StemCell Therapy

Key Griffith University research projects have received $4.5 million in funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council.

Announced on December 15 by the Federal Minister for Health, The Honorable Greg Hunt MP, the seven Ideas Grants projects will contribute to vital health and medical research.

Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) Professor Mario Pinto said the funding highlights the extraordinary work conducted by the Universitys researchers in addressing major societal health challenges.

These projects have the potential to make a significant difference to peoples health and wellbeing. I extend my congratulations and appreciation to all staff who have contributed to these efforts.

More than half the funding for Griffith University was awarded to projects within theInstitute for Glycomics, withfour research projects securing $2.56 million to explore a super vaccine that tackles bothinfluenza virus andGroup A Streptococcus bacteria and other vaccine development projects that tackle other clinically important bacterial infections.

Institute Director Professor Mark von Itzstein AO said the awards cemented the Institutes reputation as a leading biomedical research institute.

Our institute is focussed on translational research outcomes that diagnose, prevent and treat diseases of global impact. These grants will significantly assist our researchers to deliver on our mission to achieve a disease-free world.

NHMRC Ideas

Dr Mehfuz Zaman, Professor Mark von Itzstein and Professor Michael Good (Institute for Glycomics) awarded $707, 717 for the project Vaccine to prevent Influenza Virus and Bacterial superinfection (Associate Professor Victor Huber, University of South Dakota).

Associate Professor Kate Seib, Professor Michael Jennings and Dr Arun Everest-Dass (Institute for Glycomics) awarded $826,490 for the project Gonococcal vaccine development guided by a cross-protective meningococcal vaccine (Dr Caroline Thng, Gold Coast Health).

Dr Freda Jen, Associate Professor Kate Seib, Professor Michael Jennings and Dr Milton Kiefel (Institute for Glycomics) awarded $526,949.6 for the project Targeting a bacterial glycol-Achilles heel to make new vaccines for Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Professor Michael Jennings, Associate Professor Thomas Haselhorst, Dr Lucy Shewell, Dr Christopher Day (Institute for Glycomics) awarded $608,425 for the project Structure and biophysical analysis aided design of novel toxoid vaccines for a major class of bacterial toxins (Prof James Paton, The University of Adelaide, Prof Mark Walker, The University of Queensland and Prof Victor Torres, New York University).

Dr David Lloyd, Dr Claudio Pizzolato, Dr David Saxby and Dr Laura Diamond (Menzies Health Institute Queensland) awarded $860, 231 for the project Osteoarthritis compass: Predicting personalized disease onset and progression with future capacity for clinical use (Dr Michelle Hall, Assoc Prof Adam Bryant University of Melbourne, Prof David Hunter, University of Sydney; Prof Juha Toyras, Dr Shekhar Chandra, Assoc Prof Craig Engstrom The University of Queensland; Dr Jurgen Fripp, CSIRO Australian e-Health Research Centre; Prof Rami Korhonen, University of Eastern Finland).

Professor Heidi Zeeman, Dr David Painter and Professor Elizabeth Kendall (Menzies Health Institute Queensland) awarded $513, 483 for the project Dimensional Attention Modelling for Neglect Detection (DIAMOND): A novel application for brain injury (Prof Julie Bernhardt, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health).

Associate Professor Hang Ta (Queensland Micro and Nanotechnology Centre/GRIDD) awarded $523, 342 for the project Developing smart nanomedicine to enable advanced diagnosis and stimuli-responsive treatment for atherosclerosis and thrombosis (Dr Nghia Truong Phuoc, Monash University; Dr Gary Cowin, Dr Nyoman Kurniawan, Prof Zhiping Xu, The University of Queensland and Prof Karlheinz Peter, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute).

Griffith researchers involved in research led by other institutions

NHMRC Ideas

Prof Randipsingh Bindra, Dr Mo Chen, Assoc Prof James St John, Assoc Prof Jenny Ekberg, Dr Brent McMonagle (Griffith Health) are part of a team led by Assoc Prof Jeremy Crook (University of Wollongong) awarded $805,064.45 for the project titled A wireless electric nerve-guide for peripheral nerve repair (Dr Eva Tomaskovic-Crook, University of Wollongong).

Assoc Prof Joshua Byrnes (MHIQ, Health) is part of a team led by Assoc Prof Maree Toombs (The University of Queensland) awarded $1,279,602.45 for the project titled Advancing equitable and non-discriminatory access to health services for First Nations peoples: A multidisciplinary Queensland Human Rights Act case study (Dr Shivashankar Hiriyur Nagaraj, Queensland University of Technology; Jodie Luck, Mr DanielWilliamson, Queensland Health; Mr Jed Fraser, Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council; Prof Anthony Smith, Dr Claire Brolan Dr Caitlin Curtis, Dr Sandra Creamer, Prof Wendy Hoy, Dr Amelia Radke (The University of Queensland), Dr Kelly Dingli (Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council); Mr Gregory Pratt (The Council of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research)

ARC Linkage 2020 Round 1

Dr Pooja Sawrikar (School of Human Services and Social Work) is part of a Western Sydney University project led by Assoc Prof Rebekah Grace awarded $387,107 for the project Upholding the right to cultural connection for children in care.

More:
NHMRC awards Griffith University $4.5 million in research funding - Griffith News

FARAH YOUSRY - Side Effects Public Media

Agatha Walston leads a busy life. Shes a nurse in southern Indiana and a single mother of two young kids.

Shes kept control of her type 1 diabetes for over 28 years partly through a healthy lifestyle. I would rather snack on veggies than trash food, the Clarksville woman says.

But when the pandemic hit, she feared that the control she maintained for so long could be unraveling. I told my kids, I said, Okay, there's this super-killer virus on the loose, and I'm a nurse and I will probably get it.

That was really hard conversation to have with the kids to make sure that they knew that, you know, if mom goes, they're still going to have each other.

People living with diabetes are not more likely to get COVID-19. But they are at a much greater risk of developing severe symptoms and complications. A COVID study in England examined more than 20,000 deaths and found that a third of those people were diabetic.

In mid-April, Walston tested positive.

She survived without hospitalization, but months later, she noticed new health issues. She was diagnosed with high cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, heart problems and glaucoma a condition that could cause blindness.

She recalls, The glaucoma specialist, he had said, You know, you're already at risk for glaucoma. So we won't know if it was COVID or diabetes.

Walstons doctors are unsure if COVID is behind any of these complications or if her diabetes was a contributing factor.

But many diabetics worldwide are battling health complications from a COVID infection.

Even if your blood glucose control is perfect, you're still going to have some risks, says Dr. Carmella Evans-Molina, director of the Diabetes Research Center at Indiana University.

COVID has the power to elevate blood sugar levels and cause insulin resistance even in previously healthy people, she says. For diabetics, this effect is magnified.

So they might then need to make changes in their insulin regimen or changes in their diabetes medication, Evans-Molina says. If they're in the hospital, obviously their providers in the hospital will be taking care of these things. But if they're recovering from COVID at home, they need to be very careful and checking their blood glucose very frequently, and then be in communication with their doctors.

She says that such drastic changes in blood sugar levels could cause long-term complications if not managed carefully.

Dr. Francisco Rubino, a professor at Kings College London, also has been watching the emerging problem. Since the beginning of the pandemic, we noticed there is a bidirectional relationship between COVID and diabetes.

In a letter to the New England Journal of Medicine, he and other healthcare professionals noted that the severe insulin resistance caused by COVID might have another shocking effect. Even people who didn't have any history of diabetes, coming up to the hospital with clear signs of having diabetes, he says.

Rubino says data is still limited, so he set up a global registry called CoviDiab to track these cases.

Dr. Evans-Molinas team has studied pancreatic cells of patients who died from COVID. They did not see evidence of the virus being able to trigger new on-set diabetes, she says, adding, I think we're really early in our understanding of that.

She notes that managing COVID patients requires the use of steroids, which causes elevated blood sugar levels. This is one of many factors that could have damaging effects on diabetics or someone with pre-diabetes.

So we know that we're probably seeing people who were very close to a diagnosis pass over that threshold and become diagnosed with diabetes, she says.

As doctors and scientists work to understand the relationship between COVID and diabetes, Walston is dealing with her medical problems. She says this year has been rough physically and emotionally.

She adds, The best thing about 2020 [is] not dying.

This story was produced by Side Effects Public Media, a news collaborative covering public health.

This reporting is supported by the GBH Educational Foundation through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. To learn more about the diabetes epidemic in America, watch the documentary"Blood Sugar Rising."

Here is the original post:
COVID-19 And Diabetes Can Be A Dangerous Mix - WFYI

A research study led by Teresa Quattrin, MD, could prove beneficial for children and young adults with newly-diagnosed Type 1 diabetes.

Published December 16, 2020

A Phase 2 research study led by Teresa Quattrin, MD, UB Distinguished Professor of pediatrics and senior associate dean for research integration, shows that the drug golimumab preserves beta-cell function in children and young adults with newly-diagnosed Type 1 diabetes for at least a year after diagnosis.

Research Published in New England Journal of Medicine

The study published on Nov. 19 in The New England Journal of Medicine represents a major step forward in the effort to find ways to preserve the insulin-making capabilities of children and young adults newly diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

The study demonstrates that golimumab, an anti-tumor-necrosis-factor (TNF) therapy, reduced the amount of injected insulin required by children and young adults with newly-diagnosed Type 1 diabetes by preserving their ability to produce insulin on their own, called endogenous insulin.

The need for less injected insulin is a major quality of life improvement for patients with Type 1 diabetes, according to the researchers.

Golimumab, marketed as Simponi, is currently used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis and other autoimmune conditions. However, it is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of Type 1 diabetes.

Quattrin, first author on the study, also presented the findings on June 13 at the annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association (ADA).

The most important finding of our work is that this drug, golimumab, is a potential disease-modifying agent for newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetes, says Quattrin, attending pediatric endocrinologist at the Diabetes Center atUBMD PediatricsandOishei Childrens Hospital. The main goal of the study was to see if golimumab could preserve beta-cell function in these newly-diagnosed patients and it does.

This was assessed by measuring the amount of C-peptide in patients blood during a four-hour mixed meal tolerance test. Because C-peptide reflects only insulin made by the body and not injected insulin, C-peptide levels reveal how well the pancreas is producing insulin.

Higher C-Peptide Levels After 1 Year

Patients treated with golimumab had a higher C-peptide level at week 52 compared to placebo.

This was statistically significant; thus the study met its primary goal, Quattrin says.

Quattrin adds that 41.1 percent of participants receiving golimumab had an increase or a less than 5 percent decrease in C-peptide compared to only 10.7 percent in the placebo group.

Nearly 43 percent of those who received golimumab were in partial diabetes remission (also known as the honeymoon phase) versus 7.1 percent of those receiving placebo. The definition of partial remission was based on insulin dose and blood sugar control levels as indicated by hemoglobin A1C, a measurement of average blood sugar levels over three months.

Blood Sugar Control With Less Insulin

Quattrin explains that a child with Type 1 diabetes requires about 1 unit of insulin per kilogram of body weight per day. That means that a child weighing about 65 pounds typically requires about 30 units of injected insulin per day once they are out of the partial remission period about 3 to 6 months after diagnosis.

In this study, both golimumab and placebo groups achieved good blood sugar control, but patients treated with golimumab achieved it with less insulin, Quattrin says.

During the 52 weeks, insulin dose increased only slightly for those on golimumab 0.07 units per kilogram per day versus 0.24 units per kilogram per day for those on placebo study.

In a post-hoc analysis an analysis conducted after the conclusion of the clinical trial those younger than 18 years had 36 percent fewer episodes where blood sugar was less than 54 mg per deciliter, designated by the ADA as level 2 hypoglycemia.

This is important clinically because low blood sugar reactions are dangerous and can even be fatal if untreated. Low blood sugar levels also require immediate attention, often causing the child to be removed from classroom or recreation activities, compromising quality of life.

UMBD Pediatrics, Oishei Among Trial Sites

The drug is self-administered as a subcutaneous injection every two weeks. No serious side effects related to the study drug such as serious infections were reported.

The randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted at 27 centers throughout the U.S., including at theDiabetes Center at UBMD Pediatrics andOishei Childrens Hospital in Buffalo. It involved 84 patients, ages 6 to 21 years, with two-thirds receiving golimumab and one-third receiving placebo starting within 100 days from diagnosis.

Throughout three decades as a leading researcher in pediatric endocrinology, Quattrin has been interested in finding ways to extend the remission, or honeymoon period, to preserve the ability of recently diagnosed Type 1 diabetes patients to continue to make insulin on their own.

The current study took place on the basis of positive findings in animal models, as well as Quattrins work with patients treated at the Diabetes Center at UBMD Pediatrics and Oishei Childrens Hospital. It confirms results published by her team in 2009 where in a randomized pilot study 10 patients received another TNF inhibitor and eight received placebo starting within 28 days from diagnosis.

The results of this small proof-of-concept study strongly suggested that this class of drugs might be able to preserve beta-cell function in newly diagnosed patients with Type 1 diabetes.

Jacobs School Faculty Are Sub-Investigators

Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical SciencesDepartment of Pediatrics sub-investigators in the research are:

They were supported by the pediatric diabetes-endocrinology research team at the Diabetes Center at UBMD Pediatrics and Oishei Childrens Hospital, led by Amanda House.

Other co-authors of the research presented at the ADA and on the New England Journal of Medicine paper were from Emory University, the University of Colorado, the University of Florida and Janssen Research & Development LLC. The World Without Disease Accelerator a group within Janssen funded the study.

Read more from the original source:
Kids With Type-1 Diabetes Helped by Anti-TNF Therapy - ubmd.com

It didnt take long into her adult years for Julia Blanchette, a nurse and diabetes educator at the Cleveland Clinic, to discover shes a wine enthusiast.

The fact that she has celiac disease pushed her toward it in the first place, because she was steering clear of wheat-based beer, she said. And the fact that she has type 1 diabetes (T1D) need not have dissuaded her. With a lot of (fun) sampling and trial and error, Blanchette learned how to embrace her love of wine, she tells DiabetesMine.

It took experimentation for sure. I had to find the wines that didnt raise my blood sugar as much, and I savor the ones that do as more of a dessert, she says.

And once I found the ones that didnt impact my blood sugar immediately, I had to understand how it impacted me later. Did it make me low? Did I have to always eat with it? Did it make me high? Whatever the answer, she says, each one led her to be a confident wine connoisseur who happens to have T1D on board.

Such can be the case for most people with diabetes (PWDs). With study, thought, and guidance from your medical team, experts say theres no reason not to savor the art and joy of wine.

The first thing PWDs need to know about wine is how it works in the body, which does differ a bit from other types of alcohol.

Wine, unlike, say, vodka or beer, is created very much by the hand and mood of nature.

Thats why there are good years and not so good years for wine production.

That dynamic means that even the same wine can vary a bit from season to season.

Thats one of the things about wine, and it goes across every type, Keith Wallace, author, winemaker, sommelier, and a professor and founder of the Wine School of Philadelphia tells DiabetesMine.

Sugar gets fermented, yes, but you are going to find hidden sugar in there, and with wine, it can sometimes be a significant amount, he says.

As a winemaker, I always insist on fermenting everything bone dry so its not as much an issue, he explains.

Wallace does that for his clients, yes. But he does it for himself too. Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes some years ago, he quickly realized that the dryer the wine, the less impact on his glucose readings.

But that doesnt mean PWDs need to limit their wine choices, he says. Rather, understanding the possible impact and what action to take to make it work is the key, he says.

What do doctors say about consuming wine with diabetes? Often not enough, according to Mary Ellen Phipps, registered dietitian nutritionist, founder of MilkAndHoneyNutrition.com, and author of The Easy Diabetes Cookbook. Phipps has lived with T1D since age 5.

There are two camps, generally, she tells DiabetesMine. The doctor who says no, dont drink alcohol at all, and the doctor who says its fine. But heres the thing: They tend to say that with no explanation, without putting a framework of understanding of it for the person with diabetes.Her suggestion? Ask the question and then ask for more details.

Her opinion?

If you are going to drink, wine is a good choice.

Unlike, say, vodka, when you can pretty much know the impact on your blood sugars no matter the brand, wines vary greatly.

Understanding that can help a person with diabetes plan and study it as they begin.

When Phipps advises patients, she speaks of what she knows, not just as a trained nutritionist but as a person living with T1D who also happens to love wine.

Her basic breakdown of wine and blood sugars? A dry white has the least sugar, reds come in a bit higher (but theres no need to avoid them she says) and dessert wines are just like they sound.

Wallace breaks them down like this:

Lower alcohol wines often have more sugar for taste reasons, he said. And so do lower-cost wines, which, he said, are often amped up in sugar for taste reasons.

That, he said, is because the pedestrian wine drinker tends to lean toward sweeter, having not learned the nuances of wine tastes.

A surprise, though: The same can go for a moderately expensive wine.

Theyre trying to appeal to that same general consumer, just a wealthy one, he explains.

To look for a wine with the right alcohol content, he says, look for a label that reads 12.5 percent to 16 percent alcohol. More or less than that can mean added sugars.

As for types, he said, the location of the grape grown can give you hints as well.

Germany, he said, is known for Rieslings, which have a higher sugar content by design. But they also have wines with almost no sugar, known as Trocken (dry).

It has to say that, he says, and it has to say Trocken by itself on the label.

Italian and French wines tend to have less residual sugar overall, he says, because its a cultural thing. Countries that tend to pair wines with food usually make wines with less sugar.

Australian wine drinkers, he says, tend to drink it by itself, and therefore tend toward a bit more sugar.

The modern styles of white wines, Wallace says, (other than Chardonnay) are light, fresh, crisp styles. Those actually have almost no sugar at all.Another hint for hidden sugar? Ironically, Wallace says, it can be the popularity of the brand.

Were seeing this more with, for example, the popularity of Oregon wines, he says. As wines like Pinot Noir get more popular, you often see more sugar. People like it; its as simple as that.

Karen Graham, registered dietitian, diabetes educator, and author of three best-selling books on living with diabetes, is also a wine lover who happens to live a stones throw from vineyards in British Columbia.

Her advice to the wine enthusiast with diabetes is to start with the basics and go from there.

She suggests that you hone in on a few different wine styles you like, experiment with brands, and learn what works for you. Then stick to those as much as you can.

In her book The Complete Diabetes Guide, Graham outlines the general carbohydrate/sugar content of the most popular wines, something she says can be used as a starting point for handling the wines you like best.

Be aware that when it comes to drinking alcohol of any kind, including wine, there are some steps all PWDs should take.

Make sure you never drink on an empty stomach, Graham tells DiabetesMine.

She also reminds PWDs to always have a source of fast-acting glucose on hand, because alcohol can lower blood sugars, and do so quickly.

You should also let any friends you may be enjoying wine with know about your condition, and make sure theyre familiar with the signs of a low blood sugar, which can mimic drunkenness. They should know not to hesitate to ask you about your situation should they see signs.

And, of course, you should pay close attention to your blood sugars both before, during, and for a long time after a wine outing.

With those steps handled, PWDs can enjoy wine and do so without guilt, Graham says.

Choose one or a few you really love and stick with them, or with similar selections, she adds. Going to a friends house for dinner? Bring along a bottle or two and that way you know what youre drinking. And for a restaurant, its always a good idea to peruse the wine list in advance online, to see what you can find that you like and know, or learn about one that sounds interesting ahead of time.

Phipps agrees that preparation and a bit of study makes being a wine lover with diabetes easier, even if it takes more effort upfront.

She suggests keeping a journal, which isnt as odd as it sounds. Many wine aficionados keep a journal of the wines they try. But instead of just recording what you like and why, keep track of how your blood sugars were during and after, what you may have eaten with it, and if any tweaks are needed.

Pay attention to how you respond to it, and then youll know what to choose next time, or what to do if you choose that one again, Phipps says.

And what about a wine tasting evening? Yes, Graham and Phipps agree, it can be not only done but fully enjoyed.

Phipps suggests finding out ahead of time how many ounces a vineyard or event organizer will be pouring, as well as what kinds of wine. That way, you can keep track as you go along.

Graham points out that food may not be readily available at some wine tastings, and may lean toward protein (such as cheeses) rather than carbs. So its a good idea to eat a meal before going, and/or pack some snacks just in case.

Wines with less sugar, in particular, may lower blood sugars, so being prepared is your best bet, she says.

If you should be unsure of the sugar content in a wine, Wallace offers a simple tip, one that will make you look like a true wine pro: Hold your nose for the first sip.

Sweet, sour, bitter, and salty comes from the taste buds, he says. If you block your nose and you taste sugar (as the main flavor), it will inform you that this wine has a lot of sugar.

He reminds us that its important to focus on getting the right amount of food to go along with your wine when it comes to diabetes.

Dont worry about the wine as much as the food you may eat, he says. Thats what can get you in trouble. Dont arrive hungry. Eat a small prep meal beforehand so you can totally enjoy the wine.

Wallace does have some good news: This all could get less challenging in the future. In his classes, hes teaching future winemakers and servers about how different types impact diabetes, so they can help guide consumers better.

One in six people either have diabetes of some kind or are pre-diabetic, he says. Its a huge market, and you dont want to harm your customers. And wine is good, in so many ways. PWDs have so much stress and wine is a great stress reducer. This doesnt have to be a worrisome thing. Done right, its excellent.

In the end, while extra thought is needed, PWDs who love wine say the effort is worth it.

Kelly Kunik, patient advocate and author of the popular blog Diabetesaliciousness, says nearly a lifetime of living with T1D has taught her to do what she must and know all the facts but in the end, its taught her to go with the flow, too.

I wouldnt say Im a sommelier, she tells DiabetesMine. I just like wine. But to be clear: I dont study wine for my diabetes, I study it for my palate. Sometimes a glass of wine is just a glass of wine. And thats totally okay.

See more here:
A Definitive Guide to Wine and Type 1 Diabetes - Healthline

Diabetes is a chronic condition where the body either doesnt make enough insulin or doesnt use insulin properly or both. This can lead to a higher than normal blood sugar level.

Uncontrolled blood sugar levels can lead to complications, such as:

For these reasons, its important to monitor your blood sugar if you have diabetes.

Prior to using meters, people with diabetes would monitor their blood sugar by testing their urine. This method, however, wasnt as accurate, nor did it provide real-time results.

If you self-test your blood sugar several times a day using a glucometer, or meter, it requires that you prick your finger to draw blood to test. Due to the discomfort of this method, you might look for a way to monitor your level without this tool.

If finger pricks are very bothersome for you, dont worry theres hope. Advances in blood sugar monitoring technology could mean no more finger pricks in the future.

If you have diabetes, there are several portable devices you can use to check your blood sugar level and not all of them require a finger prick.

The one device that does require a finger prick is a meter. This is the most widely available and affordable option.

To use this device, youll insert a test strip into the meter. Youll prick your finger to retrieve a sample of blood, and then place the sample on the edge of the test strip to check your blood sugar.

Glucometers are convenient because theyre small and portable, allowing you to use them anywhere. Your blood sugar results are also accurate and instant.

You can also use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to check your blood sugar. This is different from glucometers, which can only monitor blood sugar when you test your blood.

Continuous glucose monitoring, on the other hand, provides real-time glucose, or blood sugar, readings every few minutes. These systems involve the insertion of a tiny sensor underneath your skin (usually in the abdomen).

This sensor measures your interstitial glucose level, and then sends the information to a pager-like monitor, or an app on your phone. An alarm sounds if your blood sugar becomes too high or too low.

Even though continuous glucose monitoring systems place a sensor under the skin, most still require a finger prick at least once a day to calibrate the device.

This is less than the number of finger pricks with a glucometer, which can require four or more per day.

The Freestyle Libre system is another way to check your blood sugar. While this method has certain features in common with a CGM and a meter, it stands out for one reason: It doesnt require a finger prick.

Youll still have a tiny sensor inserted underneath your skin with the Freestyle Libre. Its different from a CGM in that you wont get continuous readings.

But, rather than prick your finger, like you would with a meter, youll use a reader to scan the sensor when you want to check your blood sugar level.

Again, urine is another way to measure sugar levels. This involves inserting a test strip into your urine. The problem, though, is that test strips can only detect sugar in your urine they cant provide an exact blood sugar reading.

Unfortunately, this method of checking blood sugar isnt convenient since youll need a container to collect the urine. Also, it only works when urine hasnt been sitting in your bladder for too long.

Fingertips have more nerve endings, so this part of the finger tends to be the most sensitive.

If you use a finger prick to check your blood sugar level, a few techniques can make the process less painful whether youre using a glucometer or a continuous glucose monitor.

Blood sugar testing is crucial to diabetes management because high or low blood sugar can cause severe complications. If too much blood sugar accumulates in your bloodstream, you can experience major complications such as:

Signs of high blood sugar include:

Signs of low blood sugar can include:

Blood sugar can fluctuate throughout the day especially after meals, after exercising, and during stressful events. So its important to carefully monitor your blood sugar and keep it within a healthy range.

A blood sugar level less than 140 milligrams per deciliter (7.8 millimoles per litre), but greater than 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L) is typically considered in the target range.

You should check your blood sugar regularly, even if you arent experiencing symptoms of a high or low glucose level. Some people with high and low blood sugar dont have any symptoms.

Even though you can monitor blood sugar level with glucometers and CGMs, the future might provide additional ways to manage your diabetes.

Testing your blood sugar is crucial to diabetes management. Using a meter or continuous glucose monitoring can provide accurate results. But you might seek a pain-free method to check blood sugar.

Talk with your doctor or a certified diabetes educator. You might be a candidate for a glucose monitoring device that involves fewer finger pricks or no finger pricks.

Additionally, making a few adjustments in the way you collect your blood sample might reduce the level of pain and discomfort.

Diabetes is a life-long, chronic condition that involves careful monitoring of your blood sugar. This can prevent serious complications such as nerve damage and stroke.

Discuss options for monitoring blood sugar with your doctor to find a device that suits your comfort level.

Continued here:
How to Check Blood Sugar Without a Meter: Is It Possible? - Healthline

A team of scientists, which included University researchers, found that dexamethasone, a steroid used to treat severe cases of COVID-19, is less effective to treat COVID-19 for those with diabetes and other risk factors. The discovery suggests that further research is necessary to understand how to better treat diabetic and at-risk patients with COVID-19.

Dexamethasone is an anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive steroid used to treat critically-ill, COVID-19 patients who require supplemental oxygen or ventilators. The steroid suppresses the immune system, alleviating the damage done to the lungs in patients with an overactive immune response, a bodily response that can be deadly. Besides COVID-19, dexamethasone has been used to treat severe pneumonia, asthma and other conditions.

What makes this paper special is that there arent that many drugs that are proven to treat COVID-19, said Dariusz Brzezinski, University Medical School research scientist and team member. Thats why dexamethasone is interesting because its been proven to help those severe cases.

For their research, scientists from the University School of Medicine, University of South Carolina and Poland relied on the LabDB Laboratory Information Management System, a database that tracks the structures of proteins. One such plasma protein, serum albumin, is known to transport drugs throughout the bloodstream, including dexamethasone. Serum albumin has different active sites to which drugs can bind in order to be carried throughout the body.

Wladek Minor, lead researcher and a Harrison Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Medical School, explained that by studying and refining the structure of dexamethasone as well as serum albumin, the team of scientists discovered that the steroids transport may influence its effectiveness in patients.

We started to look at this structure [of dexamethasone] and because we were working on albumin, Minor said. We found that dexamethasone binds to the same side as some drugs If the person is taking some other drug, there is a competition for the active site. If his active site is already occupied, [dexamethasone and albumin] cannot bind together.

Minor and the team of researchers demonstrated for the first time how dexamethasone binds with serum albumin for transport. Their new research indicates that other drugs and the hormone testosterone may compete with dexamethasone for the limited sites on serum albumin, resulting in drug displacement. In drug displacement, a drug administered at a high concentration can displace another drug, like dexamethasone, at the binding site, limiting its potential effectiveness. The scientists found that the testosterone molecule binds to albumin in the same way that dexamethasone does, further suggesting a competition between the two.

Those with diabetes have been found to have more severe symptoms of and complications with COVID-19. Diabetic patients often have high blood sugar levels which may modify serum albumin, affecting the binding site of dexamethasone.

In analyzing data from 373 patients at a hospital in Wuhan, China, the researchers also discovered that patients with high blood sugar levels as well as patients with lower than normal levels of albumin made up the majority of those who died from COVID-19.

Apparently if you have a higher level of albumin, you can survive, Minor said. The level of albumin in the case of women is higher than the case of men, and this explains why women have a higher chance to survive.

Further research is still needed to understand how best to treat COVID-19 patients affected by diabetes and high risk factors, like low levels of albumin. The researchers propose that clinical studies investigate alternative ways of administering dexamethasone to these patients.

[Studies] could try to administer small doses of dexamethasone over a longer period of time, Brzezinski said. This way if youre not transporting that much dexamethasone, then [there] wont be that much free dexamethasone in the body, so it wont have negative effects.

Increasing the dosage of dexamethasone for diabetic and at-risk patients may seem like an easy solution to override competing drugs, but too much dexamethasone over a long period of time can be harmful to the body.

The other idea is that you can administer dexamethasone not through injection but through inhalers, Brzezinski said. And this way you dont have albumin, you have a different way of transport and youre avoiding the problem altogether.

Here is the original post:
Dexamethasone study provides insight into COVID-19 treatment for patients with diabetes, other risk factors - University of Virginia The Cavalier...

With 88 millionAmericans or approximately 1 in every 3 adults,suffering from prediabetes in this country (and 34 million Americans, or 1 in 10, with full-blown type 2 diabetes), many people are walking around with a ticking time bomb in their bodies, and don't even know they have the condition.

Prediabetes is when your blood sugar level is higher than it should be for optimal health, butnot high enough for your doctor to diagnose the disease.It's also known asimpaired fasting glucose or glucose intolerance. The scary part is, 90 percent of those with prediabetes dont know that they have it.

We have all heard that excessive thirst or urinating more often than normal is a sign that you could have diabetes, but what are the telltale signals that you may be pre-diabetic? Why does it matter? The sooner you find out the better, for your health and to know that changing your lifestyle can alter the course of the disease and head it off at the pass.

Prediabetes, unlike diabetes, is an asymptomatic condition. The soonersomeone finds out that they are prediabetic the better, experts say, since it's possible to make lifestyle changes that can reverse your health and get you back onto a healthy path, with simple switches like eating more plant-based foods, losing a small amount of body weight, and being more active, such as walking 30 minutes a day, five days a week.

"Prevention is the best medicine!If you are given a prediabetes or diabetes diagnosisdo not despair," since you can make simple lifestyle changes (exercise, diet, and losing a small amount of weight) to reverse course on the disease, saysKellie Antinori-Lent, MSN, RN, andPresident of the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (ADCES) and diabetes clinical nurse specialist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Shadyside Hospital in Pittsburgh.

"If someone is at risk for developing prediabetes or diabetes, they should schedule an appointment with their doctor to discuss their concerns and questions. The best first place to begin is with a visit to your providerwhether in person or virtualand dont delay," says Antinori-Lent. Prevention is the best medicine!If you are given a prediabetes or diabetes diagnosisdo not despair!" There are simple things you can do to dial back the condition such as exercise 30 minutes a day, lose 7 to 10 percent of your body weight, and eat a mostly whole-food, plant-based diet, high in fiber and low in added sugars and chemicals.

How do you know if you have diabetes or prediabetes? We asked Antinori-Lent,who makes it her life's work to educate people about the changes they can make to ensure their future health, and here is what she had to tell us:

Kellie: That is a really good question, however, prediabetes does not have symptoms. There is a physical sign of insulin resistance, which is associated with prediabetes. This sign is darkened skin in areas such as the neck, under the arms, and elbows. Some people mistake it as an area of skin they didn't wash wellbut you cannot wash acanthosis nigricans (the name of the dark skin areas). Instead, there are risk factors. These include:

Keep in mind that prediabetes can develop into type 2 diabetes if left untreated. People can prevent this from happening by evaluating their lifestyle habits, including changing their diet, increasing their exercise and activity levels and seeing their doctor regularly, and working withhim or her to prevent the progression.

Originally posted here:
Could You Be Prediabetic or Diabetic and Not Know It? The Signs - The Beet

Type 2 diabetes raises your odds of developing heart disease, as does prediabetes. If youve been diagnosed with either, start paying attention to your heart health now.

You dont need to have diabetes before you get heart disease, says endocrinologist Matthew Freeby, MD, an assistant clinical professor of medicine and director of the Gonda Diabetes Center at David Geffen UCLA School of Medicine. We know theres a higher risk of heart disease in people with prediabetes.

Prediabetes occurs when your body can no longer keep your blood sugar level within a normal range. Unchecked, over time it may rise high enough to warrant a diagnosis of diabetes. Elevated blood sugar, in both prediabetes and diabetes, can harm your blood vessels and the nerves that keep your heart and blood vessels functioning properly. Over time, this can cause heart disease.

But, says Freeby, thats only part of the picture. Most people diagnosed with prediabetes or diabetes also have other conditions that threaten the heart: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity. Such health problems, collectively known as metabolic syndrome, boost the likelihood of blood clots as well as damage to the arteries in your heart.

Managing the risk of heart attack and stroke is less about managing diabetes than it is about reducing the risk factors that go along with diabetes, says Freeby.

Both diabetes and heart disease may lead to heart failure, which may weaken your heart so it cant function properly. Its one of the earliest, most serious, and most common heart problems in diabetes. Diabetes often worsens heart failure, while heart failure can complicate your diabetes treatment.

We only have so many tools at hand for lowering your blood sugars, and some of these are medications that should not be used if you have heart failure, says Freeby.

Fortunately, you have your own tools to protect your heart. Reduce your risks of heart disease -- and diabetes if you have prediabetes -- by modifying your lifestyle in ways that will improve your overall health. It may not be easy, but you dont have to make dramatic changes overnight. Some areas to focus on:

Slim down. Excess weight burdens your heart. To shed pounds, start with small, attainable goals. You dont need to set a lofty goal for weight loss says Freeby. That 5 or 10 pounds you do lose will have a big, positive effect.

Get moving. Exercise will help keep your heart healthy. Dont aim to do too much too soon or youll risk injury. Focus, instead, on simply getting started. Find an activity that you like to do that wont cause you pain and that will keep you coming back day after day, Freeby says.

Eat right. Go easy on your favorite foods, especially processed foods and simple sugar treats. Discuss your daily meals with a dietitian and understand you arent alone. Every person is different, says Freeby, but we all struggle to make dietary modifications.

Get screened. Freeby recommends regular screening for diabetes, as early diagnosis can modify the course of diabetes-related complications.

Care for yourself. To help manage diabetes risk or the disease if you have it, try relaxation techniques to reduce stress, get a good night's sleep, and maintain an active social life, says Freeby.

Find more articles, browse back issues, and read the current issue of WebMD Magazine .

SOURCES:

Matthew Freeby, MD, endocrinologist, assistant clinical professor of medicine, and director of the Gonda Diabetes Center, Los Angeles.

Cleveland Clinic: How to Protect Your Heart When You Have Prediabetes.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Stroke.

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: Heart Failure.

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The Link Between Type 2 Diabetes and Heart Disease - WebMD

Its said that dogs resemble their owners, but the similarities may also extend to their risk of diabetes, research suggests. The same cannot be said of cat owners and their companions, however.

Previous studies had hinted that overweight owners tend to have porkier pets, possibly because of shared health behaviours such as overeating or not taking regular exercise. To investigate whether this extended to a shared risk of type 2 diabetes, Beatrice Kennedy, of Uppsala University in Sweden, and colleagues turned to insurance data from Swedens largest pet insurance company, using owners 10-digit national identification numbers to pull their anonymised health records.

Comparing data from 208,980 owner/dog and 123,566 owner/cat pairs, they discovered that owning a dog with diabetes was associated with a 38% increased risk of having type 2 diabetes compared with owning a healthy hound. Personal and socioeconomic circumstances of the dog owners could not explain this link. No shared risk of diabetes was found between cat owners and their pets, however. The research was published in the British Medical Journal.

As in humans, diet and obesity can influence the risk of type 2 diabetes in both types of animals. Also like humans, the prevalence of diabetes in dogs and cats appears to be on the increase.

Given the previous research on the shared risk of [being overweight] between dog owners and their animals, we believe that shared dietary habits and also physical activity levels might be involved, said Kennedy.

The absence of a shared risk between cats and their owners may also point towards physical activity being an important factor. Cats usually prefer more independence from their owners when it comes to their movements, Kennedy said.

Shared environmental exposures to things such as pollutants or chemicals between dogs and their owners could be another avenue worth exploring, she added. Because this was an observational study, the researchers could not confirm the underlying cause of the association.

However, given that it exists, a diagnosis of diabetes in any household member including canine companions could signal a need to reassess the health behaviours of the whole family unit. The diabetes of the dog could be a marker of something important going on, Kennedy said. We know that there are quite strong emotional bonds between dog owners and their dogs. Perhaps that bond extends to other health behaviours and risks.

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Dogs and owners may share resemblance in diabetes risk - The Guardian

The Week

While looking at Florida's COVID-19 death tally, the South Florida Sun Sentinel found a pattern suggesting the state "manipulated a backlog of unrecorded fatalities" so the daily death numbers were artificially low ahead of the November presidential election, the newspaper reported Tuesday.There is a lag between the date a person dies of COVID-19 in Florida and the date the state reports the death as part of the public count. The Sun Sentinel found that with just a few exceptions, starting on Oct. 24, Florida stopped including deaths that occurred more than a month earlier in daily counts. It wasn't until Nov. 17, two weeks after the election, that these backlogged deaths were consistently included in the daily tally.These deaths have "long formed a significant part of the daily totals in Florida" because it can take some time for death reports to make it from a doctor's office to the health department, the Sun Sentinel reports. For example, from Sept. 23 to Oct. 20, the state included in its daily tallies 1,128 deaths that took place at least one month earlier. This accounted for 44 percent of the deaths that were announced over those four weeks.On Oct. 21, the state said it would start conducting additional reviews of each suspected COVID-19 death in Florida before adding it to the official count. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), a supporter of President Trump, has a history of downplaying the coronavirus pandemic, and the Sun Sentinel reports he has also speculated that the death statistics in the state were inflated. The Sun Sentinel said it asked several state officials about the data patterns, including the spokesman for the Florida Department of Health, and no one would comment.Scott David Herr, a Florida computer scientist who tracks the state's daily COVID-19 data, told the Sun Sentinel "it's hard to know if there was a limitation around election time or random other things were happening. The Department of Health hasn't explained why lags have been inconsistent. When they keep changing whatever is going on behind the scenes, when the lags keep changing, that is where it gets confusing." Read more at the Sun Sentinel.More stories from theweek.com Joe Biden still doesn't get it Republicans' hedonic treadmill problem The plan to disinfect the White House before Biden moves in is a 'huge waste of time and effort,' experts say

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CDC: People with diabetes may be at risk for a more severe case of COVID-19 - Yahoo News

The notorious Freshman 15 those extra pounds college students can pack on when they first live away from home has now morphed into the Quarantine 15 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its not surprising, as many adults are stressed, have irregular schedules and limited access to gyms, but plenty of Facetime or Zoom meetings next to snack-filled cupboards.

Today, one in three U.S. adults has prediabetes. Of those, 84% do not know they are in this danger zone because there are no clear symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This figure is more concerning now due to COVID-delayed check-ups when people are typically reminded by their doctor to eat healthy and exercise. Since weight gain and sedentary behaviors can increase the risk for prediabetes or even progression to Type 2 diabetes, developing healthy and sustainable habits is critical to prevention.

Prediabetes can develop when a persons body is not using insulin correctly or making enough to process glucose, also known as blood sugar, properly. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps the body turn blood sugar into energy. If a persons blood sugar is too high for extended periods, as seen with Type 2 diabetes, it can result in long-term damage to organs, as in heart and kidney disease, as well as limb and vision loss.

Prediabetes is a precursor to Type 2 diabetes, but it can be reversed or prevented by focusing on healthier lifestyle habits. Risk factors include age, family history, obesity, poor diet and consistent inactivity. While some of these factors are uncontrollable, incorporating healthy food choices and physical activity into each day can significantly reduce the risk for prediabetes.

The CDC recommends adults get at least 150 minutes of aerobic activity each week that's less than 22 minutes per day if practiced every day. Try these tips to get moving:

Take a walk around the block every couple of hours.

Set phone reminders for daily exercise.

Turn a conference call into a walking meeting, if possible.

Use laundry detergent containers, canned goods or other household items as hand weights for exercises such as squats or lunges.

Practicemindful eating, keeping aware of yourportions. Its important to understand that it takes about 20 minutes for the brain to register signals from the stomach that its full. This often results in overeating and excessive calorie intake. Here are some ways to keep the grazing under control:

Structure snacks and meals throughout the day to prevent hunger binges.

Track food intake and read labels to monitor calories and better understand the nutritional value of items.

Dont eat out of bags portion out nuts, pretzels and crackers.

Keep healthy snacks on hand such asraw nuts, cut fruits and vegetables, hummus or a homemade Greek yogurt dip. Dipping fresh vegetables like celery or carrot sticks in such dips will provide protein along with a satisfying crunch, fiber and minerals for a lower-calorie snack.

Shanthi Appel is a registered dietitian and health and wellness spokesperson for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. For more tips on lowering your risks of diabetes, visitahealthiermichigan.org.

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Learn ways to lower your risk of developing diabetes - The Oakland Press

In a new study, experts describe how drinking water can protect against metabolic syndrome. The researchers discovered that while fructose stimulates the release of vasopressin, a hormone linked to obesity and diabetes, water can suppress the hormone and alleviate these conditions in mice.

Study lead author Dr. Miguel A. Lanaspa is an associate professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine who specializes in renal disease and hypertension.

The clinical significance of this work is that it may encourage studies to evaluate whether simple increases in water intake may effectively mitigate obesity and metabolic syndrome, said Dr. Lanaspa.

The researchers set out to investigate why vasopressin, which maintains the bodys water levels, is elevated in people with obesity and diabetes.

In an experiment based on a mouse model, the experts fed mice sugar water specifically fructose and noticed that it stimulated the brain to make vasopressin. As a result, the vasopressin stored the water as fat, causing dehydration that triggered obesity. When the mice were treated with non-sugary water, their obesity was reduced.

According to Dr. Lanaspa, this is the first time scientists have shown how vasopressin acts on dietary sugar to cause obesity and diabetes.

We found that it does this by working through a particular vasopressin receptor known as V1b. This receptor has been known for a while but no one has really understood its function. We found that mice lacking V1b were completely protected from the effects of sugar. We also show that the administration of water can suppress vasopressin and both prevent and treat obesity.

The researchers also discovered that dehydration can stimulate the formation of fat. This explains why vasopressin is so high in desert mammals as they do not have easy access to water, noted study co-author Dr. Richard Johnson. So vasopressin conserves water by storing it as fat.

The findings support previous observations that obese patients often exhibit signs of dehydration. The research also explains why high salt diets tend to cause obesity and diabetes.

The study revealed that water therapy effectively protects against metabolic syndrome, which is a collection of coexisting conditions including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high triglyceride levels. Metabolic syndrome greatly increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.

The best way to block vasopressin is to drink water, said Dr. Lanaspa. This is hopeful because it means we may have a cheap, easy way of improving our lives and treating metabolic syndrome.

Sugar drives metabolic syndrome in part by the activation of vasopressin. Vasopressin drives fat production likely as a mechanism for storing metabolic water, concluded said Dr. Johnson. The potential roles of hydration and salt reduction in the treatment of obesity and metabolic syndrome should be considered.

The study is published in the journal JCI Insight.

By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Staff Writer

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Water is a powerful weapon against obesity and diabetes Earth.com - Earth.com

HIGH POINT, N.C., Dec. 15, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- vTv Therapeutics Inc.(Nasdaq: VTVT) today announced that the Phase 2 Elevage study of azeliragon in people with mild Alzheimers disease and type 2 diabetes did not meet its primary objective of demonstrating an improvement in cognition as assessed by the 14-item Alzheimers Disease Assessment Scale Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-cog14) relative to placebo. The 6-month trial investigated the efficacy and safety of 5 mg azeliragon administered orally once daily compared to placebo in 43 people with mild probable Alzheimers disease and type 2 diabetes. The azeliragon treated group (n=21) had a 1.8 point decline from baseline in ADAS-cog14 compared to a placebo (n=22) decline of 0.35. These differences were not statistically significant. Consistent with previous studies, azeliragon was generally well-tolerated with similar incidences of treatment-emergent adverse events overall and by system organ class in both treatment groups.

We will continue to analyze the data to determine if there are potential benefits or future applications for azeliragon in Alzheimers, dementia or related indications that we or other interested parties may seek to pursue, said Steve Holcombe, chief executive officer, vTv Therapeutics. On behalf of vTv Therapeutics, we would like to extend our most sincere and heartfelt gratitude to study participants, their families, physicians and caregivers for their commitment to this important study despite the challenging circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

AboutvTv TherapeuticsvTv Therapeutics Inc.is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing oral small molecule drug candidates. vTv has a pipeline of clinical drug candidates led by programs for the treatment of type 1 diabetes, Alzheimers and related dementia, and inflammatory disorders. vTvs development partners are pursuing additional indications in type 2 diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), genetic mitochondrial diseases, and chronic kidney disease. For more information, please visitwww.vtvtherapeutics.comor follow us on Twitter: @vTvTherapeutics.

Forward-Looking StatementsThis release contains forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms anticipate, believe, could, estimate, expect, intend, may, plan, potential, predict, project, should, target, will, would and, in each case, their negative or other various or comparable terminology. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this release, including statements regarding the timing of our clinical trials, our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenue, projected costs, prospects, plans, objectives of management and expected market growth are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our results to vary from expectations include those described under the heading Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and our other filings with theSEC. These forward-looking statements reflect our views with respect to future events as of the date of this release and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of this release and, except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or review publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date of this release. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our views to change. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, merger, dispositions, joint ventures or investments we may undertake. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.

Contacts

Investors:

Corey DavisLifeSci AdvisorsCDavis@LifeSciAdvisors.com

or

Media:Glenn SilverLazar FINN Partners646-871-8485gsilver@lazarpartners.com

Source: vTv Therapeutics Inc.

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vTv Therapeutics Announces Topline Results of Phase 2 Elevage Study of Azeliragon in Patients with Mild Alzheimer's Disease and Type 2 Diabetes -...

Special Report

December 15, 2020 1:02 pm

People living with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing severe COVID-19. A study published in the Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journal examined the medical records of 61.4 million people in the U.K. and found that 30% of COVID-19 deaths occurred in people with diabetes.

About one in 10 Americans, or 34.2 million people, live with diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data through 2018. Other findings from the data show that one in three people in the country have prediabetes, higher than normal blood sugar level, which can turn into diabetes if left untreated, and that new cases have been skyrocketing among young people.

Some of the most severe diabetes complications include ketoacidosis, which can be fatal, kidney disease, amputation, and blindness. And there is a new risk associated with the disease.24/7 Tempo reviewed multiple studies and reports by independent health organizations, such as the American Diabetes Association, and JDRF, a leading Type 1 diabetes research group, to compile a list of the 10 biggest warning signs of diabetes.

There are three types of diabetes. People with Type 1 diabetes, about 5%-10% of those with the disease, make very little or no insulin a hormone made by the pancreas that helps regulate blood sugar levels in the body by allowing cells to store the broken down sugars, or glucose (the bodys energy source). They must take insulin every day to live. People with Type 2 diabetes dont use insulin well. Their body is not capable of regulating blood sugar levels. The third type, gestational diabetes, develops in pregnant women. Blood sugar levels usually return to normal after childbirth.

Some diseases, including diabetes, have a particular odor and vague symptoms that seem completely normal daily activities like drinking coffee and eating cookies. Here are 18 ordinary habits that can be signs of serious health problems.

Click here to read about the 10 warning signs you may have diabetes.

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10 Warning Signs That You Might Have Diabetes - 24/7 Wall St.

The proportion of adults with diagnosed diabetes trebled in England between 1994 and 2019, according to latest research.

The findings, which relate to both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, are based on analysis of the latest results from the Health Survey for England 2019, which is commissioned by NHS Digital.

Covid-19 has rightly prompted greater focus on obesity reduction, which will also help with the problem of rising diabetes

Jenny Mindell

Researchers from University College London and the National Centre for Social Research analysed data from over 8,200 adults and 2,000 children living in private households in England

Their report shows the percentage of people who have been diagnosed with diabetes has risen since 1994, from 3% to 9% among men and from 2% to 6% among women.

They found total diabetes including both diagnosed cases and those found by the survey to have undiagnosed diabetes was much more common among people with lower incomes and obesity.

For example, 16% of people in the lowest income group had diabetes but only 7% in the highest income group.

Meanwhile, the proportion of adults with total diabetes increased from 5% of those with normal weight to 9% of adults with overweight and 15% of adults with obesity.

Additionally, the report highlighted that adults living in the most deprived areas were the most likely to be obese.

The difference was particularly pronounced for women, where 39% in the most deprived areas were obese, compared with 22% in the least deprived areas.

Professor Jenny Mindell, co-editor of the report, said: We have known for a long time that diabetes increases the risks of developing circulatory diseases and cancers.

We have seen this year that it also increases the risks of serious infection and death in people infected with Covid-19. Diabetes is much more common in people with obesity.

The Covid-19 pandemic has rightly prompted greater focus on obesity reduction, which will also help with the problem of rising diabetes, she added.

For the first time, the annual survey also asked about GP consultations, revealing that 69% of men and 82% of women had consulted a GP in the previous 12 months.

In addition, 84% of respondents had consulted their GP solely for a physical health problem, 5% for a mental health, nervous or emotional problem and 11% for both types of problem in the last 12 months.

Women were more likely than men to have discussed a mental health problem with their GP and to use counselling or therapy services for a mental health problem.

Consultations for mental health problems were more common among those from lower incomes 25% of adults in the lowest income group had one in the last year compared with 15% in the highest.

More here:
Data shows diabetes levels in England have trebled in 25 years - Nursing Times

The pandemic coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (shown above) mayunder certain conditionsintegrate its genetic material into human cells, confounding COVID-19 diagnostic tests.

By Jon CohenDec. 16, 2020 , 6:30 PM

Sciences COVID-19 reporting is supported by the Pulitzer Center and the Heising-Simons Foundation.

People who recover from COVID-19 sometimes later test positive for SARS-CoV-2, suggesting their immune systems could not ward off a second attack by the coronavirus or that they have a lingering infection. A study now hints at a different explanation in which the virus hides in an unexpected place. The work, only reported in a preprint, suggests the pandemic pathogen takes a page from HIV and other retroviruses and integrates its genetic codebut, importantly, just parts of itinto peoples chromosomes. The phenomenon, if true and frequent, could have profound implications that range from false signals of active infection to misleading results from COVID-19 treatment studies.

The current study only showed this integration in a lab dish, although it also cites published sequence data from humans infected with SARS-CoV-2that suggest it has happened. The authors emphasize that their results dont imply that SARS-CoV-2 establishes permanent genetic residence in human cells to keep pumping out new copies, as HIV does.

Other scientists are divided about the importance of the new work and its relevance to human health, and some are harshly critical. There are open questions that well have to address, saysmolecular biologist Rudolf Jaenisch of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), who led the work.

Yet a few veteran retrovirologists are fascinated. This is a very interesting molecular analysis and speculation with supportive data provided, says Robert Gallo, who heads the Institute of Human Virology and looked at the newly posted preprint at Sciences request. I do not think it is a complete story to be certain but as is, I like it and my guess is it will be right.

All viruses insert their genetic material into the cells they infect, but it generally remains separate from the cells own DNA. Jaenischs team, intrigued by reports of people testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 after recovering, wondered whether these puzzling results reflected something of an artifact from the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, which detects specific virus sequences in biological samples such as nasal swabs, even if they are fragmented and cant produce new viruses. Why do we have this positivity, which is now seen all over the place, long after the active infection has disappeared? says Jaenisch, who collaborated with the lab of MITs Richard Young.

To test whether SARS-CoV-2s RNA genome could integrate into the DNA of our chromosomes, the researchers added the gene for reverse transcriptase (RT), an enzyme that converts RNA into DNA, to human cells and cultured the engineered cells with SARS-CoV-2. In one experiment, the researchers used an RT gene from HIV. They also provided RT using human DNA sequences known as LINE-1 elements, which are remnants of ancient retroviral infections and make up about 17% of the human genome. Cells making either form of the enzyme led to some chunks of SARS-CoV-2 RNA being converted to DNA and integrated into human chromosomes, the team reports in their preprint, posted on bioRxiv on 13 December.

If the LINE-1 sequences naturally make RT in human cells, SARS-CoV-2 integration might happen in people who have COVID-19. This could occur in people coinfected with SARS-CoV-2 and HIV, too. Either situation may explain PCR detecting lingering traces of coronavirus genetic material in people who no longer have a true infection. And it could confuse studies of COVID-19 treatments that rely on PCR tests to indirectly measure changes in the amount of infectious SARS-CoV-2 in the body.

David Baltimore, a virologist at the California Institute of Technology who won the Nobel Prize for his role in discovering RT, describes the new work as impressive and the findings as unexpected but he notes that Jaenisch and colleagues only show that fragments of SARS-CoV-2s genome integrate. Because it is all pieces of the coronaviral genome, it cant lead to infectious RNA or DNA and therefore it is probably biologically a dead end, Baltimore says. It is also not clear if, in people, the cells that harbor the reverse transcripts stay around for a long time or they die. The work raises a lot of interesting questions.

Virologist Melanie Ott, who studies HIV at the Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, says the findings are pretty provocative but need thorough follow-up and confirmation. I have no doubt that reverse transcription can happen in vitro with optimized conditions, Ott says. But she notes that SARS-CoV-2 RNA replication takes place in specialized compartments in the cytoplasm. Whether it happens in infected cells and leads to significant integration in the cell nucleus is another question.

Retrovirologist John Coffin of Tufts University calls the new work believable, noting that solid evidence shows that LINE-1 RT can allow viral material to integrate in people, but hes not yet convinced. The evidence of SARS-CoV-2 sequences in people, Coffin says, should be more solid, and the in vitro experiments conducted by Jaenischs team lack controls he would have liked to have seen. All in all, I doubt that the phenomenon has much biological relevance, despite the authors speculation, Coffin says.

Zandrea Ambrose, a retrovirologist at the University of Pittsburgh, adds that this kind of integration would be extremely rare if it does indeed happen. She notes that LINE-1 elements in the human genome rarely are active. It is not clear what the activity would be in different primary cell types that are infected by SARS-CoV-2, she says.

One particularly harsh Twitter critic, a postdoctoral researcher in a lab that specializes in retroviruses, went so far as to call the preprints conclusions a strong, dangerous, and largely unsupported claim. Jaenisch emphasizes that the paper clearly states the integration the authors think happens could not lead to the production of infectious SARS-CoV-2. Lets assume that we can really resolve these criticisms fully, which Im trying to do, Jaenisch says. This might be something not to worry about.

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The coronavirus may sometimes slip its genetic material into human chromosomesbut what does that mean? - Science Magazine

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) Behind one Oklahoma 8-year-olds infectious smile is a fighter.

Im smaller than most people, said Madison Cain.

Madison was born smaller than most babies, too, at 5 lbs. 9 oz.

She was teeny tiny, she calls herself a little itty-bitty baby,said Madisons mom, Melissa Cain.

For Madisons first year, Melissa says there werent many issues.

Around 15 months or so she quit growing in length, she quit gaining weight, and so that began our journey to figure out what was going on, said Melissa.

The Tulsa residents had no idea what this journey would entail.

By age two, Madison was diagnosed with hip dysplasia and cataracts.

She got those initial diagnoses treated, but still wasnt growing.

Then we really started thinking this isnt all adding up she doesnt grow, she has the hip thing, she has cataracts, there has to be something, said Melissa.

The family started genetic testing, while Madisons symptoms persisted.

Still low energy not growing well, said Melissa. She couldnt keep up with her peers, you know running and things werent the same we were doing all kinds of things and just not a lot of answers.

The Cains spent hours researching, and even more time at the doctors office, but it was years of dead ends.

No energy, sleeping 16 hours a day barely making it through school, not gaining any weight, said Melissa.She was 5 and weighed about 25-28 pounds, but she is the most easy going, not stressed out, tough child.

Madisons strength paid off.

A break-through finally coming in 2019.

The genetics doctor called and said here this is what it is, theres one published paper, with a patient with this. Its not her, so well just put it in a database and see if anything ever hits, said Melissa.

But as a nurse practitioner herself, Melissa sat down and read the article.

She realized it was written by doctors, just down the turnpike, at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.

This is a new disease and were the first ones that discovered it, said Dr. Lijun Xia,Member and Chair, Cardiovascular Biology Research Program at OMRF.

Madison has rare gene mutation to the MBTPS1 gene.

Madison, inherited a wrong copy from her mother and the father so, therefore even though she has two copies of the gene both are wrong both have mutation, said Dr. Xia.

The mutation, resulted in a condition called Spondyloepiphyseal Dysplasia, Kondo-Fu type, or SEDKF for short.

The condition named after two of Oklahomas scientists.

The disorder hinders Madisons bone growth and development.

This is a very rare genetic disease,said Dr. Xia.

There are only two known cases in the state, Madisons and another girl named Sydney in Yukon, who was the first diagnosed.

Since publishing the article, OMRF now knows of about eight cases worldwide.

We have one contact us from Germany, one from Brazil, and theres also one from San Francisco, said Dr. Xia.

Doctors think that could be because many patients are misdiagnosed.

The mutation can also affect every patient differently.

However, theres hope on the horizon.

Researchers have come up with a possible treatment but need 50 patients for a clinical trial.

Now theyre searching for cases across the country.

Of course, I wish that we had the answer plus enough patients to do a trial and see if the treatment would work and Im hopeful that we can get there before her bones stop growing, said Cain.

The protein used for treatment has already been approved by the FDA to treat a different disease.

Researchers have tested the treatment on mice successfully.

For Madison, this treatment could mean everything.

It could change our life and change her life for the rest of her life, said Cain. We never thought weve get a Madison, but theres no one like Madison.

For more information visit the OMRF website.

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Oklahoma researchers looking for additional patients across the US with rare genetic mutation - KFOR Oklahoma City

Question: Which genetic syndromes increase the risk of breast cancer?

Many risk factors for breast cancer have been identified, including genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Some are modifiable and others are not. A family history of breast cancer in a first-degree relative is the most widely recognized breast cancer risk factor, but only 5-10% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have a known genetic predisposition. Women with a family history of breast cancer in a mother or sister have a 1.5-3 fold increase in the risk of developing breast cancer.

Multi-panel genetic testing for hereditary breast cancer syndromes is currently not standard for all women diagnosed with breast cancers due to insufficient data regarding interpretation accuracy and its utility. For now, BRCA1/2 testing accounts for half of the detected genetic breast mutations and is recommended in a women with: Personal history of breast cancer diagnosed before the age of 50, multiple female relatives with breast cancer on same side of the family or family history of male breast cancer, multiple breast cancers, both breast and ovarian cancer,with Ashkenazi Jewish heritage.

Those with BRCA mutation are at risk for developing breast cancer (50 to 80%) by age 70 and developing ovarian cancer (40-60%) by age 85. Since 2014, PALB2 (partner and localizer of BRCA2 gene) testing is frequently added to BRCA due to its inherent breast cancer risk of 5 to 9 times the average. Optional genetic panel testing includes PTEN, TP53, ATM, CDH1, CHEK2, NBN, NF1, STK11, and PMS2/MSH2 Lynch syndrome, also known as hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer, is a hereditary cancer syndrome, and is associated with multiple types of cancers, particularly colon, ovarian and endometrial/uterine, as well as breast cancers. Women with these mismatch repair genetic mutations (Lynch) may also have a 2-3 fold increase risk of breast cancer compared to the general population.

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Your Cancer Answers: Which genetic syndromes increase the risk of breast cancer? - Lompoc Record

By Alexandra Benisek

For the first decade of her life, Saada Branker enjoyed a normal, active childhood in Montreal. But after a year of unexplained pain in her shoulders, hands, and feet, her doctor diagnosed her with polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, now called juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), when she was 12.

That news 40 years ago surprised Brankers parents. It was uncommon then -- as it is today -- to hear of children with arthritis. By the time Branker entered high school, her condition was severe enough to often leave her stuck on the sidelines.

The toughest part was sitting in gym class, watching the students do the things that I used to do, says Branker, 51, a freelance writer and editor in Toronto. I was sitting on this skinny bench on the side of the gym for 40 minutes, watching them do the things I couldnt do.

Branker disliked feeling like an outcast so much that she spent years covering up her disease. Only several dozen American children under 16 out of 100,000 have it. The type Branker had is rarer still. Polyarticular means the disease affects five or more big and small joints, such as in the ankles and feet.

As Branker approached adulthood, her JIA became classified as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The condition took a toll not just on Brankers body but on her mental well-being. I started to feel very self-conscious, I felt different. In high school, you dont want to be different, you want to blend in.

The discomfort seeped into other parts of Brankers life. It followed her to Ryerson Universitys journalism program in Toronto, where she found the transition to college life-altering and stressful with RA. Even though I was looking forward to it, it impacted me physically, she says.

The pain and stiffness from RA slowly made impossible the most routine of daily tasks. She could no longer twist her dreadlocks or drive her friends downtown. At her most pessimistic point, Branker simply assumed that shed eventually lose her mobility and independence.

Branker started her first job out of college as a program assistant at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation just after having surgery on her elbow because of RA. Her duties included lifting and moving items, something her doctor advised her to avoid. But Branker was reluctant to confide to her employer.

I didnt want anyone to know, she says. My challenge all the time was, How do I look able-bodied like everyone else? What was more important to me at the time was fitting in and doing the job.

In fact, Branker kept her illness a secret -- until she couldnt. One morning in June 2001, she realized that she couldnt put on her clothes.

When I went to get dressed, I couldnt raise my arms to get the blouse on. I had to call my roommate to help dress me. That was the morning I decided Im just going to tell everyone at work that Ive been struggling with this disease.

Branker switched from blending in to speaking up. She also began to see a social worker to learn how to manage a lifelong illness mentally. Through that, I developed this understanding that, not only do I need to talk about it, but people need to hear about this disease.

Branker learned how to lean on others. People were so kind and would help. But it was also hard for me to accept. It always took a chunk out of me.

Branker used to fear for her future as her disease progressed. But she now realizes that the best path is to accept the unknown.

Losing mobility is something that we have to be real with ourselves about. When we lose the mobility, it doesnt mean its gone forever. But at that moment, you have to mourn the loss.

Branker urges other with RA to be kind to themselves and to make their health their top priority.

With her newfound self-advocacy, Branker acts as a team player for her treatment. She brings a list of questions to doctors appointments, does her research, and speaks up for therapy that she thinks may work best for her lifestyle.

All of that started to become comfortable and then normal for me. I started looking at [the physicians] as my team and not just doctors who teach me what to do. That shift helped empower me, she says.

Branker also takes advantage of assistive devices, including tools to help put on her socks or to grip cooking items.

For each task she cant finish, Branker is determined to adapt and to gain a new perspective.

Instead of looking at it as I cant do it, its gone forever, I think, What can I do in place of that? she says. You dont have to keep walking around, thinking I got to act like everyone else and act like I can do this when on some days, you cant, and thats OK.

WebMD Feature

SOURCES:

Saada Branker, Toronto, Canada.

Mayo Clinic: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America: Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.

Arthritis Foundation: Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA), Do Adults Have Juvenile Arthritis?

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Life With RA: You Are Your Best Advocate - WebMD

On Saturday, Taylor Van Emmerik became Claus for a cause.

The 16-year-old, who was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis seven years ago, donned an inflatable Santa Claus outfit for a 5K (3.1 mile) run through Yankton. He triumphantly finished by crossing the upper deck of the Meridian Bridge, raising about $3,000 for the Arthritis Foundation.

This is part of the annual Jingle Bell Run fundraiser. Because of COVID, they werent having the large groups running together, he said. I decided to have a virtual run by myself, putting it on Facebook and YouTube for people to follow.

And the Santa outfit? Van Emmerik wore it in the spirit of the season and to raise more funds.

I bought it on Amazon for about $30, he said. I told people that I had to raise at least $2,500 for me to wear the Santa suit, and they came through.

Before he even started his run, Van Emmerik had traveled from his hometown of Tea, just outside Sioux Falls. His parents, Dean and Jodi Van Emmerik, operate a business in the community. Taylor attends Tea Area High School, while another son, Gavin attends eighth grade in the Tea schools.

Why come to Yankton to make the Jingle Bell Run?

Weve camped down at the Meridian Bridge resort (on the Nebraska side of the bridge), and Ive spent a good chunk of my summers there, he said. When I thought of running the 5K, I thought it would be cool to finish it by crossing the Meridian Bridge and finishing on the Nebraska side. Ive walked a mile for the Jingle Bell fundraiser, but this is my first 5K run.

On Saturday, Taylor donned his Santa suit at the corner of 29th and Douglas streets he mapped out the route and distance in northeast Yankton. He was accompanied by father; his grandmother, Mary Van Emmerik; and 10 friends affectionately described as his elves. Other family members were there in spirit, as Jodi was accompanying Gavin at his wrestling tournament.

Taylor laughed as he donned the inflatable Santa suit, but he turned serious as he spoke about his lifes journey. His struggle with arthritis began in his previous hometown, even though he didnt know what he was suffering at the time.

I came back from a trip to Mitchell, and I got out of the truck and just had this feeling on my left side. I went inside and took off my socks, and my ankle had swollen to the size of a water balloon. I didnt know what was going on, he said.

The next morning, my fingers were very stiff, and I couldnt loosen them enough to pull up my pants. Theres nothing more embarrassing when youre 9 years old than having your parents pull up your pants for you.

The pain became so bad that Taylor called to be taken home from school. Jodi took him to the local clinic, and he was sent to a pediatrician who was unsure of the condition but ruled out arthritis because Taylor didnt have the swelling in both ankles. His foot was placed in a boot, and he was sent home.

Dean said the family wasnt sure what to do. We were crushed, and we didnt know what to do and where to go for help, he said.

Jodi went online to search for more options. She learned one daunting statistic: More than 300,000 young people suffer from juvenile arthritis, with only about 420 pediatric rheumatologists in the nation and none of them were close to Taylor.

If you do the math, it comes out to 715 patients for each doctor, Taylor said of the odds for being seen by one of the specialists. The closest ones were located hours away in Minneapolis; Rochester, Minnesota; Omaha and Denver.

Taylor was seen by doctors at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, who immediately diagnosed juvenile arthritis. He was placed on medication and scheduled for monthly visits, requiring an eight-hour round trip.

Jodi was the one who did a lot of work with scheduling and taking Taylor to appointments, while I stayed back and ran our business, Dean said. But now its made a huge difference that Sanford (Health System) brings down a pediatric rheumatologist from Fargo to Sioux Falls once a month. Taylor doesnt need to make those long trips.

When he was first diagnosed, Taylor was playing basketball, golf and soccer. As his condition worsened, he gave up those sports. However, his current passion for running has kept him moving, which he believes has been good for his arthritis.

Taylor has remained in school and has developed a number of close friends who have provided him with support. However, he suffered a physical setback when he had been in remission but the arthritis returned.

Its a lot of trial and error. We go back every few months to see if its working, he said. They have found something that seems to help, and we pray it stays that way.

While Taylor received support from others, he struggled mentally as others didnt understand what he was experiencing. At that point, the Van Emmeriks discovered Camp Cambria in Minnesota, which serves the needs for those with juvenile arthritis.

At first, I wasnt sure. A camp for a bunch of disabled kids? It didnt sound that cool. But my parents convinced me, Taylor said. I was scared. It was my first time away from home. I was the youngest male camper and the only one from South Dakota. But when I got to camp, there were a lot of friendly faces. It was life changing,

Dean could see the change in his son. The Cambria camp provided a big inspiration for Taylor. Its where he draws a lot of his energy, Dean said.

The camping experience also turned Taylor into an advocate for the Arthritis Foundation and for the recruitment of a full-time pediatric rheumatologist in Sioux Falls.

But Saturday, Taylors immediate goal was completing the 5K. He hadnt conducted a trial run in the Santa suit, which he admitted was a mistake. He was bogged down by the body mass, and he took off his fake beard for easier breathing. But the suit kept him warm in the freezing temperatures.

Im tired, but Im very happy and very glad I did this. It was really rewarding for my self-esteem to finish this. I told myself, You can do this, he said. My friends were awesome, but they were laughing at me all the time. They were jamming to Christmas music in the car while they were driving alongside me and were honking their horn at me. We had a few people who joined the parade (as I ran through Yankton), and it was very cool.

Dean watched the scene with a sense of satisfaction. Taylor carries a great attitude and a positive attitude. Were really proud of the man hes become, he said.

Taylor spoke with determination about his purpose, even if he was cold and tired from his run.

Arthritis doesnt control me, and it doesnt define me as a person, he said. Im doing this (run) for the 54 million people with arthritis and for the future generations and a cure, so it wont be necessary for any of us to deal with this anymore.

To donate or to learn more information, visit the Arthritis Foundation of South Dakota both online and on Facebook.

Follow @RDockendorf on Twitter

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Teen Becomes 'Claus For A Cause' To Raise Awareness Of Arthritis - Yankton Daily Press