Diabetes in the News

Studies Demonstrated Long-Acting Insulin Lantus(R) Lowered Free Fatty Acid Levels Equal to or Better Than Thiazolidinediones
Results from two new head-to-head studies showed that when added to metformin and/or a sulfonylurea, the once-a-day, long-acting insulin Lantus® (insulin glargine injection), significantly reduced free fatty acid levels in patients with type 2 diabetes compared to pioglitazone and had comparable effects to rosiglitazone. These results were presented at the American Diabetes Association’s  67th Annual Scientific Sessions. Source

First Non-Invasive Diabetes Screening Device Previewed At The American Diabetes Association Annual Meeting
A one-minute experimental diabetes screening system that uses light to detect diabetes-related biomarkers found in skin regardless of color will be previewed tomorrow for the first time at the 67th annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association held at McCormick Place. [...] Known as Scout DS(TM), manufactured by VeraLight Inc. of Albuquerque, New Mexico, the simple-to-use device weighs about 10 pounds and does not require the patient to fast or provide a blood sample. Using light directed onto a small area of an individual’s forearm the device is able to detect abnormal concentrations of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs), which correlate well with diabetes and pre-diabetes and are associated with the disease’s serious complications. Source

Lipid-Lowering Drugs Protect Against Peripheral Diabetic Neuropathy
A major epidemiological study conducted over eight years in Australia has shown that two classes of lipid- lowering drugs — statins and fibrates — significantly lower the risk of developing nerve damage known as peripheral sensory diabetic neuropathy, according to a report presented today at the American Diabetes Association’s 67th Annual Scientific Sessions.

“Statins and fibrates, drugs already highly recommended for people with type 2 diabetes to help prevent heart attacks, now also appear to help prevent one form of diabetic nerve damage called ‘peripheral neuropathy,’ a common complication of diabetes,” said Timothy Davis, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine, at the University of Western Australia, and principal investigator of the study, in a recent interview. Source

Diabetes Takes Up 12 Percent of U.S. Health Budget
The U.S. spends 12 percent of its health budget on diabetes care, spread across at least 18 agencies, according to the first report to add up the disease’s costs throughout the government.

The $79.7 billion spent on treating diabetes and its complications in fiscal 2005 exceeded the entire budget of the Education Department, said authors of a study commissioned by Novo Nordisk A/S, the world’s biggest maker of insulin for diabetics. The report urged lawmakers and regulators to better coordinate efforts and shift spending toward prevention. Source

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Diabetes; Type 1 Diabetes; Type 2 Diabetes