Category Archives: Diabetes

Newswise CLEVELAND University Hospitals has received national recognition, with two awards from the American Heart Association and other entities, for its care of patients with uncontrolled blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. These are some of the most common and devastating conditions plaguing the health of Americans today. The UH Primary Care Institute (PCI) and UH Population Health drove this effort.

High blood pressure (BP), or hypertension, is a leading risk factor for heart attacks, strokes, and preventable deathin the U.S. Nearly half of all adults in the country, 121.5 million people, are living with hypertension. Unfortunately, according to a study published in the Journal Circulation, less than half of them have their BP under control. Furthermore, Black Americans are more likely to have hypertension and suffer harm from it.

More than 37 million Americans have diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death for people living with type 2 diabetes. CVD is the leading cause of death and a major cause of heart attacks, strokes and heart failure for people living with type 2 diabetes.

Addressing blood pressure management is key for better cardiovascular health and is critical today, when heart disease and stroke continue to be leading causes of death for adults in the U.S., said Todd Zeiger, MD, who led this effort and at the time was Quality Medical Director for the Primary Care Institute at University Hospitals. Sona Kirpekar, MD, now leads quality for PCI. Receiving this recognition is a testament to the community that when they trust University Hospitals with their health, they will receive quality care.

At UH, were committed to optimizing care for the entire population of patients we serve, keeping them well and out of the hospital, said Peter Pronovost, MD, PhD, Chief Quality and Clinical Transformation Officer at UH. On our journey to zero harm, we are working diligently to ensure all patients have their blood pressure controlled. Were grateful to our primary care and other providers whove played such a significant role in making this happen as well as their patients whove committed to pursuing a healthier lifestyle.

These improvements are the result of an interdisciplinary effort where UHs Accountable Care Organization Population Health team, nurses, medical assistants, pharmacists, and PCI physicians work collaboratively to ensure patients have their blood pressure and diabetes controlled.This endeavor is one of several new ways in which UH seeks to optimize the care of patients with chronic disease by engaging primary care practices with specialists and patients to design primary care-centered resources around their needs.

Target: BP Gold+ Award

The American Heart Association and American Medical Association have awarded University Hospitals with the Target: BP Gold+ Award for its commitment to improving blood pressure control rates. The Gold+ award recognizes practices that demonstrate a commitment to measurement accuracy and in which high blood pressure is controlled in 70 percent or more of the affected adult patients.

Target: BP is a national collaboration between the American Heart Association and American Medical Association aimed at reducing the number of adults in the U.S. who suffer from heart attacks and strokes each year by urging physician practices, health systems, and patients to prioritize BP control.

Target: Type 2 Diabetes Participant Award

UH has also received the American Heart Associations Target: Type 2 Diabetes Participant Award for its commitment to addressing the relationship between diabetes and the risk of heart disease and stroke. The Participant Award recognizes practices that have completed data submission, including clinical measure entry, and committed to improving quality of care for patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors.

Target: Type 2 Diabetes addresses heart disease and stroke risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes as part of the Know Diabetes by Heart initiative, by the American Heart Association and American Diabetes Association, helping ensure the care provided to patients is aligned with the latest evidence- and research-based guidelines.

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About University Hospitals / Cleveland, Ohio Founded in 1866, University Hospitals serves the needs of patients through an integrated network of more than 20 hospitals (including 5 joint ventures), more than 50 health centers and outpatient facilities, and over 200 physician offices in 16 counties throughout northern Ohio.The systems flagship quaternary care, academic medical center, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, is affiliated with Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Oxford University and the Technion Israel Institute of Technology. The main campus also includes the UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, ranked among the top childrens hospitals in the nation; UH MacDonald Women's Hospital, Ohio's only hospital for women; and UH Seidman Cancer Center, part of the NCI-designated Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. UH is home to some of the most prestigious clinical and research programs in the nation, with more than 3,000 active clinical trials and research studies underway. UH Cleveland Medical Center is perennially among the highest performers in national ranking surveys, including Americas Best Hospitals from U.S. News & World Report. UH is also home to 19 Clinical Care Delivery and Research Institutes. UH isone of the largest employers in Northeast Ohio with more than 30,000 employees. Follow UH on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. For more information, visitUHhospitals.org.

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University Hospitals nationally recognized for efforts to reduce uncontrolled blood pressure; address relationship between diabetes, heart disease,...

Tandem Diabetes Care TNDM has observed the following analyst ratings within the last quarter:

According to 5 analyst offering 12-month price targets in the last 3 months, Tandem Diabetes Care has an average price target of $75.2 with a high of $90.00 and a low of $49.00.

Below is a summary of how these 5 analysts rated Tandem Diabetes Care over the past 3 months. The greater the number of bullish ratings, the more positive analysts are on the stock and the greater the number of bearish ratings, the more negative analysts are on the stock

This current average represents a 38.99% decrease from the previous average price target of $123.25.

Ratings come from analysts, or specialists within banking and financial systems that report for specific stocks or defined sectors (typically once per quarter for each stock). Analysts usually derive their information from company conference calls and meetings, financial statements, and conversations with important insiders to reach their decisions.

Some analysts publish their predictions for metrics such as growth estimates, earnings, and revenue to provide additional guidance with their ratings. When using analyst ratings, it is important to keep in mind that stock and sector analysts are also human and are only offering their opinions to investors.

If you want to keep track of which analysts are outperforming others, you can view updated analyst ratings along withanalyst success scores in Benzinga Pro.

This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

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5 Analysts Have This to Say About Tandem Diabetes Care - Tandem Diabetes Care (NASDAQ:TNDM) - Benzinga

Youve probably heard of diabetes. And obesity. But what the heck is diabesity? Its a new medical term for a condition thats becoming a worldwide epidemic. And if you have it, losing weight could cure the condition. Endocrinologist Jay Waddadar, MD, explains.

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services.Policy

Diabesity isnt an official diagnosis. It means you have both obesity and Type 2 diabetes. Together, these closely related conditions greatly increase your risk of heart disease the leading cause of death in the country.

Diabesity is a disease with enormous potential to cause ill effects on the body in the long run, says Dr. Waddadar. Some people dont understand the importance of taking the steps to manage it because theyre feeling well at the time of diagnosis. But thats a big mistake. Diabesity is a silent disease that damages your body if its not controlled, even while you feel fine.

The good news: You can prevent, control and even reverse it. Dr. Waddadar shares more about how obesity causes and worsens diabetes. And why losing weight holds the key to possibly making it all go away.

Having obesity makes you more likely to develop diabetes, the condition of having too much glucose (sugar) circulating in your bloodstream. Obesity also causes diabetes to worsen faster.

Heres what happens: Managing the level of glucose in your blood is the job of the pancreas. The pancreas creates insulin, which is a hormone that moves glucose out of your blood. Normally, insulin transports glucose to your muscles to use right away for energy or to the liver, where its stored for later.

But when you have diabesity, your cells resist letting insulin move glucose into them. To make matters worse, the area of your liver where excess glucose is usually stored is filled with fat. Its like trying to put furniture in a room thats already packed. Theres no space for anything else, Dr. Waddadar explains.

With nowhere to be stored, the glucose remains in the bloodstream. So your pancreas creates even more insulin trying to accomplish the job of moving glucose out of the blood, says Dr. Waddadar. Its trying to push against the resistance created by the fat. Your pancreas becomes overworked, and as a result, it wears out. It starts producing less insulin. Diabetes develops and then quickly worsens if the fat resistance remains.

If you have obesity, youre about six times more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than those at a healthy weight. But not everyone with obesity automatically gets diabetes. Other factors are likely at play, too, including:

It may be that some people with obesity can produce more insulin without overtaxing the pancreas, says Dr. Waddadar. Others might be limited in insulin production, making it more likely that obesity will lead to diabesity.

Since excess fat worsens diabetes, losing weight can greatly improve the condition. When you have diabesity, you may start with one medication to get the pancreas to produce enough insulin. But very soon and much earlier, you need two or more medicines for diabetes. But if you lose weight, you may do fine with just one medication or even go off medication entirely, explains Dr. Waddadar.

Losing as little as 5% to 10% of your overall body weight can greatly improve Type 2 diabetes. For example, if you weigh 200 pounds, 5% of that is 10 pounds. So bringing your weight down to 190 pounds can significantly help your health. The first treatment goal for diabesity is to get to and maintain a healthy weight along with eating a low-carb diet, Dr. Waddadar says.

Changing your diet and increasing exercise to lose weight can be challenging. But the hard work is worth it to avoid serious complications of uncontrolled diabetes like heart disease, kidney failure and nerve damage.

Ready to take the first step toward better health? Ask your doctor for resources and guidance to help you beat diabetes.

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Cleveland Clinic

A diabetes diagnosis will require a person to make numerous changes to their lifestyle and routines. However, devising and sticking to a good treatment plan can help someone maintain a sense of agency around their condition and high quality of life.

Living with diabetes requires a person to eat a healthy diet, remain active, manage their symptoms, and know the signs of diabetic health issues.

Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects the bodys ability to convert glucose from food into energy, and it has three prominent types. Type 2 diabetes usually presents in adulthood and is the most common form, accounting for about 90% of all diabetes diagnoses. It causes insulin resistance, which means that the bodys insulin is not as effective at turning glucose into energy as it should be.

People with diabetes must develop strategies for managing their blood glucose, maintaining a moderate weight, and preventing complications like circulatory health problems and infections. Lifestyle changes, diabetes education, and medication can help a person living with diabetes achieve their best possible health outcomes and quality of life.

Read on to learn more about living with diabetes.

All forms of diabetes affect the bodys ability to convert glucose to energy using insulin. The three main types of diabetes include:

Because diabetes affects the bodys ability to metabolize glucose, high glycemic index foods are more likely to increase a persons blood glucose and cause diabetes complications. This means they should reduce sweetened, processed foods and simple carbohydrates, such as white bread and white pasta, from their diet.

Instead, a person should focus on eating nutrient-dense foods. Some other strategies for a healthier diet include:

People with type 2 diabetes often carry excess weight or have obesity. This can increase their risk of diabetes complications, such as heart disease. Exercise may help a person achieve or maintain moderate body weight.

Exercise can also increase the bodys sensitivity to insulin, which can improve a persons diabetes symptoms and support healthy blood glucose levels. Unless a doctor has specifically told a person not to exercise, almost everyone can benefit from exercise. More exercise generally offers more benefits.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week. Some strategies for increasing a persons activity levels include:

Because people with type 1 diabetes do not produce enough insulin, they need insulin treatment. A person may need to give themselves insulin injections or use an insulin pump.

People with type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes may need insulin if they cannot control their blood glucose with lifestyle changes alone.

Several other medications may also help a persons diabetes symptoms when insulin alone does not work. Some drug classes a doctor may recommend include:

A person might also need medication for diabetes-related complications. Some common drugs include:

It can take time to make the healthy changes that diabetes requires. A person should focus on making incremental changes that steadily improve their health. A routine may make these changes easier. Some strategies for building a healthy routine include:

Major life changes can affect a persons routine, making it more difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle. For example, when a person is sick, they may be less able to exercise or make healthy meals.

When life changes disrupt a persons routine, consider slowly reincorporating healthy habits one by one. Small changes matter and add up. Also, finding alternative ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle can be helpful.

For example, a person working long hours, who cannot exercise, can still eat healthy meals. They might also take frequent breaks to walk or stretch during audio calls.

Various physiological changes throughout of a persons life may also affect their diabetes symptoms and management.

For instance, stress can influence a persons blood glucose levels. Menopause may affect the bodys insulin secretion ability and sensitivity, too. However, hormone replacement therapy has positive effects on a persons blood sugar levels. It is important to talk with a doctor about how major life changes may affect a persons diabetes and ways to best reduce any negative effects.

A person with diabetes will need support to make necessary lifestyle changes. Moreover, insulin injections and regular medical appointments may feel stressful or overwhelming. Some strategies for finding the right support include:

Diabetes is a chronic illness that often gets worse with time, especially without effective treatment or healthy lifestyle changes.

Both genetic and environmental factors play a role in the development and progression of diabetes. Therefore, even with a healthy lifestyle, a person may require medication and ongoing medical support.

People with diabetes should find a doctor they like and trust to help them develop a comprehensive plan for living with diabetes.

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Living with diabetes: Nutrition, exercise, routines, and more - Medical News Today

Researchers at GW hosted clinical trials for four diabetes drugs and found two type 2 diabetes treatments were more effective than others at lowering blood glucose levels in a study published late last month by the National Institutes of Health.

The clinical trials hosted by GW and funded by the National Institutes of Health are a part of a study which found patients who received the drugs liraglutide and insulin glargine, which control blood sugar levels, experienced controlled blood glucose levels for about six months longer than patients who received the other two drugs in the trial. Researchers said the study, titled Glycemia Reduction Approaches in Diabetes: A Comparative Effectiveness gives two more treatment options for patients and healthcare providers to lower patients blood glucose levels.

John Lachin, a professor of biostatistics and bioinformatics at GW and the senior statistician for the GRADE study, said the drugs worked immediately in lowering patients blood glucose levels, and lowered patients likelihood of developing diabetes-related cardiovascular disease. But he said he was disappointed in the results of the study because the effectiveness of the drugs dropped after six months.

I, for one, am somewhat disappointed that the study wasnt able to do better, Lachin said. And its not the fault of the study. Its the drugs we chose to use just simply werent as good in the long term as we had hoped they would be.

Lachin said the GRADE study, which lasted for eight years, helped fulfill a need for long-term research on existing diabetes treatments. He said researchers test type 2 diabetes treatments for about six to 12 months when they are undergoing Food and Drug Administration approval, short-term research that is insufficient to study the durability of these medicines since diabetes is generally a lifelong disease.

We felt that it was very important to obtain an assessment of the properties of these drugs over a longer window, Lachin said.

The GRADE study is the first to test four popular type 2 diabetes drugs against each other without a placebo, according to the NIH.

The study also found that when metformin an antidiabetic medication combines with the higher-performing drugs of the study, it results in effective glucose levels about six months longer than patients who took sitagliptin, an antidiabetic medication.

Lachin said GWs Biostatistics Center received funding for the study from the NIH, provided a statistical design and collected and analyzed the data. He said the trials can help procure research funds that can attract first-rate biostaticians and professors to teach at GWs Biostatistics Center because GW has the resources to lead major projects like the GRADE study trials.

At GW, weve established systems and procedures so that we excel in our ability to coordinate and conduct these studies, Lachin said.

Metformin the primary medicine prescribed for type 2 diabetes is often insufficient to keep blood glucose levels in check alone, and other drugs, like the four tested in the GRADE study in combination with metformin, are needed to supplement it.

GRADE study researchers said they hope the study opens up opportunities for future research in the field of diabetes and gives healthcare providers more treatment options.

David Nathan, a professor at Harvard Medical School and the director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Diabetes Center, said he served as the chair of the GRADE study since its creation more than a decade ago and worked with Lachin during the GW trials. Nathan said he constructed the study to compare new and older drugs instead of testing against placebos like other studies do.

Nathan said further research is needed to perfect treatment for type 2 diabetes, because none of the treatments proved to be particularly effective in keeping patients in the target blood glucose range through the entire eight-year period.

What that means is that we need to generate new treatments and new strategies for treating these folks, Nathan said. Type 2 diabetes is really hard to take care of, and thats kind of one of the overarching messages that we came out with.

Robert Cohen, a site investigator for the GRADE study and a professor of medicine at the University of Cincinnati, said patients taking metformin and liraglutide were the least susceptible to cardiovascular disease, but also experienced the highest rates of gastrointestinal symptoms. He said patients using the drugs in the trials were more likely to experience low blood sugar levels and the fraction of people who experienced extreme side effects from the drugs was remarkably small.

Do we have the answer with the tools that we have available? Or do we need new drugs? Cohen said. So I think in that sense, GRADE is going to affect policy decisions about driving the research community to develop new classes of drugs.

Cohen said type 2 diabetes treatment has improved in the last 25 years due to the creation of new drugs and more aggressive goals toward treatments. He said even though doctors have made improvements in diabetes medicine, most drugs arent effective at maintaining blood glucose levels on a long-term basis and the study can provide alternative options for controlling glucose levels.

I am hoping that we are going to come out with some sort of personalized medicine approaches based on the implications of GRADE, Cohen said.

This article appeared in the January 10, 2022 issue of the Hatchet.

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Researchers study long-term effectiveness of diabetes drugs - GW Hatchet

After 12 years of serving more than 11,500 college students on over 300 campuses nationwide, the College Diabetes Network is expanding and rebranding to The Diabetes Link in effort to serve more young adults

BOSTON, Oct. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Currently, there are 3 million young adults (ages 17-30) living with diabetes in the U.S. and that number continues to increase every day. The Diabetes Link is the only national organization that focuses specifically on people in their teens and twenties, in recognition that this time of their lives is full of enough change and challenges without a chronic disease added to the mix.

Formerly known as the College Diabetes Network (CDN), this new name reflects a commitment to expand support to the larger young adult diabetes community, whatever the type of diabetes they live with and whether they're in school or in the workforce.

Currently, there are 3 million young adults (ages 17-30) living with diabetes in the U.S.

The Diabetes Link offers peer support, leadership development, and expert, age-relevant resources tailored specifically to the dynamics of emerging adulthood. In addition to growing their flagship campus network, The Diabetes Link is launching a new online resource hub that will offer 24/7 access to first-hand peer experiences and perspectives, as well as information reviewed and endorsed by clinical experts.

Christina Roth, CEO & Founder, states, "We will stay true to our roots in type 1 diabetes, but the insights we've gained over these last 12 years will also benefit those with Type 2 and other types of diabetes. These young people make over 180 life-altering decisions a day, and they deserve access to support that will help them manage their diabetes AND enjoy the exhilaration of young adulthood. We are here to guide them."

"As the father of a son with type 1 diabetes who just started college, I joined the board of directors to ensure that my son and all teens and young adults like him have the support and information they need to safely and successfully navigate this stage of life" says Brad Stadler, Chair of The Diabetes Link Board of Directors. "It is my privilege to continue advancing this goal while ensuring that all young adults, regardless of where they are in life or in the country, have access to the invaluable resources we have built."

About the Diabetes Link:

The Diabetes Linkis a national 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to empowering young adults with diabetes by providing access to the peer support, connections, and expert resources they need to thrive. Over the years The Diabetes Link (formerly CDN) has been recognized as the preeminent organization serving young adults with diabetes, establishing national partnerships with organizations such as ADA, JDRF, and the Association for Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (ADCES); also, as the leading provider of young adult patient education by healthcare providers and certification boards such as The Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education (CBDCE).

For more information, please contact:Alyssa Sullivan 617-899-8631 [emailprotected]

SOURCE The Diabetes Link

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THE DIABETES LINK LAUNCHES TO HELP YOUNG ADULTS THRIVE WHILE LIVING WITH THE DISEASE - PR Newswire

Bagsvrd, Denmark, 3 October 2022 Novo Nordisk today announced headline results from the ONWARDS 5 phase 3a trial with once-weekly insulin icodec in people with type 2 diabetes.

The ONWARDS 5 trial was a 52-week, open-label efficacy and safety treat-to-target trial investigating once-weekly insulin versus once-daily basal insulin (insulin degludec or insulin glargine U100/U300) in 1,085 insulin-nave people with type 2 diabetes in a clinical practice setting including fewer trial visits compared to the other ONWARDS phase 3a trials. Once-weekly insulin icodec was used in combination with a dosing guide app to guide titration.

The trial achieved its primary endpoint of demonstrating non-inferiority in reducing HbA1c at week 52 with insulin icodec compared with once-daily basal insulin analogues. From an overall baseline HbA1c of 8.9%, once-weekly insulin icodec achieved a superior reduction in estimated HbA1c of 1.68%-points compared with 1.31%-points for the once-daily basal insulins (estimated treatment difference: 0.38%-points).

In the trial, there was no statistically significant difference in estimated rates of severe or clinically significant hypoglycaemia (blood glucose below 3 mmol/L) with 0.19 events per patient-year exposed to once-weekly insulin icodec and 0.14 events per patient-year exposed to the once-daily basal insulins. In the trial, once-weekly insulin icodec appeared to have a safe and well-tolerated profile.

We are very pleased to share the positive results from the ONWARDS 5 trial. These results include real-world elements and a dosing guide app, which help us better understand how insulin icodec can make a difference for patients in a clinical practice setting, said Martin Holst Lange, executive vice president for Development at Novo Nordisk. Todays results confirm the results from the previous reported ONWARDS trials and highlight that insulin icodec has the potential to be an ideal insulin for people with type 2 diabetes. We now look forward to sharing the results with regulatory authorities.

Novo Nordisk expects to file for regulatory approval of once-weekly insulin icodec in the US, the EU and China in the first half of 2023.

About the ONWARDS clinical development programme The ONWARDS programme for once-weekly insulin icodec currently comprises six phase 3a global clinical trials, including a trial with real-world elements, involving more than 4,000 adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

ONWARDS 1 is a 78-week trial comparing the efficacy and safety of once-weekly insulin icodec with once-daily insulin glargine U100 both in combination with non-insulin anti-diabetic treatment in 984 insulin-nave people with type 2 diabetes. Following the completion of the main phase of the trial, a 26-week extension phase is ongoing. The results of the main phase were reported on 3 June 2022.

ONWARDS 2 was a phase 3a, 26-week efficacy and safety treat-to-target trial investigating once-weekly insulin icodec vs insulin degludec in 526 people with type 2 diabetes switching from a once-daily insulin. Results were reported on 28 April 2022.

ONWARDS 3 was a 26-week trial comparing once-weekly insulin icodec with once-daily insulin degludec. The objective of the trial was to assess the efficacy and safety of insulin icodec in 588 insulin-nave people with type 2 diabetes. Results were reported on 29 July 2022.

ONWARDS 4 was a 26-week trial comparing once-weekly insulin icodec with once-daily insulin glargine, both in combination with mealtime insulin. The objective of the trial was to assess the efficacy and safety of insulin icodec in 582 people with type 2 diabetes treated with basal and bolus insulin. Results were reported on 29 July 2022.

ONWARDS 5 was a 52-week trial comparing once-weekly insulin icodec with once-daily basal insulin (insulin degludec and insulin glargine U100 and U300) The objective of the trial was to assess the effectiveness and safety of insulin icodec, with an app providing dosing recommendation, in 1,085 insulin-nave people with type 2 diabetes in a clinical practice setting including no upper limit at HbA1c at time of inclusion, no limitations on use of oral antidiabetic treatments and fewer planned site visits compared to the other ONWARDS phase 3a trials (every third month in accordance with recommended clinical practice)

ONWARDS 6 is a 52-week trial comparing once-weekly insulin icodec with once-daily insulin degludec, both in combination with mealtime insulin. The objective of the trial is to assess the efficacy and safety of insulin icodec in 583 people with type 1 diabetes. Following the completion of the main phase of the trial, a 26-week extension phase is ongoing. The results of the main phase were reported on 3 June 2022.

About Novo Nordisk Novo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company, founded in 1923 and headquartered in Denmark. Our purpose is to drive change to defeat diabetes and other serious chronic diseases such as obesity and rare blood and endocrine disorders. We do so by pioneering scientific breakthroughs, expanding access to our medicines, and working to prevent and ultimately cure disease. Novo Nordisk employs about 50,800 people in 80 countries and markets its products in around 170 countries. Novo Nordisks B shares are listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen (Novo-B). Its ADRs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NVO). For more information, visit novonordisk.com, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Further information

Company announcement No 73 / 2022

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Once-weekly insulin icodec demonstrates superior reduction in HbA1c in combination with a dosing guide app versus once-daily basal insulin in people...

Every day is a good day to think about your mental and physical well-being. But leading up to World Mental Health Day on October 10, theres a new focus on the intersection between the two, thanks to a new campaign by Beyond Type 1 called MenTalkHealth. This initiative is encouraging conversations between menthrough community connections and resourcesabout mental wellness. Its specifically tackling how your mind can be affected by challenging chronic illnesses like Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), which affect large numbers of people but can feel really isolating. What you need to know:

Many people think Type 1 Diabetes is a condition that arises in childhood, and that if you werent diagnosed then, you wont be as an adult. Thats not the case: Recent data finds that half of all new cases of T1D are diagnosed in adults; its estimated that 1.4 million adults are currently living with the disease in the U.S. A new review paper shows that men are more likely to present with adult T1D than women. Risk factors include genetics and family history.

Some details on T1D you might not know: its a condition in which your pancreas makes little to no insulin. Without enough insulin, sugar wont move into your cells as it should, but instead will start to build up in your bloodstream. This can be dangerous and lead to life-threatening complications including heart problems, kidney damage, nerve damage, vision loss, and severe infections.

If you experience symptoms like feeling extra-thirsty, having to pee all the time, losing weight without dieting, feeling suddenly irritable, or getting hit with blurry vision, definitely see your doctor.

If youre diagnosed with T1D, you need to monitor your health carefully. This often means checking your blood sugar at regular intervals throughout the day, giving yourself insulin shots, and making sure you eat the right food. Having TID can feel like playing whack-a-mole, says Mark Heyman, PhD, a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist and the author of Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It. Something is always popping up. Trying to keep on top of it all can quickly become stressful, and leads many men to put a ton of pressure on themselves.

This is where Beyond Type 1 comes in. The non-profit organization is dedicated to changing what its like to live well with diabetes through education and advocacy. Nick Jonasyes, of the Jonas Brotherswho has T1D, has worked with Beyond Type 1 to spread awareness. His story is major inspo for thriving with the disease. In a lead up to World Mental Health Day on October 10, Beyond Type 1 will launch the MenTalkHealth campaign, where men can learn from each other by sharing their experiences on social media. The campaign also offers a powerful video in which men and boys share their challenges in order to help others like themselves (you can see the video at the main MenTalkHealth page here).

Get support. Unless a person has T1D, they really dont get it, says Heyman. But you can help them with thattalk to your partner and other family members in detail about your daily routine and its challenges. They need all those details to fully understand so they can give you the kind of help thats truly helpful.

Break down your T1D challenges into small chunks. Pick one thing to work on that will help you control your blood sugar best. Focus on that and youll find that other things will fall into place, Heyman says. Just dont pressure yourself to be perfect about it. With diabetes, good enough is OK, Heyman says. Remember that your point is to take away the stress of dealing with diabetes by doing this, not add to it. If you're stuck on how to do this, it's worth checking in with other men with T1D for ideas and support.

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Dealing With Type 1 Diabetes - Nick Jonas Behind New Men's Mental Health Initiative - Men's Health

News Release

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

Next-generation technology maintains blood glucose levels by automatically delivering insulin.

A device known as a bionic pancreas, which uses next-generation technology to automatically deliver insulin, was more effective at maintaining blood glucose (sugar) levels within normal range than standard-of-care management among people with type 1 diabetes, a new multicenter clinical trial has found. The trial was primarily funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health, and published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Automated insulin delivery systems, also called artificial pancreas or closed-loop control systems, track a persons blood glucose levels using a continuous glucose monitor and automatically deliver the hormone insulin when needed using an insulin pump. These systems replace reliance on testing glucose level by fingerstick, continuous glucose monitor with separate insulin delivery through multiple daily injections, or a pump without automation.

Compared to other available artificial pancreas technologies, the bionic pancreas requires less user input and provides more automation because the devices algorithms continually adjust insulin doses automatically based on users needs. Users initialize the bionic pancreas by entering their body weight into the devices dosing software at the time of first use.

Users of the bionic pancreas also do not have to count carbohydrates, nor initiate doses of insulin to correct for high blood glucose. In addition, health care providers do not need to make periodic adjustments to the settings of the device.

Keeping tight control over blood glucose is important in managing diabetes and is the best way to prevent complications like eye, nerve, kidney, and cardiovascular disease down the road," said Dr. Guillermo Arreaza-Rubn, director of NIDDKs diabetes technology program. The bionic pancreas technology introduces a new level of ease to the day-to-day management of type 1 diabetes, which may contribute to improved quality of life.

The 13-week trial, conducted at 16 clinical sites across the United States, enrolled 326 participants ages 6 to 79 years who had type 1 diabetes and had been using insulin for at least one year. Participants were randomly assigned to either a treatment group using the bionic pancreas device or a standard-of-care control group using their personal pre-study insulin delivery method. All participants in the control group were provided with a continuous glucose monitor, and nearly one-third of the control group were using commercially available artificial pancreas technology during the study.

In participants using the bionic pancreas, glycated hemoglobin, a measure of a persons long-term blood glucose control, improved from 7.9% to 7.3%, yet remained unchanged among the standard-of-care control group. The bionic pancreas group participants spent 11% more time, approximately 2.5 hours per day, within the targeted blood glucose range compared to the control group. These results were similar in youth and adult participants, and improvements in blood glucose control were greatest among participants who had higher blood glucose levels at the beginning of the study.

Our observation that this system can safely improve glucose control to the degree we found, and do so despite requiring much less input from users and their health care providers, has important implications for children and adults living with diabetes, said Dr. Steven Russell, study chair, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, and staff physician at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

Hyperglycemia, or high blood glucose, caused by problems with insulin pump equipment, was the most frequently reported adverse event in the bionic pancreas group. The number of mild hypoglycemia events, or low blood glucose, was low and was not different between the groups. The frequency of severe hypoglycemia was not statistically different between the standard of care and bionic pancreas groups.

Four companion papers were also published in Diabetes Technology and Therapeutics, two of which provided more detailed results among the adult and youth participants. The third paper reported results from an extension study in which the participants from the standard-of-care control group switched to using the bionic pancreas for 13 weeks and experienced improvements in glucose control similar to the bionic pancreas group in the randomized trial. In the fourth paper, results showed that using the bionic pancreas with a faster-acting insulin in 114 adult participants improved glucose control as effectively as using the device with standard insulin.

NIDDKs decades-long investment in developing advanced technologies for diabetes management has reached another promising milestone and continues to provide significant return, said NIDDK Director Dr. Griffin P. Rodgers. While we continue to search for a cure for type 1 diabetes, devices like the bionic pancreas can allow people to worry less about their blood-glucose levels and focus more on living their fullest, healthiest lives.

Dr. Edward Damiano, project principal investigator, professor of biomedical engineering at Boston University, and founder and executive chair of Beta Bionics, Inc., concurs. The completion of this study represents a major milestone for the bionic pancreas initiative, which simply would not have been possible had it not been for the support provided by the NIDDK over the years.

The study is one of several pivotal trials funded by NIDDK to advance artificial pancreas technology and look at factors including safety, efficacy, user-friendliness, physical and emotional health of participants, and cost. To date, these trials have provided the important safety and efficacy data needed for regulatory review and licensure to make the technology commercially available. The Jaeb Center for Health Research in Tampa, Florida, served as coordinating center.

Funding for the study was provided by NIDDK grant 1UC4DK108612 to Boston University, by an Investigator-Initiated Study award from Novo Nordisk, and by Beta Bionics, Inc., which also provided the experimental bionic pancreas devices used in the study. Insulin and some supplies were donated by Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, Dexcom, and Ascensia Diabetes Care. Partial support for the development of the experimental bionic pancreas device was provided by NIDDK Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant 1R44DK120234 to Beta Bionics, Inc.

The NIDDK, a component of the NIH, conducts and supports research on diabetes and other endocrine and metabolic diseases; digestive diseases, nutrition, and obesity; and kidney, urologic, and hematologic diseases. Spanning the full spectrum of medicine and afflicting people of all ages and ethnic groups, these diseases encompass some of the most common, severe and disabling conditions affecting Americans. For more information about the NIDDK and its programs, see https://www.niddk.nih.gov/.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH):NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov.

NIHTurning Discovery Into Health

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Bionic pancreas improves type 1 diabetes management compared to standard insulin delivery methods - National Institutes of Health (.gov)

Infections, especially urinary tract infections (UTIs), are common experiences for people with diabetes. UTIs are also often more severe in people with diabetes than they are in those without diabetes. UTIs may lead to serious kidney problems in those with diabetes, such as renal abscesses, emphysematous cystitis and pyelonephritis, and renal papillary necrosis.

In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas stops producing insulin that regulates blood glucose levels. In type 2, cells become less sensitive to insulin. With both types, excessive glucose levels in the blood can reduce the effectiveness of ones immune system.

Dr. Jason Ng of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, not involved in the study, explained to Medical News Today, The higher sugars create a series of impaired defense mechanisms which people use to protect against UTIs.

Now, a study from researchers at Swedens Karolinska Institutet investigates the mechanism behind glucoses effect.

The study finds that high glucose levels in diabetes reduce levels of one of the bodys natural antibiotics, the antimicrobial peptide psoriasin, an important barrier against infection.

Urologist Dr. S. Adam Ramin, also not involved in the research, described the usual role of psoriasin to MNT:

Its known that this particular protein is an initial line of defense against certain bacterial infections. And now, based on this study, it appears that this particular protein is downregulated meaning that it is not made at as high a concentration as in people who dont have diabetes and therefore may be one of the pathways that makes diabetic patients more susceptible to infections.

We have observed that patients with diabetes have [a] higher risk of UTIs, said Dr. Ng. So this process could further elucidate why this observation exists.

The researchers analyzed urine, urinary bladder cells, and blood serum samples from adult volunteers who were non-diabetic or who had prediabetes or diabetes. The study did not include people with current UTI diagnoses.

The analysis revealed that participants with prediabetes or diabetes had reduced levels of psoriasin.

The researchers confirmed the findings in follow-up studies using mice with type 2 diabetes and human uroepithelial cell lines.

Study principal investigator, Prof. Annelie Brauner, tells Karolinska Institutet News that such reduced levels weakens the cells protective barrier function and increases the risk of bladder infection.

Dr. Ramin explained:

Essentially, this is a protein that inhibits the binding of bacteria to epithelial cells and endothelial cells, and if these bacteria cannot bind to the epithelial cells of the bladder, then they may not grow. They will be inhibited from growth, and therefore they cant propagate inside the bladder.

When bacteria propagate, thats when infection occurs because essentially infection is an overgrowth of bacteria within an organ like the bladder, as opposed to a situation in which psoriasin would be inhibiting the growth of the bacteria.

Prof. Brauner also pointed out an interesting finding.

We found that high glucose concentrations reduce the levels of the antimicrobial peptide psoriasin, while insulin has no effect [on psoriasin levels], she said.

Previous research by Prof. Brauners group found that estrogen helps restore the protective function of bladder cells. The new study confirms that estrogen can restore psoriasin levels.

Dr. Ramin said the current studys results are consistent with earlier findings on postmenopausal women with low estrogen who are at a higher risk of developing UTIs. He said the recurrence of UTIs significantly decreased among women after using prescription estrogen vaginal creams, and this was a pathway to learning that estrogen can help prevent UTIs.

Dr. Ramin said the topical treatment is generally safe for most women.

Topical estrogen or estrogen creams in the vagina do not get absorbed systemically, so were not concerned about causing cancer or any other issues, he said. In fact, many women who have had gynecologic cancers in the past, and they have been cured, are still eligible to get estrogen vaginal cream.

Prof. Brauner also noted:

All medical treatment must be given with caution. Estrogen given locally (in the vagina) is a common treatment in postmenopausal women, and very few side effects have been observed. However, estrogen should not be given orally due to possible adverse effects and since oral administration has no proven effect in the treatment of UTI.

Prof. Brauner added that experts do not recommend treating men with estrogen.

Dr. Ng also expressed caution:

Without further research, I would not promote estrogen use to reduce the risk of UTIs via promoting psoriasin levels. We have to be careful since estrogen medications have significant side effects as well.

Well-controlled diabetes is important to prevent infections as well as other complications, said Prof. Brauner. It is of course not always easy to keep low-to-normal blood glucose levels.

Dr. Ng said the best way to prevent UTIs in patients with diabetes is to practice good hygiene habits and improve sugar control as much as possible.

Dr. Ramin offered some tips that can help people avoid UTIs:

We know that patients who are constipated, theyll get translocation of bacteria from their rectum into the bladder or from the large intestine to the bladder, so its important to avoid constipation, Dr. Ramin explained.

Women who are sexually active should exercise good hygiene, meaning that after sexual activity it is important for them to go to the bathroom and urinate relatively quickly, he added. Its important to keep good vaginal health, and keep that area clean.

Dr. Ramin also noted that some people can benefit from taking or drinking pure cranberry juice because the acid level may kill bacteria and prevent bacterial formation.

In the future, we hope to be able to target ways to locally increase psoriasin in the urinary bladders. We hope and believe that this could have positive effects on the prevention of infections in the bladder, Prof. Brauner concluded.

See the article here:
Why people with diabetes have more UTIs and how to prevent infections - Medical News Today