Category Archives: Diabetes

Turns out our mothers may have been onto something when they told us to eat our vegetables especially our broccoli.

A compound found naturally in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables may reduce some of the harmful effects of Type II diabetes in overweight adults, according to new research by Jed Fahey, a nutritional biochemist and an associate professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and a team of researchers in Europe and the United States.

An article on the findings appeared in the journal Science Translational Medicine in June.

Fahey, who is director of the Cullman Chemoprotection Center at the medical school, served as an author of the study along with colleagues based in Sweden, Switzerland and elsewhere in the United States.

It isn't the first time Hopkins researchers have illuminated the healthful powers of broccoli.

Fahey's predecessor as director of the research center, the renowned pharmacology professor and experimental generalist Paul Talalay, isolated the compound sulforaphane as a phytochemical (a chemical produced by plants) in the early 1990s.

Two years later, Talalay made international headlines and sparked broccoli sales around the world by demonstrating the compound's effectiveness in boosting the body's ability to resist cancer.

He and Fahey also showed that broccoli sprouts three- to four-day-old broccoli plants have 50 to 100 times the cancer-fighting power as the mature stalks typically sold in grocery stores.

Popular Science called the findings among the top 100 scientific discoveries of the 20th century, and researchers at Hopkins and elsewhere have since tested the chemical's effectiveness in helping the body fend off pathologies from autism and osteoarthritis to Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease.

This study was the first to test it against Type II diabetes, a chronic and increasingly widespread metabolic disorder that affects more than 29 million Americans and 420 million people around the world, according to the World Health Organization.

The world's most common form of diabetes, Type II arises when the body can no longer properly use insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar. As a result, blood sugar levels soar.

The disorder increases a patient's likelihood of developing heart disease, eyesight problems, kidney failure and stroke.

Though the study was comparatively small and short-term, the results are tentatively promising for the treatment of diabetes.

"This shows that sulforaphane is useful not only for cancer prevention but it also demonstrates anti-diabetes and many other activities," said Fahey, who spent 15 years in the biotechnology industry before joining the Hopkins faculty at Talalay's invitation in 1993.

It was four years ago that Anders Rosengren and Annika Axelsson, research endocrinologists at the Lund University Diabetes Center in Sweden, reached out to Fahey for his help in getting the study under way.

He and several colleagues had come across several papers suggesting that sulforaphane a compound that broccoli, cabbage, kale, bok choy and other vegetables in the pungent cruciferous category developed to protect themselves against unfavorable and stressful conditions might help human beings resist diabetes.

The Swedes' thinking, in scientific terms, was simple.

Research has shown that sulforaphane, by its very molecular makeup, has an unusual effect: it accelerates the body's production of a common but important protein known as Nrf2.

The job of Nrf2, in essence, is to regulate the creation of antioxidants that repair stressed, damaged or decaying cells.

A shot of sulforaphane kicks the creation of those antioxidants into overdrive, bolstering at the cellular level the body's capacity to resist a wide range of malfunctions.

"This molecule [Nrf2] is responsible for shouting out to cells, 'You're in trouble; you're being attacked by sunlight, by ultraviolet light, by toxins. You've got to up your game, you've got to enhance your protective strategy,'" Fahey said. "Nrf2 is a crucial regulator, and sulforaphane is one of the most potent inducers of that regulator."

While the liver of a normal person creates energy by producing glucose, a type of sugar, and releasing it in regulated amounts into the bloodstream, individuals with Type II diabetes can produce as much as three times the needed amount.

If that malfunction occurs because a patient's cells have been weakened by exposure to stressful conditions, the Swedes theorized, perhaps sulforaphane would help.

Their research proceeded in three phases.

First, they chose more than 3,800 drugs whose gene signatures they saw as likely to match up well against the pattern of gene expression associated with Type II diabetes.

They found through a complex form of mathematical cross-referencing that sulforaphane overlapped most closely with the diabetic expression pattern.

The group then began working with Fahey, who is known for the highly potent freeze-dried form of broccoli sprout extract he creates at Hopkins.

A series of experiments using the extract showed that sulforaphane reduced the overproduction of glucose in liver cells the scientists had grown in a lab and that it did the same in the livers of rats with diabetes.

The final step was to test sulforaphane in humans. The team conducted a 12-week randomized study involving 97 adults with Type II diabetes. About a third of them had a form of the disease that the widely used drug metformin and recommended lifestyle changes had failed to control.

The researchers gave about half of the group a dose of the extract each day, the rest a placebo.

Those who received the extract saw a decrease by an average of 10 percent in their glucose levels enough, the team says, to reduce complications in the eyes, kidney and blood.

Those with the least controlled cases of diabetes and subjects who were obese saw the greatest drops. Subjects who were not obese experienced no appreciable change.

Emily Ho, a nutritional biochemist at Oregon State University, also has studied the health effects of sulforaphane.

The results of the study are "definitely promising" even though "a more comprehensive study with a larger study group is needed, especially to tease out long-term safety and the sustainability of effects in patients," said Ho, the director of Moore Family Center for Whole Grain Foods, Nutrition and Preventive Health at Oregon State.

Fahey agreed that the study calls for follow-up.

"You want to see other people replicate your results or go them one better," he says.

But they are more than enough to support the belief Fahey and his Hopkins colleagues have long promoted that science has shown people don't have to wait until they develop full-blown illness to fortify their health.

A balanced diet that contains plenty of well chosen whole foods, he said including broccoli sprouts, the cruciferous vegetable with the most sulforaphane can provide a range of nutrients that work with the body to forestall illness and extend our "healthspan" in life.

Normally a patient man, Fahey struggles to hide his frustration when he talks about Americans and their eating habits. Science clearly shows that a diet centered on fresh, whole foods can ward off disease.

He can't fathom why so many people still have an appetite for junk food.

"It has been an uphill slog to convince people to eat a healthy overall diet," he says. "We'll keep trying to get the word out."

jonathan.pitts@baltsun.com

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Like it or not, broccoli is good for you - Baltimore Sun

In the summer of 2012, Sami Inkinen was 36, wealthy, and semiretired. Trulia, the online real estate company he cofounded and nurtured from a startup to a business with some 20 million users, had filed to go public, and he had decided to cease his operational role. The eight-year journey had been rewarding but exhausting. Inkinen planned to focus on angel investing.

That would leave plenty of time for his main hobby: triathlons. A champion who obsessively tracks his biometrics, Inkinen was a fitness freak even by Silicon Valley standards. He had less than 8% body fat.

But life is full of ironic twists, and he was hurtling toward a particularly sharp one. Soon after Trulia went public, Inkinen noticed something strange: His blood sugar levels were above normal and rising. He was prediabetic.

Inkinen skipped the doctor and began researching on his own. After discovering a decades-old paper that showed Type 2 diabetes can be prevented and sometimes reversed through lifestyle changes alone, he switched to a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet. As his blood sugar levels dropped, his excitement spiked.

This spring he took his mission even further: Inkinen launched Virta Health , a 60-person startup backed by $37 million in funding. The service combines Inkinens passiona data-heavy appwith the same medical approach that he credits with reversing his prediabetes. Virta is one of a handful of companies attempting to attack the epidemicsome 28 million Americans suffer from Type 2 diabeteswithout relying on medications.

Researchers long believed Type 2 diabetes was not curable, but today the prevailing view is that it can be reversed by weight loss, says Dr. George King, the chief scientific officer at Joslin Diabetes Center and a professor at Harvard Medical School.

More: A New Innovation for Type 2 Diabetes

In that sense, Inkinen is an improbable advocate. He seemed like an unlikely candidate to be heading toward Type 2 diabetes in the first place. A native of Finland, Inkinen was always very active, but his seemingly healthy diet was packed with sugar (in the form of fruit smoothies) and carbs (five bowls of oatmeal a day). After diagnosing himself as prediabetic, he abruptly cut back on carbs and sugar. (Today hes an evangelist for a ketogenic diet, the food trend of the moment in Silicon Valley. It embraces high-fat foods and limits carbs to less than 50 grams a day, the equivalent of a cup of brown rice.)

Inkinen credits that diet for fueling an epic journey: He and his wife rowed from Monterey, Calif., to Hawaii to raise awareness of the dangers of sugar. During the 45 days it took to paddle across 2,700 miles of the Pacific, Zillow ( z ) agreed to acquire Trulia for $2.5 billion. Still a board member, Inkinen approved the sale via satellite phone.

Having sold the company and completed his physical quest, Inkinen was ready for a new mission. Im not a spiritual person, he says, but I knew I had to make this happen. After he met Dr. Stephen Phinney, the author of the paper that had convinced him that diet could solve his condition, a solution began to take shape in Inkinens mind.

Today Virtas service begins with an in-depth video session with a company doctor, who goes over each patients medical history and lifestyle to develop an eating strategy. Virta mails customers devices to record blood sugar, ketones (which indicate low insulin), and blood pressure. Patients enter data into the app, and a wireless scale automatically sends their weight to Virta. Each patient is then assigned a health coach, who monitors the data.

Users text their coaches daily via the app (some people prefer to call or use video chats). Advice gets granular. If a patient is planning to attend a birthday party, for example, her health coach could help develop an eating strategy beforehand.

Many patients are on medications when they begin the Virta program, and the goal is to slowly transition them off. Both meal recommendations and medications are constantly adjusted depending on what is, and isnt, having a positive effect on blood sugar, says Dr. Sarah Hallberg, the companys medical director.

Virta subscribes to a low-carb diet with moderate protein and fat, but its not doctrinaire. We accept any lifestyle and diet, says Inkinen. Instead of telling a person to swear off fast food, an often unrealistic option, health coaches recommend low-carb options on the menu. Physical activity is encouraged but not mandatory. You want someone to exercise when they come to you and say theyre ready, says Hallberg.

More: This Health Startup Plans to Challenge the Multibillion-Dollar Diet Industry

The service doesnt come cheap: It costs $400 a month (and isnt covered by insurance, though some employers health plans will reimburse for it). Virta has several thousand patients, according to Hallberg, served by about 20 health professionals.

The goal is to create a plan dramatic enough that it lowers blood sugar, but not so extreme that its unsustainable. In a clinical trial conducted in partnership with Indiana University Health, researchers found that 56% of the roughly 240 participants on the Virta platform lowered their blood sugar below diabetic levels by the end of the 10-week trial, and 87% no longer needed insulin.

Whether these results can be maintained is another question. The first couple of months of a diet are easy compared with an indefinite, fry-less future. Hallberg contends that the personalized support paired with the benefits of reduced medication and weight loss will keep people motivated despite the copious research establishing how hard most people find it to change their patterns.

Inkinen understands that as an endurance athlete he has more discipline (and capacity for suffering) than most people. His goal with Virta, as it was with Trulia, is to turn what was once a personal problem into a service that a large number of people can use. The stakes are higher this time around.

A version of this article appears in the July 1, 2017 issue of Fortune.

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Fighting Diabetes With Food - Fortune

Lifestyle is a decisive factor in preventing or stabilising diabetes. From diet and exercise to stress management, here are a few lifestyle changes to consider.

Diabetics dont need to have to skip dessert, but they should definitely make wise food choices.

Pick products that have a naturally low glycemic index to prevent spikes in blood sugar.

Top fruits on that front are red berries (raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries), apples, pears, oranges, grapefruit, peaches and nectarines.

Note that cinnamon can help lower blood sugar levels.

It can be used to sweeten coffee or tea or sprinkled on yogurt or fromage frais.

Certain bakeries make cakes and cookies specifically for diabetics.

These sweet treats typically contain half the amount of sugar, notably by using natural sugar substitutes.

Still, they should only be eaten occasionally and always as part of a meal in order to limit the hyperglycemic effect.

Add berries and fruit to your deserts.

Most diabetics know that they should avoid pre-prepared supermarket dishes and ready meals.

These meals are often too high in fat and salt, and can be lacking in vitamins and minerals.

Cooking from scratch with quality produce remains the best option.

When it comes to grains, oats and barley are allowed.

These cereals fibres slow down the absorption of carbohydrates in the intestine and help control blood sugar levels and insulin requirements.

Walking for 10 minutes right after eating could be more effective for controlling blood sugar than walking at another time of day.

Do this after an evening meal, when blood sugar can drop by 22%, according to research from New Zealand.

Current recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend at least the equivalent of 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per day, five times a week.

You can develop diabetes from too much stress and not enough sleep.

Unfortunately, it is possible to develop type-2 diabetes due to chronic stress from work or personal lives.

Permanent stress can contribute to increasing insulin resistance.

Thats why it is recommended to take regular exercise, learn relaxation techniques and organize break times on downtime in your day.

Keep an eye on shut-eye too (minimum seven hours sleep per night), as, according to several studies, this can help curb cravings for fatty or sugary foods, among other things. AFP Relaxnews

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If you really want to take control of your diabetes, follow these 4 tips - Star2.com

June 29, 2017 Credit: CC0 Public Domain

An interdisciplinary team of scientists from the University of Leicester and other institutions has played a pivotal role in research investigating a possible link between air pollution and the rise in type 2 diabetes.

New research, published in the journal Environment International, examined data from 10,443 participants from diabetes screening studies in Leicestershire, UK.

The exposure to air pollution, the number of cases of type 2 diabetes and the impact of demographic and lifestyle factors were all considered.

The authors concluded that demographic factors largely explained the association between air pollution and type 2 diabetes.

The research team, supported by the NIHR, is comprised of University of Leicester experts from a wide variety of fields, including Earth Observation Science, the University's Diabetes Research Centre and the Department of Health Sciences and builds upon world-leading research in these areas.

Dr Gary O'Donovan, who led the research and is formerly of the University of Leicester and now at Loughborough University, said: "High air pollution and low physical activity are two of the leading causes of disease and premature death in middle and high-income countries.

"Like most cities in the UK, Leicester has only a handful of air quality monitors. The UN has estimated that two thirds of world's population will be living in cities by 2050 and our cities must become better, healthier places in which to live.

"Cities like Copenhagen in Denmark and Medelln in Colombia are doing a much better job of measuring air pollution and facilitating active transport than most cities in the UK."

Exposure to traffic related air pollutants is known to cause insulin resistance, a hallmark of the disease, and observational evidence has been applied to better understand a potential link.

Professor Roland Leigh, Technical Director of EarthSense and Director of Enterprise at the University of Leicester's Institute for Space and Earth Observation, and co-author of the study, said: "We know that air pollution is the world's largest environmental health risk affecting 92% of the population and associated with more than three million deaths per year, and evidence suggested it may contribute to the rise in type 2 diabetes.

"While original results suggested association between air pollution and associated particulates and type 2 diabetes, when the effects of lifestyle and demographic factors were considered, and given the limited size of the sample, evidence for direct association with air pollution was inconclusive.

"We will, however, continue to apply cutting-edge air quality research to unpick potentially connected long-term exposure factors," continued Professor Leigh. "As innovators in air quality monitoring, the University of Leicester and EarthSense has a fundamental contribution to make in the understanding of the complex issues of pollution exposure and health."

Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death in lower middle, upper middle and high income economies. The global prevalence of diabetes has nearly doubled, from 4.7% in 1980 to 8.5% in 2014, with the majority of cases being type 2. Experimental evidence exists to suggest exposure to nitrogen dioxide and associated particulate matter is related to inflammation and insulin resistance.

The CHAMPIONS Study into the association between air pollution and type 2 diabetes was conducted by representatives from the University of Leicester Diabetes Research Centre, University of Leicester Earth Observation Science Group, University of East Anglia Norwich Medical School and University of Leicester Department of Health Sciences.

EarthSense Systems is a joint venture between aerial mapping company Bluesky and the University of Leicester.

Explore further: New UK type 2 diabetes prevention programme shows 'promising' early results

More information: Gary O'Donovan et al, The association between air pollution and type 2 diabetes in a large cross-sectional study in Leicester: The CHAMPIONS Study, Environment International (2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2017.03.027

A programme aimed at preventing the development of Type 2 diabetes in people at high risk of the disease has achieved "promising" early results, a study has found.

People at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes can reduce their chances of getting the condition by more than 80 per cent by fully completing a new education programme, an NIHR-supported study has found.

Traffic noise, as well as air pollution, could affect heart health, according to new research.

Leading diabetes researchers believe smartphone craze Pokmon Go could be an "innovative solution" to rising obesity levels and chronic disease.

Exposure to air pollution at the place of residence increases the risk of developing insulin resistance as a pre-diabetic state of type 2 diabetes. Scientists of Helmholtz Zentrum Mnchen, in collaboration with colleagues ...

An interdisciplinary team of scientists from the University of Leicester and other institutions has played a pivotal role in research investigating a possible link between air pollution and the rise in type 2 diabetes.

A large, nationally representative survey in 2013 of adults in China finds that the estimated overall prevalence of diabetes was about 11 percent and that of prediabetes was nearly 36 percent, according to a study published ...

Some insulin is still produced in almost half of patients that have had type 1 diabetes for more than ten years. The study conducted by researchers at Uppsala University in Sweden has now been published online by the medical ...

Heart disease is a leading cause of death worldwide and exacerbated by type 2 diabetes, yet diabetes treatment regimens tend to focus primarily on blood sugar maintenance. This common approach to type 2 diabetes management ...

A team of researchers from Sweden, the U.S. and Switzerland has found that treating rat liver cells with a compound called sulforaphane, which is found in cruciferous vegetables, reduced production of glucose. In their paper ...

(HealthDay)For many people with diabetes, low blood sugar levels are a serious health risk, but researchers report that a new nasal powder quickly reverses the effects of this dangerous condition.

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Scientists investigate link between air pollution and type 2 diabetes - Medical Xpress

Glooko,a startup selling data management healthcare service on top of a device-agnostic platform to make it easier for doctors to remotely monitor patients,has pulled in $35 million Series C funding.It had previously raised $36 million in various rounds, bringing the total up to $71 million.

The startup was shy about how many were using the platform last time TechCrunch wrote about the company. But it was more forthcoming today, claiming to have helped more than 1 million patientsserved by 6,000+ providers so far.It will need to continue to rapidly expand to compete with some of the larger players in the space, like Dexcom and Medtronic.

Glooko plans to use the funding to help it get there by expanding itssales, marketing and development teams, as well asincreasing commercialization efforts in France, Germany, the U.K., Asia and the Middle East.

Toronto-based Georgian Partners led the round, along with other new investorsInsulet Corporation and Mayo Clinic. They join existing investors Canaan Partners, Social Capital, Medtronic and Samsung Next.

This additional funding will help us to further our mission: to improve the lives of people with diabetes, Glooko CEO Rick Altinger said. With this capital, we will accelerate our investments in clinical solutions that aim to increase medication adherence, provide personalized insights and prompts that drive behavior change for people with diabetes, and deliver clinical decision support to thousands of clinicians and coaches so they can better support people with diabetes in between office visits.

Read more:
Diabetes management platform Glooko raises $35 million - TechCrunch

Cynthia McCormick @Cmccormickcct

WEST BARNSTABLE The YMCA Cape Cod is holding a grand opening of its newly renovated Weny Diabetes Resource Center at 5 p.m. today with an emphasis on nutrition counseling and classes for Cape Codders with diabetes and prediabetes.

Were trying to make this free and open to the public, said YMCA of Cape Cod CEO and President Stacie Peugh.

Individuals diagnosed with type 1 or 2 diabetes are entitled to five free visits with nutritionist Lauren Kunkler, Peugh said.

As part of its diabetes programming, the YMCA of Cape Cod also hosts prediabetes education and lifestyle coaching classes at the Mashpee-based Community Health Center of Cape Cod, Harbor Health Services in Hyannis, Duffy Health Center in Hyannis and the Falmouth Service Center, Peugh said.

The YMCA is planning to launch a support group for people with diabetes in collaboration with NAMI Cape Cod & the Islands, an advocacy group for people with mental illness, Peugh said.

There is actually a correlation between depression and diabetes, Peugh said during an interview in the newly renovated resource center, located by the front door of the YMCA.

With its blond wood shelving, soft blue-green walls and clear plastic furniture, the resource center is fairly small in size but was designed to appear bright and inviting, said Paula Drury of Brown, Lindquist Fenuccio & Raber Architects, the architect/designer for the project.

Located since 2008 at the back of the YMCA building where the front door used to be situated the new position is designed to attract the attention of the hundreds of people who enter the Y each day, Peugh said.

In addition to individual consulting, the diabetes center was designed to serve as a library and resource center for people with diabetes and their families, Drury said.

Websites relating to diabetes and health care have been built into two Apple desktop stations, and books and informational packets fill the resource centers book shelves.

The space and services offered are designed to help guide people past nutrition information overload and into useful, health-enhancing practices, Peugh said.

Diabetes is considered a metabolism disorder that affects the way the body uses food, according to information online from Cape Cod Healthcare.

The pancreas of diabetics either produces too little insulin, or the cells of the body do not respond to the insulin that is produced, according to the fact sheet.

The resulting glucose accumulation in the body can lead to multiple health issues including heart disease, kidney disease, stroke, nerve damage and blindness.

According to a public information platform called DataUSA, 8.6 percent of Barnstable County residents are living with diabetes. The percentage was based on data collected in 2013.

Todays open house will feature an appearance by Roger Ludwig, a trustee with the Weny Charitable Trust, and a discussion of the centers new partnership with NAMI, Peugh said.

Refreshments will be served. Peugh said the Weny Charitable Trust,which contributed $1 million to the expansion of the YMCA of Cape Cod 10 years ago, funded the relocation and renovation of the diabetes resource center with a gift of $100,000.

Follow Cynthia McCormick on Twitter: @CmccormickCCT.

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Expanded diabetes center opens today - News - capecodtimes.com ... - Cape Cod Times (subscription)

Please take note this is only one aspect in weighing the attractiveness or non-attractiveness of the companies mentioned as an investment and should not be used independent of other factors. This article examines one segment of the companies' businesses, and other factors such as valuation are not addressed.

Chinas dialysis population has seen a steady increase over the years.

Source: Wolfgang Meichelboeck, Dipl.-Ing. Pentenried Germany

The number of dialysis cases is growing in China. China had approximately 440,000 dialysis patients last year, an increase of 80% over five years.

Source: European Renal Association

The national prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) was 10.8% (estimated at over 100 million Chinese) and end stage renal disease (ESRD) stood at 0.03% of the Chinese population.

Diabetes is the leading cause of end-stage kidney disease worldwide, although glomerular disease tended to be the leading cause in China caused for instance by taking medications and herbal medicines which damage the kidneys.

Source: nature.com

However, after decades of economic growth and the resulting unhealthy change in dietary habits, diabetes cases have seen a corresponding increase in China and this has contributed to a shift in the causes of kidney failure in China. A study found that chronic kidney disease related to diabetes was progressively becoming more common than chronic kidney disease related to glomerulonephritis in both the general population and hospitalized urban population in China. In 2010, among hospitalized patients, the percentage with chronic kidney disease related to diabetes was lower than the percentage with chronic kidney disease related to glomerulonephritis (0.82% vs. 1.01%). Beginning in 2011, the percentage with chronic kidney disease related to diabetes exceeded the percentage with chronic kidney disease related to glomerulonephritis, and the gap between them increased progressively.

Source: The New England Journal of Medicine

In 2015, the percentage of the hospitalized Chinese population with chronic kidney disease related to diabetes and to glomerulonephritis was 1.10% and 0.75%, respectively. In both 2010 and 2015, the percentage of hospitalized urban patients with chronic kidney disease related to diabetes was higher than that of hospitalized urban patients with chronic kidney disease related to glomerulonephritis, and the gap had increased by 2015 (1.02% vs. 0.84% in 2010 and 1.55% vs. 0.72% in 2015). However, among hospitalized rural patients during that same time frame, glomerulonephritis-related chronic kidney disease predominated, and the percentage with chronic kidney disease related to diabetes was lower than the percentage with chronic kidney disease related to glomerulonephritis, though the gap had narrowed by 2015 (0.68% vs. 1.51% in 2010, and 0.76% vs. 0.95% in 2015).

Chinas economic growth led to changes in Chinese citizens lifestyle and dietary habits. In the 1980s diabetes affected just about 1% of Chinas population. By 2015, this figure rose to roughly 10% of Chinas population, numbering around 110 million (compared to the U.S. where it is about 30 million) making it the country with the highest number of diabetics in the world and home to about a third of the worlds diabetic population.

The number is expected to continue rising as diets change in the country alongside economic growth. Almost 500 million people in China are estimated to be pre-diabetic about 1 times the size of the entire U.S. population.

By 2040, China is expected to have 150 million diabetics, presenting a growth opportunity for companies such as Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO), Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) and Sanofi (NYSE:SNY) which are the leading multinational insulin providers in China accounting for over 80% of Chinas insulin market.

Source: Marketwatch

The rate of chronic kidney disease increases with age, reaching over 30% of adults aged 70 years and older according to a study conducted by Peking University first Hospital.

The increasing incidence of obesity (over one third of adults in China are overweight and 7% of adults are obese) and Type II diabetes (a major risk factor for kidney disease), along with an aging population (in 2015, 9.5% of Chinas population was aged 65 or older and the U.N. projects this percentage to increase to 27.5% by 2050) suggests China could see rising chronic kidney disease (CKD) cases going forward.

Access to dialysis is lower in developing countries than developed countries, for reasons such as financial constraints and inadequate clinical infrastructure.

Source: The George Institute

China, the worlds largest developing country bears an enormous burden of kidney disease. For reasons such as a lack of financial and clinical resources, the rate of patients currently receiving dialysis treatment in China is lower than in developed countries such as the United States.

Majority of Chinese renal failure patients, mostly located in rural China do not have access to dialysis. While dialysis treatment is available for patients in urban China, access to dialysis treatments is inadequate for patients in the rest of the country due to a shortage of equipment, doctors and limited awareness levels.

Of the approximately 100 million Chinese with chronic kidney disease, about 2% of these patients are expected to develop into end stage kidney disease which means approximately 2 million people will require renal treatment therapy. However, according to the national renal registries, the number of patients who actually received treatment was less than 0.5 million.

According to a report by the American Journal of Kidney Diseases, in China, less than 30% of patients with end-stage kidney disease are treated with dialysis. For the rest, renal treatment therapy is not available due to a number of factors such as financial constraints, inadequate infrastructure and limited awareness.

Chinas ongoing healthcare reform is expected to alleviate this shortage of dialysis supply. Basic medical insurance covers over 90% of Chinas population and a high reimbursement policy for catastrophic diseases including end stage kidney disease has been established.

A report by Allied Market Research expects the global dialysis market to expand at a CAGR of 4.5% between 2017 and 2023 and Asia-Pacific led by China is expected to witness the highest growth rate during the forecast period presenting an opportunity for dialysis companies.

Chinas dialysis market is still at early stages and offers long term growth potential. Chinas dialysis market is dominated by foreign brands with over 90% of dialysis equipment and over 80% of hemodialysis consumables in China being imported from overseas.

Fresenius Medical Care (NYSE:FMS) and DaVita (NYSE:DVA) two of the worlds largest dialysis product companies are well established in the Chinese dialysis market. A few years ago, Fresenius opened an R&D center in Shanghai and this year, Fresenius acquired a 70% stake in Kunming Wuhua Health Hospital, a private Grade II hospital in Kunming (the capital of Yunnan province) which is specialized in chronic disease management and hemodialysis. This marks the companys first joint venture (JV) hospital in China and may be aimed at capitalizing on a new policy issued by the China State Council and The National Health And Family Planning Council which states that chronic disease management will be gradually migrated from larger hospital outpatient departments to smaller Grade II hospitals and community hospitals.

DaVita entered into a joint venture with Shunjing Renal Hospital in China with the aim of building and operating dialysis chains.

Early this year Baxter (NYSE:BAX) announced that it was exiting India, Turkey and Venezuela this year and refocusing its business on Latin America and China. China is expected to become a US$ 1 billion market in the next few years. Baxter operates a Flying Angel program in partnership with China's Ministry of Health, which is aimed at improving access to peritoneal dialysis for patients in rural areas.

Most renal treatment therapy (RRT) in China occurs at HD (hemodialysis) centers and the country has about 4,000 dialysis centers.

Source: Wolfgang Meichelboeck, Dipl.-Ing. Pentenried Germany

Hemodialysis is costlier than peritoneal dialysis not only for the patients but also for Chinas healthcare system as well. With the prevalence of end stage renal disease in China increasing rapidly, the government has begun examining the feasibility of expanding peritoneal dialysis as a treatment option in China.

A report assessing dialysis options and costs in China from the National Health Development Research Center showed that the annual cost of peritoneal dialysis (PD) is about 93,520 Chinese yuan (US $14,380), whereas the cost of in-center hemodialysis (HD) is 103,416 Chinese yuan (US $15,910). The report also notes the advantages of PD for patients in rural areas. Peritoneal dialysis is a home-based treatment, offering greater freedom for rural patients and reducing the inconvenience and financial burden of having to commute several times a week to and from the hospital for treatment. To facilitate peritoneal dialysis expansion, the Chinese government is planning on adjusting reimbursement policies and the Chinese Ministry of Health has certified over 30 training centers across the country to promote the implementation of peritoneal dialysis by establishing regional satellite centers which would provide staff training, patient education and the implementation of quality assurance protocols. Baxter appears well positioned to capitalize on this opportunity. Morningstar estimates that Baxter absolutely dominates the global peritoneal dialysis market with a 72% market share.

Disclosure: I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours.

I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

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China's Dialysis Market: Potential For Growth Driven By Diabetes And Aging Population - Seeking Alpha

Diabetes can be deadly. Each year, more than 70,000 Americans die from complications of the disease. About half of all people with type 2 diabetes dont have their condition under control. Now, new research shows a well-known procedure for weight loss may be the best bet for patients with uncontrolled diabetes.

This was the old Lisa Shaffer. At her heaviest: almost 300 pounds!

When I was obese, my life was so limited, Lisa said.

Her health suffered, too. Lisa had type 2 diabetes, and she tried everything to control it.

She explained, Nothing worked, nope.

But today, Lisa is 120 pounds lighter and her diabetes is gone. The reason; gastric bypass surgery.

Its been incredible. Yeah. It really did give me my life back. she exclaimed.

Phillip Schauer, MD, Director of the Cleveland Clinic Bariatric and Metabolic Institute in Cleveland, Ohio, led a study that compared bariatric surgery, either gastric bypass or gastric sleeve, to intense medical therapy in people with diabetes. After five years, the gastric bypass patients did the best. Many were in complete remission without drugs or insulin.

Which is pretty remarkable. Thats about as close to a cure that you can get, Dr. Schauer explained.

Twenty-nine percent of gastric bypass and 23 percent of gastric sleeve patients achieved and maintained normal blood sugar levels -compared to just 5 percent of medication-only patients. The surgery groups also lost more weight and reported a better quality of life.

The patients who had surgery did better and were happier at the five- year mark, Dr. Schauer stated.

Three days after her surgery, Lisa was off all of her meds. Her A1c, a measure of blood sugar control, was 10.5 before the surgery and today, its 5.3. Now shes able to live the life shes always wanted.

Ever since I lost the weight, Ive run three 5ks. Ive done zip lining with the family, which is fantastic. Just no limits anymore, theres no limitations on my life anymore. she said.

Doctor Schauer says weight loss is one reason diabetes patients benefit from bariatric surgery. The other is something that happens in the body as a result of the surgery. When the intestines are bypassed, special hormones increase, which helps the pancreas produce insulin more effectively.

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Best bet for uncontrolled diabetes - WTAJ

Diabetes is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks and lower limb amputations, according to the WHO.

HEALTH

China is facing the largest diabetes epidemic in the world with around 11 percent of its population suffering from the metabolic illness, while nearly 36 percent are prediabetic, according to a US study published Tuesday.

The survey, which included 170,287 participants and was conducted in 2013, was analyzed with the assistance of Linhong Wang from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

Researchers measured levels of fasting plasma glucose of each participant. Those with levels of 126 milligrams per deciliter or higher were defined as diabetic while those with levels between 105 and 126 mg/dl were defined as pre-diabetic.

Hyperglycemia is a result of two anomalies -- a malfunction of the pancreas which creates insulin, or the resistance of the body to this hormone.

Among the diabetic population in China, 36.5 percent were aware of their diagnosis and 32.2 percent were receiving treatment. Among those being treated, 49.2 percent had adequate glycemic control.

Tibetan and Muslim Chinese had significantly lower prevalence of diabetes compared to the majority Han population (14.7 percent for Han, 4.3 percent for Tibetan, and 10.6 percent for Muslim).

The adult diabetic rate in China of 10.9 percent is close to that of the United States of 9.3 percent according to 2014 figures recorded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Chinese prediabetic rate of 35.7 percent was also close to the US rate of 37 percent recorded in 2014.

With approximately 1.09 billion adults in China, some 388.1 million were projected to be prediabetic (200.4 million men and 187.7 million women).

Diabetes is a growing public health problem throughout the world.

Some 422 million adults around the world had diabetes in 2014, compared to 108 million in 1980, according to a report published by the World Health Organization in 2016.

Diabetes rates have increased more rapidly in low and middle-income countries.

Diabetes is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks and lower limb amputations, according to the WHO.

In 2012, an estimated 1.5 million deaths were directly caused by diabetes and another 2.2 million deaths were attributable to high blood glucose, according to the report.

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The nation facing largest diabetes epidemic - New Vision

It seems Damon Dashs Health is Wealth motto will live on a new platform. The mogul has just announced he is launching the Dash Diabetes Network.

In recent years,Dash has used his influence to stress the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle. As a type 1 diabetic, the Roc-A-Fella founder will now spotlight the lifestyle associated tokeeping the disease in check.

The Dash Diabetes Network, will host a community of actors, musicians, influencers, holistic doctors and everyday citizens in an effort to show how to live with the disorder. Additionally, the shows will also offer sugar conscious cooking recipes and wellness tips.

The highly-anticipated networkpresented by Afrezza, an inhaled insulinlaunches August 7 andwill feature ten 20-minute episodes on Damons streaming servicewww.damedashstudios.com, the Dash Diabetes App as well as syndicated on cable TV. You can view the official trailer below:

You can view the official trailer below:

Salute to Dash on this move right here. We still have our fingers crossed for a Roc-A-Fella Records reunion tour, too.

Photo: screen cap

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Damon Dash Launching Dash Diabetes Network - Hip-Hop Wired