low blood sugar commonly reported following the use of anti-diabetic medication, was not prevalent among dapagliflozin users.
Dapagliflozin belongs to a new class of oral Type 2 diabetes treatments known as sodium-glucose transporter-2 inhibitors. It acts through blocking the SGLT2 protein and subsequently increasing the amount of glucose excreted in the urine.
"The most interesting thing here is that this drug, because of this mode of action, can in theory be used right at the very beginning of the disease or it can be used, as we've shown in this study, really quite late on in patients who are struggling to control their diabetes on insulin, with or without other oral agents," said lead researcher John Wilding, stressing that SGLT2 inhibitors are effective across the spectrum of the disease.
The high levels of glucose in the urine of these individuals, however, place them at an increased risk of developing urinary tract infection.
These individuals are reported to have shorter waistlines, as the extra calorie is excreted in the urine along with blood glucose, the study found.
Scientists believed that adding dapagliflozin to other treatments may lead to additional benefits, which makes the drug a good choice not only in different stages of the disease but also in individuals vulnerable to developing various complications.
Wed, 30 Jun 2010 11:25:26 GMT
http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=132781§ionid=3510210
insulin pump is better than multiple daily injections of the medication in controlling blood glucose levels in patients with Type 1 diabetes, a new study finds.
According to the study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, continuous glucose monitoring can help improve glucose control without increasing the risk for hypoglycemia, a potentially dangerous side effect associated with many diabetes therapies.
The levels of HbA1C -- commonly used to measure blood sugar levels -- was four times lower in individuals using insulin pump and continuous glucose monitoring device compared with those receiving regular insulin injections.
These individuals are also reported to be less likely to develop long-term diabetes-related complications such as eye, kidney and heart disease, the study found.
The device has also shown promising results in children, a group in which controlling the glucose levels have traditionally been reported to be harder.
"What we've been able to show is that by combining this technology, you can lower the A1C, which reduces your risk of complications, and you can do it safely without increasing your rate of hypoglycemia," said lead researcher Richard Bergenstal.
He added that patients who failed to achieve the treatment goals by receiving multiple daily injections should consider using a pump and a sensor.
New drug found for type 2 diabetics
Wed, 30 Jun 2010 12:46:35 GMT
http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=132791§ionid=3510210
An experimental drug has shown promising results in reducing blood levels of sugar in patients suffering from advanced Type 2 diabetes, a new study finds.
According to the study published in The Lancet, dapagliflozin not only lowers blood glucose levels but also contributes to a significant weight loss and a slight reduction in the needed daily insulin dose.
Significant reductions were also reported in the blood HbA1C levels -- a variable commonly used to measure blood sugar -- of those receiving dapagliflozin.
Serious hypoglycemia, or dangerous attacks of low blood sugar commonly reported following the use of anti-diabetic medication, was not prevalent among dapagliflozin users.
Dapagliflozin belongs to a new class of oral Type 2 diabetes treatments known as sodium-glucose transporter-2 inhibitors. It acts through blocking the SGLT2 protein and subsequently increasing the amount of glucose excreted in the urine.
"The most interesting thing here is that this drug, because of this mode of action, can in theory be used right at the very beginning of the disease or it can be used, as we've shown in this study, really quite late on in patients who are struggling to control their diabetes on insulin, with or without other oral agents," said lead researcher John Wilding, stressing that SGLT2 inhibitors are effective across the spectrum of the disease.
The high levels of glucose in the urine of these individuals, however, place them at an increased risk of developing urinary tract infection.
These individuals are reported to have shorter waistlines, as the extra calorie is excreted in the urine along with blood glucose, the study found.
Scientists believed that adding dapagliflozin to other treatments may lead to additional benefits, which makes the drug a good choice not only in different stages of the disease but also in individuals vulnerable to developing various complications.