StemCell Therapy

While tech giant Google continues to struggle to make a contact lens for monitoring diabetes,researchers at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) in South Korea have offered up at least one part of the puzzle: better wearability. Through the use of a hybrid film made from graphene and silver nanowires, the UNIST researchers have made contact lenses for detecting multiple biomarkers that are clear and flexible.

In research described in the journal Nature Communications, the UNIST researchers used graphene-nanowire hybrid films to serve as conducting, transparent, and stretchable electrodes. While the hybrid film alone does not perform any detection, the electrodes do ensure that the electrodes in the contact lenses dont obscure vision and that theyre flexible enough to make wearingthe lenses comfortable.

In addition to offering better transparency and comfort, the contact lenses developed by the UNIST researchers depart from previous contact lens sensors in that theyreable to detect multiple biomarkers. This contact lens should be able to pick up indictorsfor intraocular pressure, diabetes mellitus, and other health conditions, according to the researchers.

To detect intraocular pressure, a dielectric layer is sandwiched between two hybrid films. In this arrangement, the films now become a capacitor that responds to intraocular pressure. At high intraocular pressure, the thickness of the dielectric layer decreases, resulting in the increased capacitance. High intraocular pressure also increases the inductance of the antenna coil by bi-axial lateral expansion.

For detecting glucose, the top hybrid film layeris exposed to tears and detects glucose. In a selected region of the film, the researchers removed the nanowires so only graphene remained. The surface of graphene was then coated with an enzyme that binds selectively to glucose.Thisbinding changes the resistance of the graphene.

The changes of resistance, inductance and capacitance in these two detection modes can be monitored wirelesslyin real-time.

One of the challenging aspects of the research was the glucose sensor, according to the researchers. In tears, there are many interfering ions and molecules that potentially cause false positive responses, explained Chang Young Lee, an assistant professor at UNIST and co-author of the study, in an email interview with IEEE Spectrum. We need to test the selectivity and long-term reliability of the glucose sensor. The effort includes designing and finding a molecule that selectively binds to glucose, which is another large research area.

Lee envisions this research as a novel platform that will enableintegration of glucose sensor onto a soft contact lens. Measuring the glucose accurately and reliably is another large research area, Lee added. A good glucose sensor developed by another researcher, for example, can easily be integrated onto our platform.

In this novel platform, both the graphene and the silver nanowires contribute indispensible properties. The silver nanowires offer a one-dimensional (1D) conducting material, and by creating a network (mesh) of it, its possible to make a transparent, conducting, and flexible film. However, the film made of silver nanowires alone has limitations, such as high contact resistance at the nanowire-nanowire junctions, low breakdown voltages, poor adhesion to flexible substrates, and oxidation in harsh environments.

This is where the two-dimensional (2D) graphene comes in, with its properties of being highly transparent, conducting and flexible. By creating a hybrid structure of graphene and nanowires, the limitations of the nanowires are overcome. The key is in the hybrid of 1D and 2D structures, added Lee.

IEEE Spectrums nanotechnology blog, featuring news and analysis about the development, applications, and future of science and technology at the nanoscale.

Controlling the electrical current for heating graphene allows sound frequencies to be mixed together, amplified, and equalized 5May

Technique opens up potential of tailoring material properties nearly atom-by-atom 2May

Discovery could be the answer to the demands for increasing information storage density as device feature sizes decrease 26Apr

Technique could reduce costs for compound semiconductor circuits and lead to new devices 24Apr

The new molybdenum disulfide microprocessor has 115 transistors 11Apr

A graphene photodetector can pinpoint the position of light that falls far from it 10Apr

Researchers at SLAC are leveraging X-rays to enable the next generation of batteries and photovoltaics 5Apr

Diamondoids are showing promise in applications as divergent as electron guns and quantum computing 31Mar

The electronic skin is touch-sensitive and could be inexpensively manufactured 30Mar

Stanford researchers are getting a lot of mileage from nanomaterials by analyzing market needs 29Mar

The elliptical shape makes the lasing process easier 20Mar

Japanese materials company prototypes a 26.3 percent efficient silicon cell, steps away from the 29 percent theoretical maximum 20Mar

Otherlabs self-fluffing fabric changes its insulation in response to temperature 18Mar

Development is incremental in molecular nanotechnology, but it is coming along slowly 14Mar

New encoding method makes it possible to come close to the theoretical maximum for DNA data storage 2Mar

Replacing high-voltage power source with nanogenerators increases sensitivity to new records 27Feb

First borophene-based heterostructure should guide future work with borophene in nanoelectronic applications 23Feb

Five teams, four rockets, and 380,000 kilometers togo 22Feb

Current can literally blow copper interconnects away, but graphene could keep them intact 17Feb

Biocompatibile inks open up medical devices for inkjet-printed devices 2Feb

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Smart Contact Lens Detects Diabetes and Glaucoma - IEEE Spectrum

A St Austell man had to have his leg amputated after a small blister on his toe that developed while he was on holiday in Tenerife turned into a serious infection which wouldn't heal.

Diabetes UK is sharing the story of 63-year-old Chris Witt in an attempt to warn men with diabetes of the importance of foot care.

Read more: Cornish company has special offer for anyone who smashes window to save pet

Mr Witt has type 2 diabetes and had his leg amputated in late 2016. The guest house owner developed a small blister on his toe after going for a walk in new sandals while on holiday in Tenerife.

This turned into an infection which wouldn't heal, leading first to the amputation of part of his foot and eventually to the loss of his leg below the knee.

Read more: Gambling Cornwall footballer stole 18K from cash machines he was paid to fill with money

He said: "I didn't realise how dangerous it could be to have an infection and that it can come on so quickly. I wasn't vigilant enough. If you're a man with diabetes you need to check your feet every day and if you see anything wrong get in touch with your surgery. Push for quicker treatment if it's not going fast enough.

"If I'd realised the dangers, I might have saved my leg."

Diabetes UK south west regional head Phaedra Perry said: "Men with diabetes can protect their feet this May by ensuring they attend their annual foot check and that they come away knowing what their risk of developing foot problems is and whether further action is needed.

Read more: Why the air ambulance and emergency services were out in force in Newquay this morning

"If your feet have not been checked by a healthcare professional in the past 12 months if you've not been invited in for your foot check or you missed your appointment do not put off booking or taking up the offer of a free check. Also, if you spot a problem or have any concerns do not wait for your 12-month check-up make sure you book an appointment as soon as possible as problems can escalate extremely quickly.

"Putting your feet first can prevent the devastating loss of your toes, feet or legs, which will have a huge impact on your life. Everyone with diabetes is entitled to an annual foot check or more frequent checks if you are deemed to be at medium or high risk.

"Checking regularly yourself and having an annual foot check with a health professional can keep you on your feet."

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A spokesman for Diabetes UK said: "Men with diabetes are at a higher risk of chronic foot and leg wounds which can lead to devastating toe, foot or leg amputations, Diabetes UK warns today. Nearly three out of four people who have diabetes-related foot ulcers are men.

"During Foot Health Awareness Month in May, the charity is urging people with diabetes and particularly men with diabetes, to take care of their feet and if they've not had them checked in the past 12 months to not delay in booking in for their free annual foot check with their doctor or nurse.

"Latest figures show there are 20 diabetes-related amputations a day, despite four out of five of these being preventable with good foot care."

Read more: The top 46 Cornwall restaurants of 2017 according to the Trencherman's Guide

The charity warns that not all people with diabetes are getting the annual foot check they're entitled to on the NHS.

According to the National Diabetes Audit 2015/16, nearly one in six people with type 2 diabetes in Cornwall (16.3%) are missing out on this essential check-up, compared to one in ten across England.

Read more: Gwinear Parish residents being 'denied democratic right to vote' by Cormac

This rises to more in one in four people with type 1 diabetes in Cornwall (27.6%), in line with the England average.

They said having an amputation has a devastating impact on a person's life through loss of work, immobility and the inability to drive. But if a foot problem is treated quickly it can prevent serious problems in the future.

Read more: World Pilot Gig Championships ends on a high after record year

Check your feet daily for any signs of redness, breaks in the skin, pain, build-up of hard skin or changes in the shape of your feet. These could be warning signs of early foot problems, so tell your doctor straight away.

Wash and dry your feet every day especially between the toes. Don't soak them in water as this can increase the risk of damage.

Moisturise every day, but not in between the toes (this can make infections more likely).

Check your shoes daily for anything that may rub.

Cut your nails carefully and don't cut down the side of your nails.

Don't use corn removing plasters or blades as these can damage healthy skin.

Read more: Tom Daley wedding rumours persist despite hospital snap on Instagram

The 'touch the toes test' can help you find out if you are losing sensation in your feet. Go to http://www.diabetes.org.uk/feet-care.

Alternatively, you can call the Diabetes UK helpline on 0345 123 2399.

Read more: See all the latest news from around Cornwall

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St Austell man with diabetes Chris Witt had leg amputated after blister on toe on Tenerife holiday - Cornwall Live

This Saturdays Notorious Nick Memorial Shotgun Match sponsored by the Single Action Shooting Society and the Founders Ranch Shotgun Sports Club will raise funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Sign up starts at 8:30 a.m. and shooting begins at 10 a.m. for the event at Founders Ranch at 74 Barton Road. Cost is $50 for 100 target sporting clays, $25 for 50 target 5 stand sporting and $12.50 for 25 target cowboy clays.

The event in its fifth year also brings attention to the causes of juvenile diabetes and diabetes in general, which is a health concern for the area and statewide. According to advocates, more than 12 percent of the states adult population is living with diabetes, which is more than 248,000. Another 615,000 are estimated to have prediabetes, which means their blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be type 2 diabetes.

Prediabetic is now the new term for people who will likely get diabetes in the future without making changes now to their diet and sedentary lifestyles, said Dr. Linda Stogner, medical director of the Esperanza Family Health Center. Doctors used to call the condition borderline diabetic, but people didnt take the diagnosis serious enough to make significant lifestyle changes.

Brenda Richter, who has been attending a weekly diabetes self-management workshop in Moriarty, said she had been diagnosed as borderline diabetic, which quickly blew up into full diabetes, changing her life. Participants in the workshops held Monday afternoons at Bethel Community Storehouse say the classes have helped them get focused on what they can do to successfully change their lifestyles and diet to better manage the disease.

Danielle Berrien of the Cooperative Extension Service, which sponsored the workshops with the state Department of Health and state Aging and Long Term Services Department, said there is a lot of misunderstanding about the disease, which can lead to kidney failure, blindness, loss of limbs and heart disease. The workshop aims to teach participants about what they can do to better manage the disease by coming up with an action plan with measurable goals to successfully make better food choices and work in more exercising into their daily lives.

You pretty much have to say good bye to processed food, Richter said.

Jennifer White said the workshops have helped her feel less isolated and Effie Zirnheld said the workshops were able to go into more detail than advice given at a doctors office. Participants said it helped that the workshop has Margie Snare as facilitator as she is a person living with diabetes. Berrien said she wants to hold the diabetes workshop twice a year.

Stogner, who has been treating patients in the East Mountains for 30 years, said the disease is one that cuts across all walks of life from mountains residents to flatland farmers. But Stogner said she has patients she has been working with since coming to the area who have been successful in making the necessary lifestyle changes to manage the disease.

I have patients in their 80s who I first saw in their 50s, Stogner said. Im happy to say that none of them have lost their vision, no amputations and no one on dialysis.

Stogner acknowledges that it can be hard for people in rural areas to get good access to unprocessed food. On the exercise side, even taking short walks daily can do a lot to prevent the disease, she said.

Berrien said there are good online resources, such as the websites for the American Diabetes Association, the International Diabetes Center, the Joslin Diabetic Foundation and the National Diabetes Education Program.

See the rest here:
Fundraiser, program shine light on diabetes - Mountain View Journal

KING 7:00 AM. PDT May 05, 2017

Bob Marley's nephew, Charles Mattocks, is launching a reality show on Discovery.

Just like his uncle, Bob Marley, Charles Mattocks is on a mission to motivate, inspire and educate people but this time with diabetes.

After being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes eight years ago, Mattocks was forced to be his own advocate. His doctor prescribed medication but didn't specify a plan to help him control the disease.

"He didn't give me any information as far as what to look for, follow up with, what to eat, what to do next. He just gave me medication," explained Mattocks.

The celebrity chef turned TV producer lost weight, is now off medication and his diabetes is under control. But he knows there are many people living with diabetes who are still struggling with their health because of a lack of education.

That's why he became passionate about leading the fight against diabetes and wrote a cookbook and produced a documentary.

Now, he's about to launch the first ever diabetes reality TV show called "Reversed" on Discovery Life Channel.

"I thought if we brought people in a house, and bring in all the experts that they would need to see over a year's time, like endocrinologists, nutritionists, dieticians, and bring them in one house and be able to inspire them and also educate them, what would we have?" Mattocks said.

Mattocks brought five contestants into one house in Jamaica to help them reverse their unhealthy habits.

After spending time with experts, they went home and began making changes.

Mattocks lights up when he talks about the life-changing results for two of the contestants, including one named Margie.

"When I first met her, she said she didn't like green leafy vegetables. She said she was allergic to green leafy vegetables," said Mattocks. "Now she's sending me pictures of her eating salads and green leafy vegetables and juicing and exercising."

Mattocks hopes the show reaches thousands of people and inspires them to make changes in their own lives.

" When I think of what we really did, and I think of where they might have been over the next couple of years, it moves me," said Mattocks.

"Reversed" airs in July on the Discovery Life Channel.

2017 KING-TV

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Bob Marley's nephew to launch reality TV show on diabetes - KING5.com

Good Food

by Alison Feller, May 4, 2017

You might have heard about papayas probiotic powers, or the mega-nutritous (and protein-packed) jackfruitbut usually when nutrition pros talk about fruit, theyre advising you choose from the low-sugar options(and definitely skip the dried varietyaltogether).

But according to anew study,natures candy may reduce the risk for developing diabetes.

The observational study, published in PLOS Medicine, tracked the health and diet of more than 500,000 adults inChina for seven years. It found that those without diabetes at the start who ate fresh fruit daily were found to have a 12 percent lower risk of developing the disease than those who ate none.

The sugar in fruit is not the same as the sugar in manufactured foods and may be metabolized differently.

And the more frequently they ate it, the lower their diabetes risk: More than three days a week resulted ina 17 percent lower risk of dying from any cause, and a 13 percent to 28 percent lower risk of developing diabetes-related complications (compared to those who consumed fruit less than once a week).

While it sounds greateat more fruit, dont get diabetes!it may also soundcontradictory. If high sugar consumption is a leading cause in developing diabetes and fruits are packed with sugars, is it really smart to OD on oranges?

The sugar in fruit is not the same as the sugar in manufactured foods and may be metabolized differently, the lead author, Huaidong Du, MD, a research fellow at the University of Oxford, tells TheNew York Times.And there are other nutrients in fruit that may benefit in other ways.

So go ahead and pass that pomegranate, pineapple, or pitayajust keep doing it in moderation.

Heres how to make the most of your summer fruits: our ultimate smoothie guide. And FYI you can alsomake yourblended concoction a thing of beauty (AKA Instagram-ready).

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Why eating fresh fruit could actually lower your risk of diabetes - Well+Good

New York Times

Fruit May Have Benefits for Diabetes New York Times A large study has found that eating fresh fruit may reduce the risk for developing diabetes, and the risk for its complications. Fresh fruit has well-known health benefits. But some experts, and some people with diabetes, question whether its high ...

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Fruit May Have Benefits for Diabetes - New York Times

An award that could potentially help find a solution to diabetes has been given to an associate professor in the mechanical engineering department at UCSB. Sumita Pennathur received the Visionary Award from the American Diabetes Association, which includes $1.625 million over the course of five years to fund her research.

Pennathur is one of two researchers nationwide who received this award in 2017. The Visionary Award is given to established, experienced investigators with demonstrated success in a different field who want to bring their expertise to diabetes research for the first time.

Im totally out of the field of diabetes. I had nothing to do with it until my daughter was diagnosed, Pennathur said.

Pennathurs daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2015 when she was four years old.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the pancreas produces little to no insulin, a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar. This happens when the bodys immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells known as beta cells. Without insulin, the body cannot allow sugar to enter the bodys cells to produce energy.

Currently, the causes of Type 1 diabetes are not known, and the most effective way of treating it is through insulin therapy. Although effective, the treatment includes constant blood glucose monitoring that involves pricking finger tips and finding a way to get insulin into the body.

The Pathways to Stop Diabetes Initiative is aimed at addressing the shortage of research talent in diabetes. The ADA believes that by supporting researchers like Pennathur, they can help generate new solutions to these critical problems. Kevin Son/Daily Nexus

My daughter has to take 10 [insulin] shots a day in her stomach, maybe five but sometimes 10, Pennathur said. She needs to do the shots by herself in her stomach. Shes six years old. Imagine being a little kid and having to do that all the time.

Her daughters diagnosis has inspired her to address the challenge of diabetes monitoring, or continuous glucose monitoring (CGM).

More than several hundred attempts have been made to develop a technique for CGM, but only a couple of them have received FDA approval. The CGM devices currently on the market, including subcutaneous needles that stay in the body for about a week, need to be calibrated twice daily and can give inaccurate readings.

Instead of a monitor that remains inside of the body, Pennathur and her research group have planned to develop a daily disposable patch.

We have to make it disposable because you dont want to stick stuff in your body. Its like a Band-Aid. Were making it like a Band-Aid, Pennathur said.

Although a small device, the patch combines engineering, chemistry and biology, which requires help from other departments.

On campus were doing a patch, so its like an array of needles so its not individually going in and out; its all at once. On the patch is a little hydrogel just think of it as a gooey gel and inside that gel is a bunch of chemicals that were working [on] with [Guillermo] Bazan of the chemistry department, Pennathur said. Hes building a chemical that can not only, if glucose is there, recognize it, but when it recognizes it, it changes its structure so that it fluoresces differently. Itll amplify the fluorescence a lot if the glucose is there.

As of now, Pennathur and her group have built the microneedles and have established how to make the necessary chemicals.

We actually just figured it out. The postdoc is named Bing Wang and hes in Bazans group. He has just figured out the path hes going to take to [make] the gel. Its a bunch of steps. You have to build the chemistry, make sure it works, proof of concept and so he figured out the steps and now we get to do all the steps. Were hoping itll get done in a year, Pennathur said.

Karen Scida, a postdoc who is a part of Pennathurs group is testing the patch and making sure it accurately measures glucose at different levels. Additionally, Scida is coming up with a way of incorporating a thin layer of insulin on the patch itself.

It could talk to the glucose monitor, so its just an artificial pancreas. In other words, you dont have to keep measuring. No finger pricks, its just a patch and you can eat whatever you want to eat, Pennathur said.

Pennathurs approach seems to be the most promising one, but interestingly enough, her background is not in chemistry or biology. She received her bachelors and masters degree in aerospace engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and her Ph.D. in aerospace engineering at Stanford.

I feel really lucky because I got some of the best education you could possibly get in building these things, and now Im a professor on these things and I want to build a medical device, so the fact Im doing this is terrible serendipity, Pennathur said. I dont want to say serendipity because that has a good connotation. This is terrible what happened to my daughter but at the same time Im going to fix it. No one is going to stop me. My motivation knows absolutely no bounds because this is the most important thing in my life my daughter and Im going to save her life.

With a problem this big, Pennathur believes that a solution can be found in areas outside the typical research.

Its interesting because a lot of times, for these types of problems, you need to think outside the box. You need innovative solutions. You got to do stuff that nobody else knows about, and somebody coming from aerospace engineering, right? Who would know that that person could do research in diabetes, and thats because theres all these things I know, like I build microneedles. I know how to build microneedles, I can make them better than anyone. I can physically go in the clean room and make them myself. People who study diabetes cant make microneedles, Pennathur said.

It is the skills she developed as an engineer that could find help find a way to continuously monitor blood glucose levels.

Its those extra little things you learn that help you get somewhere in life. Again, I hate using the word serendipity, but Ive been trying to do this all my life. I didnt really have some problem to solve; I was just making my tools, and then my daughter got diagnosed and now I have my problem to solve, Pennathur said. Theres nothing else Im going to do but this, and I am so blessed to have the tools in my toolbox to actually try to help. Im going every way and any way to make this happen as quickly and efficiently as humanly possible.

Read this article:
Engineering a Solution for Diabetes - Daily Nexus

CLEVELAND - An alarming number of new cases of diabetes are being diagnosed among American kids. A CDC report revealed last month that Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are both on the rise.

The findings have doctors raising concerns and making sure parents know the signs and symptoms of diabetes among their children.

She just wasnt acting right but it was nothing I had experienced with the other children, said Tiffany Barzacchini.

Barzacchinis 7-year-old daughter was just 1 year old when she was rushed to the ER with the tell-tale symptoms of diabetes.

She was just lethargic at times, craving water, and by the third day of this, her breathing became real intense, said Barzacchini.

Isola is the youngest of five. None of her older siblings have ever displayed symptoms of diabetes and genetically, theres no trace of the disease in either her moms or dads family history.

The CDC is reporting though that Isola is not alone. In a ten year study of kids from just a few months, to 19-years-old it was discovered each year, there was an increase of 1.8% of new Type 1 diabetes cases and an increase of 4.8% of new Type 2 cases.

Frankly, we dont know the cause, said Dr. Roy Kim, the Section Head of Pediatric Endocrinology at the Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital.

Kim finds the surge in new diabetes cases alarming.

We know that individuals must have a certain genetic predisposition to be at risk for Type 1 Diabetes but there must be other environmental triggers and frankly we just havent figured out what those triggers are, he said.

An increase in Type 2 among kids can be linked to an increase in overall American childhood obesity. Type 2 is directly tied to weight gain, lack of exercise, and unhealthy eating habits. But whats more confusing is a rise in Type 1, a lifelong condition, with the root cause still unknown.

What goes underappreciated is how life changing the diagnosis is for those kids and what they have to go through, said Kim.

It doesnt ever go away, you dont ever get a break from it, it is literally 24/7 that you have to manage it, said Barzacchini.

For Isolas family, managing her disease is a full time job. Her blood is checked for insulin first thing in the morning when she wakes up, at every meal and after physical activity which must be limited.

Its the same story for millions of Americans. According to the American Diabetes Association, every 23 seconds in this country, theres a new diabetes diagnosis. Its estimated those patients will pay around $14,000 a year in medical expenses dealing with the disease.

Ultimately in her lifetime Im hoping they have a cure, said Barzacchini.

Symptoms parents should be on the lookout for include increased thirst and urination among their children, a feeling of constant exhaustion or hunger, sometimes weight loss and in its severe form, Type 1 can lead to vomiting, severe dehydration, and a coma-like state.

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CDC reports diabetes is on the rise among children - News 5 Cleveland

A phase 2b trial of Poxels Type 2 diabetes candidate imeglimin has met its primary endpoint. The data sent shares in Poxel soaring 40% and set the company up to push into a phase 3 trial before the end of the year.

Investigators in Japan enrolled 299 patients and randomized them to receive one of three doses of imeglimin or placebo. Participants received the treatment twice a day for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint looked at glycated hemoglobin A1c, a type of hemoglobin that shows the three-month average plasma glucose concentration. A secondary efficacy endpoint looked at levels of fasting plasma glucose.

All three doses of imeglimin outperformed placebo in terms of reducing levels of the hemoglobin. The response was dose dependent. Subjects who received the lowest, 500 mg dose experienced a reduction of 0.52%. Participants who took the highest, 1500 mg dose experienced a reduction of 1.00%. The declines are larger than those seen in earlier trials in the U.S. and Europe.

Dose dependency was also evident in the analysis of the secondary endpoint. Only the two higher doses1000 mg and 1500 mgmet that endpoint. Analysis of additional secondary endpoints is ongoing. Poxel said the safety profile was consistent with that seen in earlier trials. Those studies found the safety profile of imeglimin was comparable to placebo.

Buoyed by the data, Poxel plans to talk to regulators in Japan in the third quarter and kick off a phase 3 study in the fourth quarter. That would set Poxel up to generate pivotal data in a market that is central to its plans.

In Japan, we believe imeglimin may be a prime candidate for first-line treatment as monotherapy and as an add-on to other glucose lowering therapies for the treatment of patients with Type 2 diabetes, Poxel CEO Thomas Kuhn said in a statement. Japan represents the second largest single market for Type 2 diabetes and is expected to grow to approximately $6 billion (5.5 billion) in annual sales in 2020.

Kuhn has previously expressed a willingness for Poxel to run clinical trials of imeglimin in Japan without the support of a partner but bring someone on board to handle commercialization. Poxel raised 26.5 million last year to fund a phase 3 trial in Japan. That round came two months after Poxel floated the idea of a Nasdaq IPO, only to back away in the face of an unreceptive market.

The development strategy in Europe and the U.S. is different. Poxel has long expressed an interest in partnering the asset in those markets before taking it into phase 3.

Merck Serono spinout Poxel thinks imeglimin can claim a slice of the diabetes market by affecting the bioenergetics of mitochondria and, in doing so, preserve the function of beta cells.

View original post here:
Poxel shares jump 40% after diabetes trial hits primary goal - FierceBiotech

May the fourth be with you ... Sorry, I just couldnt help myself. Happy (early) Cinco de Mayo and Kentucky Derby Day, too! I hope youve gotten your tickets and will be joining us at your LifeSpan Center this Friday or Saturday to celebrate with us. I guarantee we will offer you delicious food and beverages, some laughs, and a great time.

Before we have that good time, lets get serious for a few minutes. Nearly 29.1 million Americans and one fourth of adults over the age of 65 have diabetes, a serious disease in which blood sugar (glucose) levels are above normal. Most people with diabetes have type 2, which used to be called adult-onset diabetes. At one time, type 2 diabetes was more common in people over age 45, but now, even children have the disease.

Diabetes can lead to problems such as heart disease, stroke, vision loss, kidney disease, and nerve damage. One out of four people do not know they have diabetes. Many people dont find out they have diabetes until they are faced with problems such as blurry vision or heart trouble. That's why you need to know if you are at risk for diabetes. This is nothing to brush to the side and ignore, folks.

The importance of managing diabetes to prevent diabetes-related health problems such as heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, vision loss, and amputation is very real. More and more people are being diagnosed with it every day. Approximately one-half of older adults have prediabetes. Scary!

And to add to the drama, many older adults may not show classic symptoms of hyperglycemia (including, but not limited to confusion, dizziness, hunger, and sweating). The extra glucose in the blood accumulates in the kidneys until the kidneys see it as an impurity to be filtered out. Common symptoms are dehydration, dry eyes, dry mouth, confusion, incontinence, and diabetes complications, such as neuropathy or nephropathy.2.

Regardless of age, diabetes is often a life-long condition and requires careful treatment. Eating better, sticking to a healthy diet that is low in sugar (including sugar from fruit) and saturated fats is the first step. It may help to see a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) who is a diabetes educator to help you create a healthy meal plan. Medicare will cover the visits every year so you wouldnt have to pay out of pocket for the visit.

Aerobic exercise can help you control your glucose level, manage your weight, and stay strong. The American Diabetes Association recommends exercising 30 minutes each day, at least five days a week. You can split up the exercise into 10-minutes of activity three times a day. In addition, do strength training such as free weights, resistance bands, or yoga, at least two times per week. Strength training builds muscle and helps control glucose levels.

Monitoring your blood sugar levels and taking your prescribed medications correctly is also a must. Your health care team should look at all of your health issues, and help mold a plan that is individualized for you. You should see a certified diabetes educator (CDE) to learn about all the aspects of self-management that you will need to know in order to diminish your risks for the complications of diabetes.

Six month from now millions of Americans will observe National Diabetes Month. So many people suffer from this disease and it is observed every November to bring attention to diabetes and its impact on millions of Americans. It also serves as a reminder to people who may be struggling with the demands of managing diabetes that they are not alone.

Living with diabetes has its ups and downs, but healthy lifestyle choices can give you more control over them. And more control means fewer health problems down the road and a better quality of life now.

The Coles County Council on Aging offices are located at the LifeSpan Center, 11021 E. Co. Rd. 800N, Charleston. The telephone number is 217-639-5150 for the Coles County Council on Aging and LifeSpan Center. Come join us each weekday at noon for Lunch at LifeSpan.

Peace Meals, sponsored by Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center, are served Monday through Friday at a suggested donation of $3.50. To register, reserve a lunch or learn more, call 217-348-1800.

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Diabetes' prevalence can be managed with diet, exercise | Lifestyles ... - Journal Gazette and Times-Courier

Local instructor Chazz Glaze will cover important diabetes-nutrition topics during this course. (Courtesy photo)

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), a nonprofit dedicated to promoting preventive medicine, is offering a cooking class designed to help local residents with type 2 diabetes avoid complications from the disease and reduce or eliminate the need for medications.

Food for Life: The Power of Food for Diabetes Nutrition and Cooking Class will be held Thursdays from May 18 to June 8 at Salud Family Health Center, 1950 Redtail Hawk Dr. There is a suggested donation of $10 to attend the classes.

The course teaches participants how food choices can prevent and treat type 2 diabetes and arms them with practical cooking skills for making healthy and delicious meals. People who have type 2 diabetes, or concerns about developing diabetes and their friends and family members will benefit from the class.

"Research shows type 2 diabetes can be controlled and even reversed with a healthy plant-based diet," said Susan Levin, M.S., R.D., the director of nutrition education for PCRM. "A vegan diet can help people with diabetes control blood sugar more effectively than the standard diabetes dietary regimen."

The class, designed by physicians, diabetes educators, registered dietitians and professional chefs, offers an easy-to-follow dietary approach based on scientific research. Population studies and clinical research show that a low-fat, plant-based diet is effective at improving blood glucose levels, promoting weight loss, reducing cholesterol and lowering the risk of diabetes and other chronic diseases.

Local instructor Chazz Glaze will cover important diabetes-nutrition topics and guide students through the preparation of tasty and easy-to-prepare recipes. Participants will watch a 30-minute DVD featuring Neal Barnard, M.D., speaking on the role of meal planning, as well as inspiring interviews with people who reversed their diabetes with a vegan diet. They will also enjoy food samples of the recipes prepared in class.

The class details are as follows:

Thursday, May 18, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. How Foods Fight Diabetes

Thursday, May 25, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The Power of Your Plate (and Grocery Cart)

Thursday, June 1, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Understanding Type 2 Diabetes and Recognizing and Treating Low Blood Sugar

Thursday, June 8, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Designing a Diet for Maximum Weight Control

Students will leave the class with delicious recipes, information on how to switch to a vegan diet and additional diabetes resources, including information on online webcasts and group support. Participants are strongly encouraged to work with their health care team to safely make dietary changes.

For more information about the Food for Life Diabetes Nutrition and Cooking Class program or to register for the classes, email Glaze at aveganwithaltitude@gmail.com or call (970) 235-1586.

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Diabetes prevention and treatment cooking classes start May 18 - Estes Park Trail-Gazette

Possible cures routinely pop up only to fade from view, their benefits never quite surpassing the simple efficacy of an insulin injection.

Lev Dolgachov/Thinkstock

Type 1 diabetes is a discouraging disease. Despite the availability of synthetic insulin and increasingly sophisticated monitoring technology, its still a condition that requires incessant vigilance: Diabetics must constantly track their blood sugar levels and carefully use that information to calibrate drug doses. Even if you manage to do all of that well, bad days remain almost inevitable. Take too much insulin, and you can spiral into a hypoglycemic delirium. Take too little, and your glucose levels will rise, filling the body with dangerous levels of ketones.

Less immediately frustratingbut no less familiar for diabeticsis the state of diabetes research. Possible cures routinely pop up only to fade from view, their benefits never quite surpassing the simple efficacy of an insulin injection. More recently, though, the field of synthetic biologya hybrid discipline that aims to construct or redesign biological components and systemshas shown the potential to produce a novel set of treatments. The solutions remain speculative, but they do offer cautious reasons for hope.

Type 1 diabetes, in theory, should be relatively easy to solve. That has been the mantra of researchers for the last 30 years. And I still take insulin every day.

John Glass, a researcher working on one such new effort, knows how maddening false hope can be, having lived with the disease for decades. Type 1 diabetes, in theory, should be relatively easy to solve, he told me over the phone. That has been the mantra of type 1 diabetes researchers for the last 30 years. And I still take insulin every day.

I had originally called Glass, a synthetic biologist with the J. Craig Venter Institute, in the hopes of better understanding how his burgeoning field was contributing to the search for a cure. Id been drawn to the topic through a seemingly promising synthetic biology study led by researchers at ETH Zurich and East China Normal University. I came away from our call fascinated instead by the promise of new research that Glass himself has recently begun to pursue. He believes it might be possible to re-engineer the genomes of skin bacteria in ways that would allow them to perform some of the functions that diabetics bodies no longer can. Whether or not that ultimately works, it exemplifies the promise of synthetic biology to provide a way around problems that have long been insurmountable for researchers.

My own interest in this topic is far from academic. Im a type 1 diabetic, and I read the study I called Glass aboutdauntingly titled -CellMimetic Designer Cells Provide Closed-Loop Glycemic Controlfrom a hospital bed where Id regained consciousness after a sudden and unexpected seizure, likely brought on by a low blood sugar episode. Though my own condition is generally well-managed, I cant help but long for a better way.

To understand the promise of the Closed Loop paper, you first have to understand what Type 1 diabetes entails. At core, its an autoimmune disease, one that results from a biological glitch that leads the body to attack the insulin-producing beta cells of its own pancreas. Beta cellsthe -cells of the papers titleserve two primary functions in a healthy organism: First, they detect blood glucose levels within the body. Second, when those levels begin to rise, the cells secrete insulin. The diabetic autoimmune assault kills off the beta cells, leaving the body with no way to process the carbohydrates it consumes.

In essence, the researchers behind this paper sought to re-engineer human embryonic kidney cells to mimic the functions of the pancreatic beta cells (the mimetic of the papers title) that immune systems of those with diabetes destroy. They then implanted these designer cells into diabetic mice, where, according to the paper, they successfully and autonomously stabilized their hosts blood sugar levels.

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Its the autonomous, or closed loop, quality thats most exciting hereoffering the potential to stabilize the body without regular injections and blood sugar checks. True closed-loops recreate the healthy bodys natural processes, much as these modified kidney cells seem to do by automatically distributing insulin in response to blood sugar fluctuations. Such systems have long been the holy grail for diabetic researchers, since they would allow diabetics to go about their liveseating and exercising as they wantedwithout having to check glucose readings and juggle dosing regimens.

Medical technologists have long been at work on devices that would achieve similar results by more mechanical means: MedTronic recently received FDA approval for what it calls a closed loop combination of a digital glucose sensor and an insulin pump that it plans to roll out later this year. Its a potentially powerful device, but it still demands substantial involvement from the user, who must feed it information about carbohydrate intake, regularly recalibrate the sensor, and, of course, attach the sensors and insulin pump to their body. By comparison, synthetic biology promises a truly hands-off solution, one that wouldat least in theorysimply work.

I dont want to overstate things here. While projects working to synthesize replacements for beta cells are impressive (and have produced exciting results elsewhere), they still exhibit a fundamental problem: the diabetic bodys seemingly irreversible autoimmune response. Because the mimetic replacements resemble natural beta cells, the immune system still recognizes them as targets and eventually kills them off. Even if they work under experimental conditions for a few weeks, their effectiveness fades in time, as Glass and other researchers explained to me. Its not immediately obvious how or if the new research would overcome that hurdle, and the researchers did not respond to requests for comment.

Chad Cowan, director of the diabetes program at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, told me that the issue has been extremely difficult to resolve. Over the course of the last two years, weve tried to talk to every immunologist and every person who works on autoimmunity, particularly if they have any focus on type 1 diabetes, he said. Our overall assessment is that there isnt an easy solution, at least in terms of modulating the immune system. Various attempts to work around the immune systems response, he said, havent done more than slightly ameliorate the disease in experimental mice or clinical trials. A Californian company called ViaCyte thinks it has found a possible solution, sheathing cells in what it calls a retrievable and immune-protective encapsulation medical device. But the results of that approach remain uncertain.

Its here that the real promise of Glass proposal reveals itself: He thinks hes found a workaround for the autoimmune problem, one that would allow the body to autonomously produce insulin as needed and without risk of disruption.

Glass own professional involvement in the field began a few years ago when Alberto Hayek, a diabetes researcher and emeritus professor from University of CaliforniaSan Diego, reached out. Hayek was curious about a project Glass had worked on in 2010, in which JCVI had created a fully synthetic bacterial organism. Wondering if the same techniques might be applicable elsewhere, Hayek called Glass attention to the work of one of his UCSD colleagues, a dermatologist named Richard Gallo, who discovered a beneficial bacteria living deep in the layers of our skin that seem to be overlooked by the immune system. Would it be possibleGlass says Hayek wonderedto harvest and modify these microbes so that they function like beta cells. Instead of making new beta cells, which the body would simply reject, they would be taking something that the body still accepts and lead it to act like a beta cell.

It seemed feasible to Glass. The idea is that hed introduce new features to the bacteria, genetically re-engineering them so that theyd be able to perform the feats that diabetics bodies no longer can. He might, as he explained to me, be able to take those cells from any given person [and] put in the machinery that would allow those cells now to sense blood glucose, there in and amongst the capillaries that are in our skin. And since the immune system usually passes over these particular microbes, it might just let the newly engineered cells go about their business. Further, he said, We also know that if you put bacteria on your skin, they very quickly make it into the deep layers, meaning it could potentially be delivered via a nonintrusive application, such as personalized skin cream.

At present, Glass work is still in its earliest stages. He and his colleagues at JCVI are currently seeking funding to conduct experiments in mice. He also freely acknowledges that the re-engineered microbes might not work in practice. For one, bacteria arent great at building the structures that constitute insulin, which means Glass and his team would have to get them to produce an experimental variant. Then, of course, there are the safety concerns: They need to build a kill switch into the engineered bacteria, lest they start producing dangerously excessive amounts of the hormone. On top of that, its also unclear how many microbes they would need to apply and whether they can make enough to do the job. Its even possible, Cowan said, that the T-cells in some diabetics would attack the modified insulin.

As any longtime diabetic will tell you, the most likely outcome is that we simply wont see results soon, if ever. Even when you have a good, workable idea, the process of medical science tends to be slow: According to Cowan, it took 15 years just to get from the idea of making beta cells out of stem cells to actually producing them.

Nevertheless, Glass enthusiasmboth for synthetic biologys broader role in diabetes research and for his own work in the fieldis infectious. When I first got into science, I used to go to seminars about trying to solve diabetes. And I found them so depressing. I was convinced I was not going to live to be 30, he says. Hes survivedas have I and so many other diabeticsthanks to powerful, but largely incremental steps forward in medical technology. Now, he thinks, he may be ready to help us make a larger leap.

Im convinced that Ive reached the point in my career where I have just the right set of skills to take this completely different approach to the problem, he told me. And Im thrilled about it.

This article is part of the synthetic biology installment of Futurography, a series in which Future Tense introduces readers to the technologies that will define tomorrow. Each month, well choose a new technology and break it down. Future Tense is a collaboration among Arizona State University, New America, and Slate.

Original post:
Can Synthetic Biology Finally Cure Diabetes? - Slate Magazine

BBC News

Health of children with diabetes improving, report shows BBC News The health of children with diabetes in Wales is improving, a report has shown. Those with type 1 diabetes whose blood glucose is in the target range increased from 17.8% in 2014-15 to 27.2% in 2015-16. Diabetes affects the body's ability to produce ... Take time to learn about, manage diabetesPlattsburgh Press Republican Doctor presents patient with diabetes awardJournal Gazette and Times-Courier Time put into managing diabetes is well worth effortPoughkeepsie Journal Netdoctor -Walker Pilot Independent -Medical News Bulletin all 25 news articles »

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Health of children with diabetes improving, report shows - BBC News

Q: My doctor suggested I join a pre-diabetes program, but my schedule just doesnt allow it. Is there something I can do on my own? J.R., Winterville

A: If you have pre-diabetes, it is really important to make lifestyle changes that will help you remain in the pre-diabetic state rather than progressing to diabetes. If I were you, I would take a hard look at the schedule and see if you cant try to attend. But if you cant, Taylor White, a third-year Brody medical student, has suggestions for you to try on your own.

Up to 35 percent of American adults have pre-diabetes and dont even know it. Pre-diabetes means that your blood sugar is higher than it should be, but not high enough to be diagnosed with diabetes. You can walk around for months without any symptoms while your blood sugar is starting to rise and cause damage to your body, especially to your blood vessels.

Pre-diabetes increases your risk of stroke and heart disease. If you or someone you love has recently been told you have the beginning stages of diabetes, it is especially important to watch what you eat. You can take action to slow or prevent developing diabetes. Here are a few suggestions.

Limit your intake of carbohydrates, the starchy and sugary foods we eat. These foods raise our blood sugar to unhealthy levels, which leads to diabetes over time. Some people are successful in following a lower glycemic index diet. You would want to have an appointment with a registered dietitian nutritionist to plan an approach to eating that is right for you.

There are several types of meal plans that will help you keep your blood sugar in check. And you will then make some substitutions like having a sweet potato instead of white potato to reduce inflammation and fight against diabetes due to its lower glycemic index. This means that it takes longer for the same amount of sweet potato to raise your blood sugar and doesn't cause as high of a spike as a white potato might.

You can use zucchini or squash noodles instead of pasta to reduce the calories and carbs. Read the label on your yogurt. Some unsweetened Greek yogurts, a great source of protein, have as much as 10 grams less sugar than some traditional low-fat yogurt. Look for cauliflower rice in the frozen vegetable section, or make your own by grating raw cauliflower in a food processor. Eat this in place of white rice to reduce the carbohydrates by 40 grams in a one-cup serving.

Regardless of the dietary approach you select, eat more fiber. Fiber is the part of plants that is not readily digested by humans. It helps keep blood sugar in check, reduces constipation and helps us maintain a healthy weight. Foods like beans, whole-grain breads and quinoa will keep you feeling full for longer. Try to make half your plate full of vegetables and fruits.

Other ways to increase your fiber intake are replacing meats that have almost no fiber with one-half cup of beans with 10 grams of fiber, two nights a week. Choose cereals with whole grain as the first ingredient, and eat whole fruit instead of drinking fruit juice.

Limit sugary beverages. These include drinks like soda, fruit juice, sweet tea and many sweetened coffees, vinegar drinks and smoothies. Try replacing those drinks with more water. Water improves your metabolism, helps your bodys cells work more efficiently, and has zero calories or sugar, which is great for your waistline too. Even limiting the number of sweetened beverages to one 8-ounce glass per day is a big improvement for many folks.

Increase your physical activity to 30 minutes on most days of the week. Regular, moderate exercise where your heart rate stays elevated throughout the session improves the way your body handles the sugar in your bloodstream. It burns calories, improves your mood and prevents heart disease. This is an easy way to prevent progression to diabetes. Try walking, jogging, biking, dancing, swimming, climbing the stairs or any other activity that keeps you moving for 30 minutes at a time.

And if you are overweight, it is important to work toward a healthy weight.

For more information about pre-diabetes and to take a quiz to see if you have it, check out this website: https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/prediabetes.html.

Professor emeritus Kathy Kolasa, a registered dietitian nutritionist and Ph.D., is an Affiliate Professor in the Brody School of Medicine at ECU. Contact her at kolasaka@ecu.edu.

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Don't let pre-diabetes become diabetes - Greenville Daily Reflector

Eastport, Maine University of Maine Cooperative Extensions free, four-week Dining with Diabetes Down East series will be offered in Eastport in June. The Eastport session begins Thursday, June 1, 3-5 p.m., at Labor of Love Nutrition Center & Food Pantry, 137 County Road in Eastport. Remaining dates are June 8, 15 and 22.

The program complements medical care by teaching people with Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, along with their family members and caregivers, what they can do to help control blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol. UMaine Extension registered dietitian and nutritionist Alan Majka will provide presentations, lead discussions and demonstrate preparation of nutritious recipes that participants can sample.

Register online extension.umaine.edu/register/product/dining-with-diabetes-down-east-eastport. For more information or to request a disability accommodation, contact Tara Wood, tara.a.wood@maine.edu, 207.255.3345; 800.287.1542 (Maine only). Classes are limited to 20 participants.

This course is being offered in collaboration with Eastport Health Care. Food and supplies for this program are provided with support from Hannaford Supermarkets.

University of Maine Cooperative Extension:

As a trusted resource for over 100 years, University of Maine Cooperative Extension has supported UMaines land and sea grant public education role by conducting community-driven, research-based programs in every Maine county. UMaine Extension helps support, sustain and grow the food-based economy. It is the only entity in our state that touches every aspect of the Maine Food System, where policy, research, production, processing, commerce, nutrition, and food security and safety are integral and interrelated. UMaine Extension also conducts the most successful out-of-school youth educational program in Maine through 4-H.

This post was contributed by a community member. Submit your news

Link:
Dining with Diabetes Down East Eastport - Bangor Daily News

It would seem artificial organs are quickly becoming the new norm where scientific research is considered. The University of Virginia successfully developed and trialed an artificial pancreas to help children control Type 1 diabetes. This is a major breakthrough in scientific research that will send shockwaves throughout the community moving forward.

Scientists from all over the world have tried to come up with a tangible solution to combat diabetes. Unfortunately, the challenge has been a very steep one so far. That being said, there appears to be a light at the end of this long tunnel right now. To be more precise, the University of Virginia developed an artificial pancreas that will help young children control their Type 1 diabetes.

On paper, creating an artificial pancreas sounds like something worth checking out, even though there is never a guarantee for success. What this organ does is actively monitor and regulate the blood-sugar levels of its host. This means people who suffer from Type 1 diabetes will no longer need to manually inject insulin nor prick their fingers to check blood sugar levels. The fact this pancreas works as advertised, and is quite significant for the medical sector as a whole.

All of the data generated by the artificial pancreas is sent back to a reconfigured smartphone which runs algorithms to process the data. This smartphone then sends the information to a blood-sugar monitor and insulin pump worn by the person suffering from Type 1 diabetes. Moreover, all information is also broadcasted to a remote monitoring site, where the data is collected on behalf of the patient.

There is another major benefit to this artificial pancreas beyond automatic insulin injections and actively monitoring blood-sugar levels. It can also prevent hypoglycemic events, which is always a major concern for children with Type 1 diabetes. A field trial was conducted among 12 children, all of whom were perfectly capable of controlling their diabetes using this new method. In fact, the children wearing this artificial pancreas saw lower average blood-sugar levels and did not increase hypoglycemia during the trial period.

Although this was only a small test, it goes to show the artificial pancreas is of great benefit to Type 1 diabetes patients. It is designed for children between the age of 5 and 8, although it is not unlikely similar technology will be devised to support other age categories in the future. There are many people who are suffering from Type 1 diabetes, regardless of their age.

For now, the plan is to monitor children for an extended period of time and see if the artificial pancreas is as effective at school as well. The first test was conducted during a 68-hour window both with and without the pancreas, which only provides a brief glimpse of how this organ will hold up. Additionally, there is a plan on the table to provide an artificial pancreas to children aged 14 and older suffering from Type 1 diabetes as well.

If you liked this article, follow us on Twitter @themerklenews and make sure to subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest bitcoin, cryptocurrency, and technology news.

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University of Virginia Researchers Develop Artificial Pancreas to Control Type 1 Diabetes - The Merkle

Dr. Randy Hansbrough, YourNews contributor 11:12 a.m. ET May 2, 2017

Dr. Randy Hansbrough: Natural News(Photo: submitted)

STUART A powerful connection between your diet and your risk of Alzheimer's disease via similar pathways that cause type 2 diabetes has been increasingly recognized as a legitimate contributor to neurodegeneration.

Over a decade ago, a published medical paper introduced a new disease called "type 3 diabetes."Researchers learned that your brain also produces insulin, like your pancreas does.

Without insulin your brain cells will die, and a drop in insulin production in your brain may contribute to the degeneration of your brain cells. Studies have found that people with lower levels of insulin and insulin receptors in their brains often have Alzheimer's disease. Since 2005, mounting studies have documented that insulin has a much greater role in the brain than previously expected. (J Diabetes Sci Technolv.2(6); 2008)

Insulin is directly responsible for brain cell sugar usage, affecting neurotransmitters that are critical for memory, learning and many other functions. Neuroscientists have shown that cognition is impaired when insulin levels are reduced. Clinical findings have shown that the same pathological process that leads to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes also apply to your brain.

It is clear from these studies that the over-consumption of sugars, and grains, which also convert to sugars and have added hazardous effects, contribute significantly to the the development of diabetes and may also result in type 3 diabetes (brain diabetes). Grains in general are major causes of runaway autoimmunity, including thyroid disease, especially in the U.S., where they are consumed heavily.

When the brain becomes overwhelmed by the consistently high levels of glucose, the insulin receptors eventually become numb and desensitized. This will lead to impairments in thinking and memory abilities, eventually causing permanent brain damage. And if that isn't enough, the autoimmune condition set up by the use of grains can lead to autoimmune brain disease (ABD), as a result of antibodies attacking your neurons.

Health practitioners trained in functional medicine have the training and experience to find out what is at the root of the progression that ultimately causes, or at the very least contributes to type 3 diabetes and ABD, which is often certain foods, and different per individual. Those on that path are at risk for Parkinson's, dementia, ALS, MS and Alzheimer's.

For those whose insulin receptor status has failed, are type 1 insulin dependent for survival and managed by an endocrinologist, removing sugars and grains from the diet still holds value. It is better to be a step or two ahead of that though, and that is done by not waiting for any kind of diabetes to gain hold, whether type 1, 2, or 3. This is done by unconventional functional medicine testing and a sound cooperative approach.

For more information on autoimmune brain disease and type 3 diabetes, and how you or someone you know may benefit from this effective approach while your MD manages your medications, contact Dr. Randy Hansbrough, DC, DPsc at 772-287-7701 in Stuart, or 561-277-6612 in Jupiter and Palm Beach. Visit http://www.hcfn.org

Read or Share this story: http://www.tcpalm.com/story/specialty-publications/your-news/martin-county/reader-submitted/2017/05/02/natural-news-type-3-diabetes-and-alzheimers/101194606/

Link:
Natural News: 'Type 3' diabetes and Alzheimer's - TCPalm.com - TCPalm

Photo: Contributed / Contributed

The Diabetes Education & Support Group at Griffin Hospital will host a free presentations on diabetes medication on Tuesday, May 9 at 2:30 p.m. Photo courtesy of Griffin Hospital.

The Diabetes Education & Support Group at Griffin Hospital will host a free presentations on diabetes medication on Tuesday, May 9 at 2:30 p.m. Photo courtesy of Griffin Hospital.

Griffin to host talk on diabetes, foot health

DERBY The Diabetes Education & Support Group at Griffin Hospital will host a free presentations on foot health on Tuesday, May 9 at 2:30 p.m. at the hospital, 130 Division St., Derby.

Podiatrist Dr. Luke Jeffries, of Yale Podiatry Group, will present Foot Care & Prevention of Foot Complications in the hospitals Childbirth Education Classroom A. There is free valet parking.

The Diabetes Education & Support Group meets September through June on the second Tuesday of each month to discuss the management of diabetes, its challenges, and day-to-day dietary concerns. Individuals with diabetes and their caregivers are welcome to attend.

No registration is required. For more information, call Mary Swansiger at 203-732-1137.

See original here:
Griffin to host talk on diabetes, foot health - CT Post

When it comes to diabetes in the United States, minority populations are hardest hit.

African Americans and Hispanics are almost twice as likely as non-Hispanic whites to be diagnosed with diabetes by a physician, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health and national examination surveys. African American and Hispanic Americans have higher rates of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) caused by diabetes and start ESRD treatment 2.4 and 1.6 times more often, respectively, compared with non-Hispanic whites.

Income, stable and affordable housing, access to healthy food, quality education and a host of other factors influence a person's health status and longevity. These factors, what public health professionals recognize as social determinants of health, contribute to higher rates of diabetes and associated illness in African American and Hispanic American communities.

During National Minority Health Month each April, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health (OMH) leads the nation in raising awareness about these disparities, their causes and the impact they have on minority communities and the nation as a whole.

The theme of this years National Minority Health Month observance Bridging Health Equity Across Communities, emphasizes the collaborative, community-level work being done across the

nation to help achieve health equity. Dannons partnership with WIC and Lenox Hill Hospitals partnership with leading health providers are two examples of collaborative efforts to bridge the health equity gap.

One way Dannon is helping to achieve health in minorities is by working to make healthier food choices readily available to WIC participants. The addition of yogurt to the WIC food packages, which began on April 1, 2015, brings important nutrients to pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and young children at critical life stages.

Yogurt is especially well suited for the WIC audience. Most yogurts provide three out of the four nutrients of concern -- calcium, potassium and vitamin D -- and eating yogurt regularly is associated with less weight gain over time. Overweight and obesity are two major risk factors for diabetes. Yogurt is also a source of high quality protein, which can help support bone and muscle strength, and most yogurts contain live and active cultures that help with lactose digestion.

Dannon offers a variety of WIC eligible products to meet WIC participants needs and preferences which can be found here.

Lenox Hill Hospital Partnership

The Gerald J. Friedman Diabetes Institute at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York along with a coalition of other leading health care providers, government officials, public- and private-sector companies, and community-based organizations, recently pledge to help build a sustainable path to health and wellness for the thousands of New Yorkers living with diabetes.

The coalitions new program Vida SI, Diabetes NO! (Life YES! Diabetes NO!), is a bilingual, long-term health initiative that will take a comprehensive and systematic look at diabetes among Latinos with the goal of uncovering the root causes, leading to more effective and efficient delivery of prevention, education, testing, and treatment.

Participants of Vida SI, Diabetes NO! (Life YES! Diabetes NO!) have access to bi-lingual diabetes educators, nutritionists, social workers, exercise trainers and other diabetes specialists to help improve the management of their diabetes and help them live longer healthier lives.

You can learn more about Vida SI, Diabetes NO! (Life YES, Diabetes NO!) on social media including Facebook https://www.facebook.com/VidaSIDiabetesNO on https://twitter.com/VSIDNO and on Instagram under user name @vsidno.

Dannons partnership with WIC and Lenox Hills Vida SI, Diabetes NO! (Life YES! Diabetes NO!) program are national and community level partnerships that will help close the diabetes disparities gap in African Americans and Hispanics.

See original here:
Closing the Diabetes Disparities Gap - Huffington Post

(CNN)

It's well-known that type 2 diabetes can cause medical complications in certain organs, including the brain. But overweight and obese people with early-stage type 2 diabetes have more severe abnormalities in brain structure and cognition than normal-weight people with type 2 diabetes, according to a new study in Diabetologia, the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes.

Having type 2 diabetes and being overweight, then, can combine to have a greater effect on brain structures.

"There's a general agreement that type 2 diabetes is a risk factor for various types of both structural and functional abnormalities in the brain," said Dr. Donald C. Simonson, a co-author of the study and an endocrinologist specializing in diabetes. "Simple obesity also shows the same type of abnormalities ... in a milder stage. You can see where it's not quite exactly normal but not quite as bad as someone with diabetes.

"So, if you have both, will it be worse than if you have them alone? That's what we looked at in this particular study," said Simonson, who teaches at Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Dr. In Kyoon Lyoo, lead author and a professor at the Ewha Brain Institute at Ewha Womens University in Seoul, South Korea, wrote in an email, "As obesity has been known to be associated with metabolic dysfunction, inflammation, and brain changes independently of diabetes, we expected that brain alterations might be more pronounced in overweight/obese participants with type 2 diabetes."

Effects on the brain

Lyoo, Simonson and their colleagues designed a study around 50 overweight or obese people age 30 to 60 who had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

Fifty normal-weight people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and 50 normal-weight people without diabetes also participated. These additional participants were age and sex matched to the original group. Those diagnosed with diabetes were also matched for disease duration. Standard body mass index ranges defined "overweight" (having a BMI of 25 to 29.9), "obese" (greater than 30) and "normal weight" (18.5 to 25).

The researchers used magnetic resonance imaging to examine each participant's brain structure, including the thickness of the cerebral cortex and white matter connectivity. Gray matter in the brain contains the neuron cell bodies, whereas white matter contains bundles of nerve fibers and its job is to process and send signals along the spinal cord.

The researchers chose to study thickness and connectivity "because these could be sensitive markers of diabetes-related brain changes, and could be reliably quantified by using magnetic resonance imaging," Lyoo explained.

Participants also were tested for memory, psychomotor speed and executive function, since these are known to be affected in people with type 2 diabetes.

The results aligned with the researchers' initial assumptions, Lyoo said.

Clusters of gray matter were significantly thinner in the temporal, prefrontoparietal, motor and occipital cortices in the brains of diabetic participants than in the non-diabetic group, the study found. More thinning of the temporal and motor cortices could be seen in the overweight/obese diabetic group compared with normal-weight diabetics. Separately and collectively, these areas of the brain impact motor control, executive function, body awareness, concentration and other cognitive functions.

"Most of the things we looked at, you could see that there was a progression, and the obese patients with diabetes were worse than the lean patients with diabetes, and they were both worse than the age-matched controls," Simonson said.

In particular, the temporal lobe appears vulnerable to the combined effects of type 2 diabetes and being overweight or obese, the researchers say. The temporal lobe is implicated in language comprehension and long-term memory.

The brain has been the last frontier in the study of complications of diabetes, Simonson said.

Similarities to Alzheimer's disease

"Diabetic retinopathy, eye disease, is reasonably well-understood," he said. "The same is true of kidney disease, amputations -- we understand much better what causes them and how to prevent them.

"But the brain has been the proverbial black box. It's incredibly complicated, and you can't directly study it. You can't go in and take samples," he said. "The last several years, the techniques of MRI got good enough that we could really look carefully at the brain."

Most of the initial work in the very late 1990s was done in Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, depression and other classic psychiatric diseases, but then scientists began to look at other diseases including diabetes, explained Simonson. At this point, researchers around the world began to see connections.

"You can see a person with depression has thinning of the surface of the brain in certain areas, and you go in and do the same study with somebody with diabetes, and they have thinning in the exact same areas," Simonson said. And diabetes may be a predisposing or risk factor for developing Alzheimer's, he said.

"You see the same types of abnormalities in a milder form in the brain in people with diabetes that you see in people with Alzheimer's disease," Simonson said.

According to Dr. William T. Cefalu, chief scientific, medical and mission officer of the American Diabetes Association, the study is consistent with previous research.

"The presence of overweight and obesity have been shown in other studies to be associated with early structural changes in the brain, and may contribute to cognitive issues," said Cefalu, who was not involved in the new study. "The current study implies that obesity/overweight status in individuals with diabetes may also contribute."

That said, longer-term and more definitive studies are needed to evaluate that aspect.

In the end, Simonson said, another question is more important: "What can you do to prevent it? That's the big question."

Link:
Diabetes, weight gain can alter your brain, says study - WLWT Cincinnati