Archive for the ‘Diabetes Medicine’ Category
Association of Mood Disorders with Diabetes
Controlling the level of glucose in blood in diabetics is crucial from the point of preventing the development of mood disorders. The fluctuations taking place in the levels of glucose in blood can lead to a number of complications. Development of psychological and mood disorders in diabetics is one of them. Neglecting such problems can have grave consequences. Amongst the different psychological disorders associated with diabetes, the problem of depression is most pronounced. The other psychological problems include anger and anxiety.
Dr. Satish Garg from the University of Colorado Denver opines that studying the relationship between mood disorders and diabetes should help in obtaining an in-depth understanding of the subject matter. This could further boost the research on finding effective means and treatment measures for tackling this health issue. Tim Wysocki from Jacksonville, Florida too has expressed similar ideas on the topic in his write-up presented in the journal named ‘Diabetes Technology and Therapeutics’.
If the glucose level in the body is not controlled in a timely manner, severe complications may develop. One thing that researchers are still in doubt is whether mood disorders are responsible for causing diabetes or the process actually takes place in the reverse manner. There is no doubt whatsoever on the matter that psychological disorders like depression lead to a myriad form of complications like worsening of diet, decreased physical activity, rise in micro & macro-vascular complications, inclination to bad habits like smoking, etc. The research conducted by scientists at the University of Colorado Denver has brought one thing to the fore i.e. diabetes coupled with mood disorders leads to a deadly combination of health issues. It is therefore, of utmost importance to find possible solutions for dealing with these health problems.
Herbal Medicines Gaining Importance in Diabetes Treatment
Western medical practice widely believes that diabetes treatment isn’t possible, only managing diabetes is. This medical blog too has been advising readers on efficient management of diabetes. A new hope, however, has emerged as the West continues to embrace the ancient medicine of the far east; India’s ayurveda in particular.
A New Hope for Diabetes Treatment
The plant derivatives and herbal medicines were not give much importance in diabetes treatment till recently. One of the reasons behind the credibility of herbal medicines being questioned was that sufficient research was not conducted to prove their effectiveness. However, with the benefits of these coming to the fore, the medical fraternity is considering the option of using herbal medicines as one of the best for treatment of several ailments including diabetes.
Recently an organic chemist from India, Mr. K. Balasubramanian patented two of his medicines meant for the treatment of diabetes. The main ingredients of these medicines are gymnema sylvestre and bilva. These medicines have successfully passed the mandatory clinical trials. The major benefit of using these medicines for treatment of diabetes is that they activate the beta cells of pancreas. This action leads to secretion of insulin. Functioning of the other hormonal glands of the body is also improved considerably. Another benefit of using herbal medicines is that strengthening of the liver cells takes place. This action of herbal medicines eventually results into a build up of islet cells of pancreas which is highly important from the point of controlling diabetes.
A Recipe for Diabetes Treatment: The Ingredients
The use of garlic is said to have a positive effect on reducing blood-sugar levels. Garlic is also responsible for the secretion of insulin and causes a slow degradation of insulin which is of utmost importance in controlling diabetes. Aloe Vera, just like garlic, helps in lowering the sugar levels in blood. The defatted portion of seeds of fenugreek contains beneficial chemicals like coumarin, niotinic acid and alkaloid trogonelline; these chemicals possess anti-diabetic properties. A compound called myrtillin which is present in the leaves of blueberry contains anti-diabetic properties. These and many such examples prove that herbal medicines are definitely of great help in the treatment of diabetes.
Why This is a Good News
The main reason behind herbal medicines scoring over allopathic drugs in diabetes treatment is that the latter are known to produce many side-effects. For example, the allopathic medicines are known to destroy glucose present in the body; the glucose doesn’t get converted into energy. It is one of the main reasons why you would find most diabetes patients exhibiting a feeling of tiredness and drowsiness; they tend to get hungry far more frequently. Allopathic drugs are responsible for lowering the percentage of hemoglobin in blood cells. This is another reason why herbal medicines score over allopathic drugs.
Herbal medicines are considered better than allopathic medicines because they don’t exhibit any side-effects. The research and developments taking place in the field of medicine should help us understand more about the benefits of herbal medicines.
There’ll be more on this diabetes blog on diabetes treatment and management. Till then, keep watching this space.
Treating Diabetes
Diabetes treatment has come a long way over the last few years with new medication and devices summing up to a better life for diabetics. Doctors have also become much more aggressive when it comes to dealing with diabetes. People with diabetes are getting diagnosed and treated earlier than they once did with better results to follow.
In this day and age there are so many options that professionals have developed, which is designed to treat diabetes, but insulin injections conventional and implantable insulin pumps are the most sought.
It is wise to remember that diabetes is available in two common features of type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Most researchers believe type 1 diabetes is the simplest type to be treated in relation to type 2 diabetes.
Regular analysis of blood glucose was found to be the only thing that contributes greatly to know if you have diabetes or not, and if they do, what to do and how to go about situation. To be on the safe side, people are generally advised to constantly check their level of blood sugar to ensure that they operate in the security settings for healthy living.
In fact, if you’re interested in your routines, you can fight against diabetes on your own way, but at the same time carry out your own exercises that will benefit only in the long term. Treatment of type 1 diabetes, usually by means of insulin injected into the bloodstream to increase insulin levels in the body. Another way to treat this type is by doing lots of exercise, and most fundamental is to have a balanced diet when you take your meals.
On the other hand, type 2 diabetes, is usually treated by weight loss by encouraging most of the methods available, such as hitting the gym, or meditate. A patient may also be placed on a diabetic diet, where they are instructed to eat foods that will help them fight the disease. When someone is on a diabetic diet, then they should stay away from junk food. Junk food are usually high in fat, which when degraded by the body content release, which is so rich in sugar levels. This can also be solved by encouraging the patient to engage in routine exercise.
Some people tend to ask, how and what is the value of exercise, or by cutting the weight of them when it comes to treating diabetes? Doctors have found increasingly in the past that when you exercise or engage in a kind of weight loss operation, your body works so that his response and insulin sensitivity has been completed. Through this process, the body adapts to the late start in vain to control blood sugar in the system.
These are some basic methods for the treatment of diabetes, but there are others that can be used on when they fail. Often, some oral medication is administered if these methods do not bear fruit. If oral medications fail also, the final treatment is usually used for insulin therapy.
Anti-diabetic Medication Classification
Diabetes also known as diabetes mellitus is classified as a metabolism disorder. Diabetes occurs when the body produces no insulin, low insulin or when the cells are incapable or cannot accept insulin, this hormone is produced in sufficient quantity by the pancreas. The food consumed by the body is turned into glucose the primary fuel of the body, glucose enters the cells when insulin is present, however in the absence of insulin the cells are unable to accept glucose thus the excess sugar is passed through the system in the form of urine.
This disease leads to several future complications such as adult blindness, end-stage renal disease (ESRD), gangrene, amputations and in severe cases can lead to coma.
The types of Diabetes can be classified into the following three
Diabetes Type 1 – The patient produces no insulin at all.
Diabetes Type 2 – The patient doesn’t produce enough insulin, or is not working properly.
Gestational Diabetes – The patient develop diabetes just during her pregnancy.
Diabetes Types 1 and 2 are chronic medical conditions which means that they are persistent and perpetual.
Classification of Antidiabetic Drugs
Due to such risks patients must ensure to receive long-term and often lifelong treatments to maintain the stability in their blood sugar, thus reducing the risk of further complications.
Antidiabetic drugs can be classified into two categories:
Insulin injections
These injections are used to control the high blood sugar by providing the body with the amount of insulin which the body was naturally supposed to create, thus these injections only control blood sugar and does not cure it. These injections are required by people suffering from Type 1 diabetes or in people who have Type 2 when it cannot be controlled with oral medications alone. Ensure to follow your doctors prescriptions to the letter, do not alter or change your prescribed dose or change your insulin brand without consulting your doctor.
Oral anti diabetic drugs
This type of drug is mostly suitable for adult patients. There are mainly two types of oral anti diabetic drugs:
Sulphonylureas
This is one of the oldest type of drugs used to treat Type 2 diabetes, this drug stimulates the pancreas to release more insulin into the blood stream and thus increases insulin secretion. There are several “generations” of this classification of medicines. Second and third generations are more widely prescribed today.
First generation: Orinase, Tolinase and Diabines
Second generation: Glucotrol (glipizide), Glucotrol XL (extended-release glipizide), Micronase or Diabeta (glyburide)
Third generation: Amaryl (glimepiride)
Biguanides Metformin
Januvia (sitagliptin phosphate): The first of the DPP-4 inhibitors to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Januvia is an oral medication which is taken once a day, either alone with diet and exercise, or in combination with other oral diabetes medications.
Diabetes – Life Adaptations
However with the use of such drugs, it becomes important for the patient to undertake a few changes in his lifestyle, such as sticking to the dosing schedule and the diet prescribed by the doctor or dietitian. Avoid high-calorie and fatty food
- Conduct regular urine and blood tests to evaluate the progress of your conditions.
- Maintain personal hygiene to prevent complications such as skin infections.
- Quit smoking and alcohol.
- Eat the right amount at regular intervals. Do not delay mealtimes.
- Last but far from least,consistent exercise is critical to managing diabetes and avoiding complications.
Diabetes Diet Plan Tips For Type 2 Diabetes
No set formula for eating will be able to keep your type 2-diabetes in check. People should determine the most feasible combination for its own health management. There are some specific rules that will help you make the right choice, however. Your food choices will be healthy. Diabetes leads to additional risks of heart disease, stroke, and other serious health problems. Making healthy food choices will benefit your type 2 diabetes as well as helping to steer clear of other health problems. Eat a wide variety of foods available. Do not think that a diet consisting mainly of protein will help you steer clear of blood sugar spikes. The problem with diets is that it could lower your blood sugar levels and bring on ketoacidosis.
Always mix what’s on your plate at every meal or snack. Combining carbohydrates with healthy fats and proteins. Make sure you also get raw vegetables and fruits as well. Eating foods high in fiber can help regulate the speed at which the body absorbs glucose. Be sure to select the fat herbal healthy fats from meat when possible. This will certainly help keep your cholesterol under control. Add whole grains to your diet. Absorbed more slowly than their refined cousins absorb and contain fiber. You eat is as important as what you eat.
Establish a daily routine for meals and snacks spread from about 3 to 5 hours apart. This will help keep your blood sugar stable. Do not consume more than large meals. It is better to have several small meals instead of the great years. Portion control of all types of food can help keep blood sugar levels stable as well. It’s not a good idea to miss meals. You might think it will help you lose weight. But you will also face problems instead of glucose. Enter a diagram will help your body naturally regulate blood sugar. Leave the trend will reverse the problem.
Habit is very important to read labels ever. You will be amazed at the amount of empty calories you eat each day. If you find sugar, corn syrup, high fructose, or something that shows, in particular sugar in the ingredients first, run away from that food. Find healthy ingredients on top. A habit is a great additional constant hydration. Dehydration increases the treatment of type 2 diabetes management. Drink water constantly throughout the day and avoid or limit soft drinks. The caffeine can actually dehydrate even coffee, tea or soda.
Collaborative Research To Develop The Next Generation Of Drugs
Two University of Queensland (UQ) researchers are leading biopharmaceutical associated with more global leader in the development of new peptide-based drugs to treat serious diseases. Peptides are small proteins that can be targeted to specific sites in the body, reducing the risk of side effects. But when taken by mouth, digestive enzymes break down conventional peptides, which means it must be injected to be effective.
The project aims to develop new drugs that build bridges between existing orally bioavailable small molecules and biotherapeutics injection in providing a new generation of orally active treatments for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Professors David Fairlie and David Craik from the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, UQ (IMB) has received $ 2.5 million from the Australian Research Council (ARC) to work with Pfizer to develop a new generation of drugs that will help overcome the limitations of current treatments.
“We are engineering new types of molecules based on peptides and proteins that are stable enough to be taken orally, yet sufficiently large to be target-specific and help lessen the side effects seen with small molecules,” Professor Craik said. “This project will provide a fundamental understanding for the development of new classes of medicines with the potential to treat a range of diseases,” Professor Fairlie said.
Pfizer is committed to advancing discovery and harnessing innovative science through partnerships. In addition to partnering closely with the IMB to discover and co-develop next generation medicines, Pfizer will also contribute $2.4 million in funding to the collaboration over the next three years. Dr Dan Grant, Pfizer’s Head of External Research & Development Innovation (Australia, New Zealand and Singapore) said peptide research is one of the most promising fields in the development of the new medicines. The collaboration with IMB supports Pfizer’s Cardiovascular Metabolic Diseases Research Unit (CVMED).
“The development of peptide-based medicines promises to treat diseases that are not currently treatable or well managed with available medicines, such as diabetes. Our CVMED unit is focused on supporting and treating patients with diabetes and the discovery of these innovative therapies may dramatically improve the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of Australian diabetes sufferers,” Dr Grant said.
The partnership combines important scientific souls to a world-class expertise in the latest in science, in hopes of creating a forum to understand the serious diseases that bring new medicines to patients faster and help meet the unmet medical need. Brad Edwards, Senior Vice President, Pfizer Australia Care Unit for Special Affairs, said: “Pfizer is pleased to be partnering with the University of Queensland Institute of Molecular Biosciences, our researchers to identify the strengths that exist in IMB, in particular, that the professors, and Fairlie Craik is the world’s leading chemical peptides and peptides.-drug design. “
Advanced Diabetes Supplies To The Diabetic Patients
Thanks to an online provider of diabetes supplies, patients no longer have to worry about controlling the supply of evidence. All users have to do is contact the phone offering advanced diabetes or fill out the online form and will contact the doctor for a list and quantity of supplies. Assurance procedures are complex supported by the provider of services and supplies are sent to the e-mail as soon as possible. And when it’s time for a new order, the agency will give you a courtesy call to remind you and make sure you have enough supplies.
“If you have health insurance (Medicare or private insurance), do not have to worry about pay for items. Most insurance companies offer the service at low cost or no, because they may be subject to the donor. Medicare, for example to help diabetics when supplies such as glucose meters, test strips, lancets and lancing devices. In addition, most service providers offer free shipping. Through the program to offer all this in addition to personalized service through the customer service number “said the spokesman for the supply advanced diabetes. The company, which is a division of North Coast Medical Supply is the first pharmacy to obtain accreditation by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP).
With online supply of products, managing of diabetes has become stress free as patients no longer have to worry about being reminded for supplies. “While we have a list of the top most manufacturers’, we also send innovative products that customers may have never tried. We also help with educational material like videos, recipes and other FAQ’s that help you combat the disease effectively,” adds the spokesperson.
The site is also to help other diabetic supplies such as coolers insulin bottles waste Needle, insulin pump cases, etc. As people tend to lose or forfeit the glucose meter, or when you need more tapes to learn how to test the service also promises no extras and new meters and strips will be shown at no additional cost. Patients may also subscribe to the service of customized solutions.
Scientists Use Gene Therapy To Improve Type 1 Diabetes In Mice
A team of researchers from Baylor College of Medicine have identified a gene therapy that can stimulate the increase of new insulin-producing cells of the pancreas and reverse the symptoms of type 1-diabetes, according to a current presentation at the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society. In experiments with mice, the study showed the team it is feasible to stimulate gene activity neurogenin3, which requires recently formed pancreatic cells to distinguish into insulin-producing beta cells.
This solves a major challenge in the treatment of type 1 diabetes. Individuals with the condition usually is not enough beta cells, so they are constantly at a dangerously low level of insulin. However, the creation of more beta cells not only improves the condition. Because the type 1 diabetes is not a sufficient beta cells, usually because their own body immune system attacks and destroys these cells. To combat this problem, researchers have turned to gene therapy.
Their mouse model showed that adding a gene called CD274 inhibits the activity of the immune system’s T cells, which are the units that often attack the beta cells of the pancreas. By combining therapies that involve the CD274 and neurogenin3 genes, the researchers showed that it is possible to regrow beta cells and prevent their destruction by the immune system in mice. The animal trials showed an 80 percent success rate.
“With just one injection of this gene therapy, the mice remain diabetes-free long term and have a return of normal insulin levels in the body,” said Vijay Yechoor, MD, the researcher of the study.
The next step in the development of treatment will be applied to humans, which is sometimes easier said than done. Prove the efficacy of treatment in mice is generally a good first step in creating a new drug, but that does not necessarily mean that the treatment method will be applicable to humans. But if further testing is successful, Yechoor says that gene therapy has the potential to be a “curative” treatment for diabetes type 1 -.
Survey: Can Gastric Bypass Surgery To Help Treat Diabetes?
Gastric bypass surgery has been known to improve glycemic control, often send people with type 2 diabetes into remission, but experts have long wondered exactly how it goes.
Now, a new study provides some clues.
Movement of amino acids associated with insulin resistance decreased significantly in those who have bypass surgery, researchers have discovered. They compared 10 obese people with diabetes who underwent surgery with 11 who have lost weight by dieting.
“Something happens after gastric bypass, there are so many food-induced weight loss,” said Dr. Blandine Lafer, associate professor of medicine at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center and Columbia University, to New York City.
The study is published in the April 27 issue of Science Translational Medicine.
The surgery, which reduces the stomach to the size of a small pouch, also modifies the junction between the stomach and small intestine. It leads to a dramatic reduction in the level of circulating amino acids that have been linked with diabetes.
“The fact that gastric bypass results in the remission of diabetes in the majority of patients is not new,” said Laferrere. According to background information in the study, 50% to 80% of diabetes cases go into remission after the surgery.
What doctors have been trying to figure out, she said, is why the bypass surgery is so good at making the diabetes disappear. “The diabetes improves almost immediately, before a significant amount of weight loss occurs,” she said. “That points out it is something other than the weight loss.”
In the new study, the researchers evaluated biochemical compounds involved in metabolic reactions in the participants. Each group had lost about 20 pounds. The investigators found that the bypass patients had much lower levels of amino acids known as branched-chain amino acids, and the amino acids phenylalanine and tyrosine.
“Those changes in the amino acids could be implicated in the mechanism of diabetes remission after gastric bypass,” Laferrere said.
Experts know the amino acids are linked with insulin resistance partly due to animal studies, she said. “If you supplement the diet of rats with branched-chain amino acids, you can induce more insulin resistance,” she explained.
However, Laferrere said, the finding does not mean all obese people with diabetes should pick surgery over dieting. The surgery is highly invasive, she noted, and not everyone is a candidate.
While the findings are intriguing, she said, it’s too early to apply them to diabetes treatment. Eventually, she added, after experts understand more about how the surgery affects the amino acids, it may be possible to apply the findings to develop better diabetes treatments or a less invasive surgery.
The new study adds weight to other research finding a link between the decline in branched-chain amino acids and the decline in insulin resistance, said Dr. Thomas J. Wang, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, and a coauthor of the perspective accompanying the study.
“It’s known that gastric bypass rapidly reverses insulin resistance, which is one of the principal biochemical abnormalities that precedes diabetes,” Wang said.
“This study really does help to confirm that hypothesis that branched-chain amino acids do go down more in people who have weight loss surgery,” he said. While it lends support to the idea that there is a link between the reduction in the amino acids and the decline in insulin resistance, it does not yet prove cause and effect, Wang added.
“It shows people who get weight loss surgery have a bigger drop in their branched-chain amino acids. What is not yet proven is whether that reduction in branched-chain amino acids is the reason their insulin resistance declines,” he pointed out.
Wang and his co-author, Dr. Robert Gerszten are co-inventors of patent applications relating to metabolite predictors of diabetes.
Gerszten, and Wang also pointed out that the number of obese people have type 2 diabetes were 171 million worldwide in 2000. By 2030, the number should be doubled. Therefore, they wrote a detailed understanding of the role of amino acids in the diabetes would be valuable.
Insulin In The Brain Plays A Role In The Development Of Diabetes
Scientists have discovered a new function of insulin in the brain.
Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have found that impaired insulin action in the brain may be the result of unbridled lipolysis trigger and exacerbate type 2 diabetes in humans.

Conducted by Christoph Buettner, assistant professor of medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone Disease Mount Sinai School of Medicine, the research team first injected a small amount of insulin in the brain of rats and then assessed glucose metabolism lipids in the body. In doing so, found that brain insulin suppresses lipolysis, a process in which triglycerides are broken down into fatty acids and fatty acids are released.
Furthermore, in mice that lacked the brain insulin receptor, lipolysis was unrestrained. While fatty acids are important energy sources during fasting, they can worsen diabetes, especially when they are released after the person has eaten, as happens in people with diabetes. Researchers previously believed that insulin’s ability to suppress lipolysis was entirely mediated through insulin receptors expressed on adipocytes, or fat tissue cells.
“The major lipolysis-inducing pathway in our bodies is the sympathetic nervous system and here the studies showed that brain insulin reduces sympathetic nervous system activity in fat tissue. In patients who are obese or have diabetes, insulin fails to inhibit lipolysis and fatty acid levels are increased. The low-grade inflammation throughout the body’s tissue that is commonly present in these conditions is believed to be mainly a consequence of these increased fatty acid levels.”
Buettner added, “When brain insulin function is impaired, the release of fatty acids is increased. This induces inflammation, which can further worsen insulin resistance, the core defect in type 2 diabetes. Therefore, impaired brain insulin signaling can start a vicious cycle since inflammation can impair brain insulin signaling.
“This cycle has been preserved and can lead to type 2 diabetes. Our study raises the possibility that the increase in insulin signaling in the brain may have therapeutic benefit of the lower risk of complications of insulin therapy, which is the ‘ hypoglycemia. ”