Plenty of studies have been conducted showing the value of regular exercise on reducing the risks associated with type 2 diabetes — yet despite the preponderance of the evidence supporting the benefits of exercise, motivating patients to exercise — and to be active on a regular, daily basis — still remains problematic. But for all those diehard couch potatoes who will do just about anything to avoid a regular exercise routine — and for those who have disabilities that make regular exercise impossible — researchers at the University of Leeds may have stumbled on a potential alternative: A pill that…
A team of researchers led by an MIT and Harvard physician have identified a genetic variant that’s associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, and they say the discovery could lead to a new gene therapy for people who have the disease. According to a study published in the August 24th online edition of Diabetes, the research team found the gene in a population of Latinos known to have low levels of type 2 diabetes. Led by Josep M. Mercader, M.D., Ph.D., from the Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the researchers analyzed genetic information in…
A new type of immunotherapy promises hope for people newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, according to a study conducted by researchers from Cardiff University School of Medicine in the United Kingdom. The study and its results were recently published in Science Translational Medicine, and focused on patients who were injected with the immunotherapy agent called human leukocyte antigen-DR4 (DRB1*0401)-restricted immunodominant proinsulin peptide. Unlike type 2 diabetes, which is a metabolic disorder typically triggered by insulin resistance and obesity, type 1 diabetes is caused by an aberrant immune system response that results in damage and destruction of beta cells (Ꞵ cells or islet cells), special pancreatic…
In recent years, stem cells have presented several exciting possibilities for the treatment of an array of diseases and medical conditions, and now, a new study published in Stem Cells Translational Medicine reports the cells may be helpful in developing treatments for patients with type 1 diabetes. Improving Insulin Production In type 1 diabetes, the body’s immune system attacks and destroys beta cells (sometimes called islet cells), special cells in the pancreas that are responsible for producing the hormone insulin. When cells are destroyed, the pancreas can’t produce the amount of insulin the body needs to control blood sugar (or glucose). Over…
For years, digitized foot measurements and “maps” have enabled orthopedic shoemakers to make customized shoe insoles for those who suffer from diabetes. And now, German researchers are taking digitization one step further, tying in digital foot-mapping with 3D printing technology to produce insoles that are even more accurate – and much less costly to produce. Named LAUF, a German acronym for “laser-assisted construction of customized footwear,” the technology initiative is being pioneered by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research and researchers from the Fraunhofer Institutes for Mechanics of Materials IWM. Researchers from these agencies are joining with industry partners to refine…