Breakthrough Diabetes Pill Could Be Available Within Months

Diabetes is a major health concern, with type 2 accounting for between 85 and 95% of all people with the disease. Type 2 diabetes, then, affects wellness in a big way, but a new pill looks set to change all that. The breakthrough treatment works to slash blood sugar levels and offers hope to the wellbeing millions of diabetes sufferers. And, if you’re thinking we’re talking about a “promising study” or “preliminary finding”, think again: the pill has now been launched in the UK.

 

 

According to wellness writer Jo Willey, ‘The breakthrough treatment is being unveiled at the same time that the drug watchdog has recommended it for use on the NHS. Experts say the drug, canagliflozin, which is taken once a day, is a vital new weapon in the battle against the Type 2 diabetes epidemic and its devastating complications. It reduces blood sugar levels in people for whom diet and lifestyle measures or other blood sugar-lowering medicines do not work well enough, say the manufacturers Janssen. The drug, also called Invokana, blocks the re-absorption of glucose in the kidneys, which is instead passed in the urine.’

 

Professor Anthony Barnett, Emeritus Professor of Medicine at the University of Birmingham, commented, ‘We are seeing a growing number of people with Type 2 diabetes which can have the extremely serious consequences of heart attack, stroke, blindness, kidney failure and amputations. Canagliflozin, which can offer patients significant reductions in blood sugar levels whilst not increasing risks of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugars), represents an important new option in the management of a major UK epidemic.’ The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) has given the pill a preliminary positive recommendation, and so the medication could be available within months.

 

In the Nice draft guidance, canagliflozin was said to be “useful” and recommended for use by some NHS patients with Type 2 diabetes when used in combination with other anti-diabetic drugs. Professor Carole Longson, of Nice, pointed out that ‘Type 2 diabetes can be difficult to treat and most people will eventually require a number of drugs, often used simultaneously. Canagliflozin represents a useful addition to the armoury of anti-diabetic drugs available. Nice is pleased to be able to ­recommend its use for some people with Type 2 diabetes.’ Dr Peter Barnes, the medical director at Janssen UK, added, ‘With the relentless increase in Type 2 diabetes, there is an ongoing need for additional treatment options. Not only does canagliflozin provide a new once-a-day oral treatment to help control blood glucose levels, it offers real value to the NHS.’

 

When your wellbeing is affected by type 2 diabetes, this means that your sugar – glucose – levels in your blood have become too high. The chronic disease is associated with 24,000 excess deaths each year, mainly from cardiovascular disease. In the UK, 3.2 million people are diagnosed with diabetes, and type 2 accounts for between 85 and 95% of all people with the disease. Your body develops type 2 diabetes when it can no longer produce insulin, or when the insulin that your body does produced does not work properly.

 

Typically, type 2 diabetes is treated with a healthy diet, increased physical activity and medication, but this doesn’t always prove effective. The National Diabetes Audit found that more than one in three patients with Type 2 diabetes in England and Wales are currently failing to achieve recommended blood glucose levels. Simon O’Neill of Diabetes UK noted, ‘Developing new treatments that give people more choice about how to manage their condition effectively are really important and so we look forward to seeing the results of the Nice consultation.’

Categories: anti diabetic, Blood glucose, Blood Sugar, Blood Sugar Control, breakthrough treatment, canagliflozin, Diabetes, diabetic drugs, glucose levels, sugar levels, type, Type 2 Diabetes

Dangerous Drink: Four Greatest Perils of Alcohol Abuse

Enjoying a glass of wine, a beer or a cocktail is a common practice in today’s society. However, some people who are susceptible to binge drinking and alcoholism are unable to stop at just one or two drinks. They continue drinking until they have reached a dangerous level of drunkenness. This type of drinking behavior affects the well being of both the alcoholic and society. Here are four of the most dangerous side effects of consistent heavy drinking.

 

Obesity

The obesity epidemic is often thought of as a food problem. However, it is also an alcohol problem. Heavy drinkers, who consistently drink more than four alcoholic beverages a day, are 46% more likely to obese than non-drinkers. When inebriated, individuals are unable to control impulses, such as the urge to overeat. Also, they often feel hungrier because alcohol hinders the ability to process the signals that tell the brain know the body is full.

Domestic Abuse

Alcoholics are three times more likely to abuse their spouses and domestic partners. This means seventy-five percent of reported cases of spouse or domestic partner abuse involve alcohol. Also, children whose parents abuse alcohol are three times more likely to suffer abuse than children from families without an alcoholic. Since many cases of domestic assault go unreported, these numbers cannot accurately reflect the abuse suffered at the hands of alcoholics, though they do provide a close approximation. Alcoholics with violent tendencies should strongly consider professional rehabilitation. Rehab centers like Ascend Recovery and a multitude of others can help reshape the behaviors of those afflicted with alcoholism and correspondingly reduce violent episodes.

 

Crime

One-fourth of all violent crimes, in the U.S., are committed by individuals who were abusing alcohol prior to the crime. Since overconsumption of alcohol often leads to aggressive behavior, this statistic isn’t surprising. What is surprising, however, is how much higher the chances of an alcoholic committing a violent crime is than non-alcoholics. There were roughly 1.2 million violent crimes committed in the U.S last year, and approximately 17.6 million adults out of a population of 313 million individuals suffer from alcoholic tendencies. This means, alcoholics have a 5.5 times greater chance of committing a violent crime.

 

Disease

While it’s common knowledge alcoholism can lead to heart and liver diseases, it’s less commonly known that alcohol abuse can lead to diabetes and other diseases, as well. Alcohol abuse causes type 2 diabetes, first, because it interferes with the body’s glucose levels and the hormones that control blood glucose levels. Second, drinking heavily causes pancreatitis, and type 2 diabetes is a side effect of pancreatitis. Next, heavy consumption of alcohol suppresses the immune system, making it easier for over-drinkers to contract infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV, and pneumonia. Alcoholism isn’t just responsible for physical ailment, but also causes several mental health issues. It is known for damaging memory, causing anxiety and depression, and it is suspected in certain cases of psychosis.

 

Light to moderate drinking, or one to two alcoholic beverages a night, is quite healthy and unlikely to lead to any long-tem social or physical problems. However, unchecked alcoholism and constant overconsumption of alcoholic beverages lead to many issues, damaging both the individual and society. These include a higher chance of being a violent crime offender, assaulting family members and loved ones, contracting serious diseases and developing obesity.

Categories: abuse, Alcohol, alcohol abuse, alcoholic, alcoholic beverages, Dangerous, drink, glucose levels, perils, violent, violent crime, violent crimes

Is Low Blood Sugar Making You Gain Weight?

Most people are aware of the risks of diabetes, but few are as educated on the dangers of low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia to give it its medical name. In a more serious form, hypoglycemia can lead to seizures and unconsciousness, as well as weight gain and obesity. It is more frequently seen as a side effect of diabetes, and occurs after aggressive insulin treatments which push the blood glucose levels a little too low. Because your blood sugar levels are connected to what you eat, finding and maintaining your glucose levels isn’t an exact science. There will be fluctuations, naturally, which makes treatment early on quite difficult. When your diet has been modified and other lifestyle factors have been considered, such as weight and exercise, then treatment can be considered more thoroughly.

Hypoglycemia can occur in people without diabetes as well though, occurring in conjunction with certain types of cancer, due to hormonal imbalances, during pregnancy, as a result of too much alcohol, and after vigorous exercise. It can also be caused by endocrine, renal and liver disorders. There isn’t an anti-insulin treatment for this problem, which means that hypoglycemia can only be solved by managing your diet and getting plenty of exercise. In fact, resolving your obesity and managing hypoglycemia go hand in hand. In normal people, blood sugar levels range between 70 – 80mcg per 100cc of blood before eating, which rises to around 120 – 140mcg in the hour following a meal. When your body is at the lowest ebb, the body becomes hungry; when it’s at its peak, it enables the pancreas to release insulin which prevents blood sugar levels from rising any higher.

The body gets its energy from glucose or blood sugar, and a certain level of glucose is necessary for the body to function every day. The brain needs a steady supply of glucose to function properly, which is why a person with hypoglycemia will experience confusing abnormal behaviours, blurred vision or dizziness. Exercise is a challenge or impossible with someone who has hypoglycemia as this only depletes your energy supplies. This means that your diet has the job of controlling both your weight and low blood glucose levels.

There are some important things to remember when you have hypoglycemia. Firstly, high-sugar is not a solution for your problem. When your body is loaded with high sugar treats, it launches an insulin attack to bring the glucose levels down. However, in a hypoglycemic, those levels are already at an all-time high so this simply leads to the pancreas going into overdrive. It’s actually better to do the opposite and cut out processed sugars completely. Stick to complex carbs, whole grains and vegetables which gradually release their glucose content over time which helps to balance the levels in the body. The problem lies in that hypoglycemics crave sugary foods, as the body knows it needs glucose to survive so it sends signals to get the highest concentrate of what it needs. Unfortunately, cookies and cakes cause the blood sugar levels to spike too high. This results in the pancreas responding with a powerful surge of activity, and the cycle quickly flips the body’s balance upside down. This constant seesaw action can cause a vicious cycle of feeding the body what it doesn’t need. If you’re worried you have a problem with your low blood sugar levels, speak to your GP who can advise if you need treatment.

Categories: Blood, Blood glucose, Blood Sugar, body, diet, glucose levels, high sugar, hypoglycemia, levels, Sugar, sugar levels

5 Reasons You Should Spend More Time With Your Toothbrush

Brushing at least twice daily, for at least two minutes at a time, is important to your overall health. In fact, as the following examples prove, the links between oral hygiene and the health of various parts of the body are often surprising.

 

Prevent Heart Disease

The condition of your mouth can affect the condition of your heart. Gum disease often leads to increased chances of deadly heart attacks. This is mainly due to the fact that the bacteria that cause gum inflammation can trigger inflammation throughout the body, which often contributes to heart disease, as well as a variety of other problems.

 

Brushing = Brain Power

When you do a good job brushing your teeth, you can boost your brain activity. According to a New York University College of Dentistry study, senior citizens suffering from gingivitis scored lower on cognitive tests than seniors with healthy gums. Plus, a five-year study from the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College in London indicated that adults of varying ages — from their early twenties to their late fifties — performed better on the same kinds of exams if their gums were in good shape.

 

Respiratory Health

Gum disease has been scientifically connected to respiratory disorders like pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A study that the American Academy of Periodontology published in January 2011 explained that the bacteria that cause gum disease can travel down to a person’s lower respiratory tract, infecting these sensitive areas and causing problems.

 

Avoid Diabetes

There’s now evidence to suggest that gum maladies can bring about diabetes as well. Gum disease weakens the body’s ability to regulate its glucose levels. Specifically, the bacteria that bring about periodontal disorders produce substances that can alter the rates at which cells metabolize carbohydrates. It’s also possible that the body becomes more resistant to its own insulin after it combats the bacteria associated with gum disease, and glucose levels thus remain elevated. Over time, that condition can result in diabetes.

 

Decrease Risk of Premature Birth

Finally, as the staff members at Whiteman Dental could tell you, there’s a relationship between oral hygiene and healthy pregnancies. Scientific studies have reported that women afflicted with gum disease have higher risks of delivering their babies prematurely, since periodontal ailments can prompt the production of labor-inducing fluids.

 

Of course, there are plenty of reasons to brush your teeth for the sake of your mouth. By brushing thoroughly each day, you’ll have fewer cavities, fresher breath, and brighter smiles. In short, take care of your teeth and your mouth and your entire body will be sure to thank you for your constant efforts.

Categories: Bacteria, body, brain power, Disease, glucose levels, Gum Disease, heart disease, nbsp, oral hygiene, problems nbsp, Toothbrush

Could an Artificial Pancreas Improve Your Glucose Control?

If your wellness is affected by type 1 diabetes, a dual-hormone artificial pancreas system (also known as a closed-loop delivery system) may improve your glucose level control and reduce your risk of hypoglycaemia, This is according to a trial published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal), which compared the closed-loop delivery system with conventional pump treatment.

 

Controlling your glucose levels is a challenge when you have type 1 diabetes, because having too low a level of glucose puts your wellbeing at risk of hypoglycaemia. Even with insulin pump treatment, which provides a continuous predetermined subcutaneous supply of insulin, hypoglycaemia still occurs. According to Ahmad Haidar, Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal and McGill University, and his co-authors, ‘Hypoglycaemia is feared by most patients and remains the most common adverse effect of insulin therapy.’

 

For the study, the researchers recruited 15 adult patients who had been using an insulin pump for at least three months. During two 15-hour experiments, the patients’ glucose levels were controlled using the artificial pancreas system, and, in the other visit, using conventional pump treatment. The results of the study revealed that participants’ glucose levels were in the target zone 71% of the time when using the artificial pancreas system, and just 57% with the conventional pump treatment.

 

The authors wrote, ‘[The dual-hormone artificial pancreas] improved glucose control and reduced the risk of hypoglycaemia in our 15 participants, as compared with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion. Rates of hypoglycaemia were reduced, with no increased risk of hyperglycaemia.’ They concluded, ‘Closed-loop delivery systems have the potential to substantially improve the management of diabetes and the safety of patients. These systems will probably be introduced gradually to clinical practice, with early generations focusing on overnight glucose control and using insulin alone.’

 

Drs. David Nathan and Steven Russell, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, commented, ‘Although [this] study is neither the first nor the longest investigation using a dual-hormone artificial pancreas, it is the first to compare such an apparatus to conventional intensive therapy in a randomized design. Treatment with the artificial pancreas increased the amount of time patients spent in the target range of blood glucose levels and decreased hypoglycemia. Thus, Haidar and colleagues show that low doses of glucagon administered under the control of a computer algorithm can act as a counter-regulatory hormone, preventing glucose levels from falling too low.’

Categories: artificial pancreas, closed loop, conventional pump, Diabetes Control, dual hormone, glucose control, glucose levels, hormone artificial, Hypoglycaemia, loop delivery, pump treatment

Is Government to Blame for Nation’s Poor Diabetes Control?

Diabetic wellness is at a major risk unless the government makes improving healthcare for people whose wellbeing is affected with the disease a priority. This is according to Diabetes UK, whose latest figures show that only one in five people in England and Wales are reaching the targets for keeping their diabetes under control.

The National Diabetes Audit statistics reveal that just 18.5% of diabetics in Wales, and 19.9% of people with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes in England, meet the recommended targets for blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol. When those figures are broken down by type of diabetes, English Type 1 diabetics have demonstrated particularly bad control of their condition, with just 11.4% meeting treatment targets.

the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends that, every year, patients with diabetes are supposed to get nine health checks; weight and body mass index (BMI) measurements, blood pressure, whether you smoke, blood glucose levels, cholesterol levels, eye check, foot check and two different checks to measure kidney function. Diabetes UK says that, as it stands, just 54% of patients in England are receiving these health checks.

According to Barbara Young, chief executive of Diabetes UK, ‘Given that diabetes is serious, and can lead to early death if people with diabetes are not supported to manage their condition, it is extremely worrying that so few people have it under control. There are now three million people diagnosed with diabetes, and this number is rising quickly. The fact that so many of them do not have good control over their diabetes means that unless something changes we face a public health disaster. Whether these people have high blood glucose levels, blood pressure or cholesterol, they are at increased risk of diabetes-related complications such as heart disease, amputation and stroke.’

A Department of Health spokesperson responded by saying, ‘We are determined to improve NHS services across the country for people with diabetes and end the unacceptable variation in care that still exists. We have set clear objectives for the NHS to improve the care and management of people with diabetes and we will be monitoring NHS England to make sure this is delivered.’ He added that over 98% of people were offered retinal screening in 2012 and 750,000 more people had all nine care processes checked in 2010-11 compared with 2006-7.

Is Government to Blame for Nation’s Poor Diabetes Control?

Categories: Blood, Blood glucose, blood pressure, control, Diabetes, Diabetes UK, Disease Management, glucose levels, health checks, people, Research

Type 1 Diabetes – Treatable with Gene Therapy?

A step forward in gene therapy may mark further benefits for those suffering from Type 1 Diabetes.

By applying gene therapy to dogs for up to four years, minus the effects of hypoglycaemia, the advance could prove advantageous for diabetics. The change from using the methods on mice and using dogs (namely Beagles) instead has shown positive success.

“Moving from mice to large animals is a big step,” said Dr. Fatima Bosch, Director of the Center of Animal Biotechnology and Gene Therapy. “If something works well in large animals, we have reason to believe, based on the previous experience in the field of gene transfer, that it is likely that we will see a similar outcomes in humans. For example, gene therapy that worked well in large animals to treat haemophilia is now seeing positive results in clinical trials with humans. We hope that in a few years, we’ll be able to test this therapy for type 1 diabetes in humans as well.”

The dogs were given insulin and glucokinase through an adenoassociated virus (AAV) vector – a vehicle which transports DNA using a virus that is not designed to harm its host. It can still “infect” them, but the cargo could contain whatever the creator wishes. In this case, the insulin and glocokinase is the cargo, which is beneficial.

Insulin is a very familiar component for those suffering from either type of diabetes, which helps to regulate the glucose in the blood. Whilst naturally created by the pancreas, those suffering from diabetes go through the issue that the pancreas produces too little, meaning that the body’s blood sugar is not regulated properly. Through injections and (or) a healthy diet, this is often maintained quite well. Glucokinase is partnered to insulin, which also helps to regulate the rise and fall of circulating glucose levels.

By injecting them into the dogs, researchers found that the dogs maintained normal blood glucose levels for up to four years without any signs of hypoglycaemia and without any need of further injections.

With further testing proving to be promising, the researchers hope to be able to test on humans in the future.

Type 1 Diabetes – Treatable with Gene Therapy?

Categories: Animal Testing, Blood glucose, Diabetes, Dogs, gene, gene therapy, Glucose, glucose levels, large animals, therapy, treatment, type, type one diabetes