There is proof that Tissera's pancreatic xenotransplantation has just reached an important target in its quest for treatment of type 1 diabetes. After successful pancreatic transplantation in the past, Tissera went on to investigate further the value of their treatment approach.
The Weizmann Institute of Science research team treated human primates with streptozotocin to make them diabetic and dependent on the administration of insulin to maintain sensible blood glucose levels. After a stabilization period, the research team transplanted a pig embryonic pancreatic tissue into these primates.
The scientists then followed these cases up. They reduced the amount of insulin they administered. By the fourth month after they transplanted the pancreatic tissue, only 10% of insulin was needed to maintain near normal blood glucose levels. And by the fifth month, the diabetic primates reached complete independence.
For this research, the scientists also addressed the issue of graft rejection. They were able to reduce the immune suppression treatment to counteract the rejection of the graft. The dose is down to the level adequate for humans with less side effects.
Even with the lower dose of immune suppression treatment, the primate achieved complete insulin independence 18 weeks after the transplantation. After 31 weeks from transplantation, the primate is well and is still completely independent from the administration of insulin.
This is an important achievement in the company's plan to reduce the immune suppression procedure which could make it possible to use on humans. There is therefore proof that this company's way to treat type 1 diabetes has therapeutic value.
Chairman and CEO of Tissera said they are so encouraged by the results of their study that they are having more studies to move forward with their goal of making this future treatment possible for people with type 1 diabetes in the very near future.
I researched this company because of its reported success on the pancreatic transplantation in the hope that they have finally zeroed in on a permanent cure for diabetics. The last I heard was that they are still basking on the significant milestone they accomplished on the large animal diabetic model experiments.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Encourage the Diabetics and Their Families
The diabetics and their families have to be given encouragement for what they are doing to keep healthy. They are able to do this in conferences like the one held at the Indianapolis Convention Center. "Taking Control of Your Diabetes" was the title of that conference and it is designed to inform and support the diabetics and their families.
David Marrero, PhD, Paris Roach, M.D. and Melinda S. Kelly, R.N. who is a diabetes educator are the co-directors of this program. They are from the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism of the School of Medicine at Indiana University.
Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study program coordinator, Melinda Kelly, spoke on diabetes issues. Other speakers included specialists on diabetes from the School of Medicine at Indiana University as well as from the Diabetes Research and Training Center at the University of Michigan. There were also other speakers from the community.
Director and founder of Taking Control of Your Diabetes, Steven V. Edelman, M.D. was at the conference. He is also School of Medicine professor at the University of California in San Diego. The founder of the Disabled Business Persons Associated (helps with the education and rehabilitation of disabled people), Urban Miyares was the luncheon speaker.
There were important topics during this conference. Among them were: The Truths and Myths About Insulin and Type 2 Diabetes, What's Driving You Crazy About Your Caregivers and Living with Diabetes, Raising Kids With Diabetes and Home Glucose Monitoring: Knowing Your Numbers and What to Do with Them.
David Marrero, PhD, Paris Roach, M.D. and Melinda S. Kelly, R.N. who is a diabetes educator are the co-directors of this program. They are from the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism of the School of Medicine at Indiana University.
Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study program coordinator, Melinda Kelly, spoke on diabetes issues. Other speakers included specialists on diabetes from the School of Medicine at Indiana University as well as from the Diabetes Research and Training Center at the University of Michigan. There were also other speakers from the community.
Director and founder of Taking Control of Your Diabetes, Steven V. Edelman, M.D. was at the conference. He is also School of Medicine professor at the University of California in San Diego. The founder of the Disabled Business Persons Associated (helps with the education and rehabilitation of disabled people), Urban Miyares was the luncheon speaker.
There were important topics during this conference. Among them were: The Truths and Myths About Insulin and Type 2 Diabetes, What's Driving You Crazy About Your Caregivers and Living with Diabetes, Raising Kids With Diabetes and Home Glucose Monitoring: Knowing Your Numbers and What to Do with Them.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Advancement Reported on Cholesterol and Fatty Acids Reduction
A way to reduce the bad cholesterol and fatty acids have been uncovered by researchers in Edmonton, Canada's University of Alberta. We know that this bad cholesterol and the fatty acids end up in the blood when the body metabolizes the food.
This is an important discovery in the sense that it could lead to a new therapy to treat and stop the effects of heart disease and type 2 diabetes which is linked to obesity. We also know that lack of physical activity and too much sugar and fat intake lead to diabetes and heart disease. The school can also do something about nutrition and diabetes.
The above reasoning led the University of Alberta's researchers to study the mechanism behind it. Dr. Richard Lehner and his team were successful in reducing the low density lipids (LDL) and triglycerides in the blood of hamsters and mice. How did they do this?
What they did was influence a particular enzyme to find out how exactly do eating too much fat and sugar and lack of physical activity lead to bad cholesterol. In so doing they found out how an enzyme lets the fatty acids in the liver and fat cells go to the blood and more importantly how to prevent this from happening.
This is an important finding because at the present what is employed to reduce the bad cholesterol are drugs called statins. But this does not treat obesity which is a risk factor in developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease. So the discovery on how to stop the enzyme from releasing the fatty acids into the blood could trigger effort at discovering what can stop this enzyme from doing this.
Dr. Lehner said there is a need for further testing. Also, it should be noted that whatever therapy they discover from this to treat obesity should not be regarded as a magical breakthrough. People should still make wise choices as to what they eat and to exercise in order to achieve optimum health.
This is an important discovery in the sense that it could lead to a new therapy to treat and stop the effects of heart disease and type 2 diabetes which is linked to obesity. We also know that lack of physical activity and too much sugar and fat intake lead to diabetes and heart disease. The school can also do something about nutrition and diabetes.
The above reasoning led the University of Alberta's researchers to study the mechanism behind it. Dr. Richard Lehner and his team were successful in reducing the low density lipids (LDL) and triglycerides in the blood of hamsters and mice. How did they do this?
What they did was influence a particular enzyme to find out how exactly do eating too much fat and sugar and lack of physical activity lead to bad cholesterol. In so doing they found out how an enzyme lets the fatty acids in the liver and fat cells go to the blood and more importantly how to prevent this from happening.
This is an important finding because at the present what is employed to reduce the bad cholesterol are drugs called statins. But this does not treat obesity which is a risk factor in developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease. So the discovery on how to stop the enzyme from releasing the fatty acids into the blood could trigger effort at discovering what can stop this enzyme from doing this.
Dr. Lehner said there is a need for further testing. Also, it should be noted that whatever therapy they discover from this to treat obesity should not be regarded as a magical breakthrough. People should still make wise choices as to what they eat and to exercise in order to achieve optimum health.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy Patients May Participate in a Walking Program
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a complication that could come along with diabetes. So many millions are living with diabetes and the number is still rising. In fact, it is expected to rise to more than 25 million Americans by 2010.
Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy can lead to foot ulcers which sometimes will require amputation. While before the recommendation of scientists and physicians is for those with foot ulcers to stay off their feet, now there is a new graduated walking program where these people can participate and therefore prevent some illnesses that could threaten life.
Due to numbness or loss of feeling in the foot, diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a nerve disorder that affects the feet and the legs. It leads to pain and ulceration. Ulcers could be the result because of loss of muscle. This exposes the bones to a lot of pressure under the foot.
Doctors recommend exercise for the diabetics because there has been proof that it lessens the mortality risk as well as the occurrence of a cardiovascular disease. Joseph LeMaster who is University of Missouri's associate professor of community and family medicine said that type 2 diabetics can increase their mortality risk by 39% and their risk for cardiovascular disease by 34% if they do not do some form of exercise of moderate intensity regularly.
The diabetics are known to be less active than the regular population and those with diabetic peripheral neuropathy are found to be even less physically active. So in a study at the University of Missouri, LeMaster checked the effects of exercise involving the lower extremity and walking program on the development of foot ulcer.
Here's how he did it. He assigned the diabetic subjects with this nerve condition into two groups. One group was monitored often and given exercises to strengthen the legs and a walking program that was graduated. In addition, this group received a telephone call every two weeks to motivate them. The other group is the control group. Both groups received eight sessions with a physical therapist and also some form of diabetic foot care education.
What did LeMaster find? He observed an increase in the total of foot lesions and ulcers during the first six months. But guess what he found after a year? Drum roll, please! The number of foot lesions and ulcers has started to go down in the first group compared to the control group. This shows that the risk has gone down too.
What is the moral lesson of this finding? Since weight-bearing exercise did not result in in increase of foot ulcers, it follows that this type of exercise should be safe for diabetics provided the walking program is closely supervised by a medical professional and that they have no ulcers at the start and have appropriate footwear. This type of exercise therefore is recommended for those with diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy can lead to foot ulcers which sometimes will require amputation. While before the recommendation of scientists and physicians is for those with foot ulcers to stay off their feet, now there is a new graduated walking program where these people can participate and therefore prevent some illnesses that could threaten life.
Due to numbness or loss of feeling in the foot, diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a nerve disorder that affects the feet and the legs. It leads to pain and ulceration. Ulcers could be the result because of loss of muscle. This exposes the bones to a lot of pressure under the foot.
Doctors recommend exercise for the diabetics because there has been proof that it lessens the mortality risk as well as the occurrence of a cardiovascular disease. Joseph LeMaster who is University of Missouri's associate professor of community and family medicine said that type 2 diabetics can increase their mortality risk by 39% and their risk for cardiovascular disease by 34% if they do not do some form of exercise of moderate intensity regularly.
The diabetics are known to be less active than the regular population and those with diabetic peripheral neuropathy are found to be even less physically active. So in a study at the University of Missouri, LeMaster checked the effects of exercise involving the lower extremity and walking program on the development of foot ulcer.
Here's how he did it. He assigned the diabetic subjects with this nerve condition into two groups. One group was monitored often and given exercises to strengthen the legs and a walking program that was graduated. In addition, this group received a telephone call every two weeks to motivate them. The other group is the control group. Both groups received eight sessions with a physical therapist and also some form of diabetic foot care education.
What did LeMaster find? He observed an increase in the total of foot lesions and ulcers during the first six months. But guess what he found after a year? Drum roll, please! The number of foot lesions and ulcers has started to go down in the first group compared to the control group. This shows that the risk has gone down too.
What is the moral lesson of this finding? Since weight-bearing exercise did not result in in increase of foot ulcers, it follows that this type of exercise should be safe for diabetics provided the walking program is closely supervised by a medical professional and that they have no ulcers at the start and have appropriate footwear. This type of exercise therefore is recommended for those with diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Blood Glucose Level Target Ranges, New Ones For UK
Blood glucose level target ranges that are new have been adopted. Diabetes UK has updated this in light of the NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) recommendations. Before this, the IDF (the International Diabetes Federation suggested that changes be made to the target ranges after a meal. This was in November 2007.
Then in 2008, NICE prepared and published their rules on the blood glucose level target ranges for type 2 diabetes. Since Diabetes UK continually updates their own data, they decided to follow NICE recommendations and so has also made the changes to reflect the new changes.
In order to understand the new guidelines, it is good to see what is to target for. Of course the best target is to aim for the blood glucose level that is as close to normal ranges as possible like for those who do not have diabetes. And this is their reading before meals: 3.5-5.5 mmols/L before meals while for two hours after meals, it is less than 8 mmols/L.
Opinions as to the blood sugar target to aim for vary. This is understandable because each individuals has his own needs. Therefore, the target should be one that is agreed by both the person with diabetes and his diabetes care team. Read this page for more on blood glucose.
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health. the blood glucose targets for most people with diabetes is 70 to 130 for before meals. For 1 to 2 hours after the start of a meal, it is below 180.
In 2004, NICE recommendations for children with type 1 diabetes before meals is 4-8 mmols/L. Two hours after meals, the recommendation is less than 10 mmols/L. For adults with type 1 diabetes, it is 4-7 mmols/L and for two hours after meals, it is less than 9 mmols/L.
In 2008 NICE recommendations for type 2 diabetes have changed to 4-7 mmol/L for before meals and less than 8.5 mmols/L for two hours after meals. So you see it is important to self-monitor the blood sugar level as part of the routine every day. This way, we can watch for symptoms for either hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia as well as those of possible complications. That's how important it is to check one's blood glucose level.
Then in 2008, NICE prepared and published their rules on the blood glucose level target ranges for type 2 diabetes. Since Diabetes UK continually updates their own data, they decided to follow NICE recommendations and so has also made the changes to reflect the new changes.
In order to understand the new guidelines, it is good to see what is to target for. Of course the best target is to aim for the blood glucose level that is as close to normal ranges as possible like for those who do not have diabetes. And this is their reading before meals: 3.5-5.5 mmols/L before meals while for two hours after meals, it is less than 8 mmols/L.
Opinions as to the blood sugar target to aim for vary. This is understandable because each individuals has his own needs. Therefore, the target should be one that is agreed by both the person with diabetes and his diabetes care team. Read this page for more on blood glucose.
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health. the blood glucose targets for most people with diabetes is 70 to 130 for before meals. For 1 to 2 hours after the start of a meal, it is below 180.
In 2004, NICE recommendations for children with type 1 diabetes before meals is 4-8 mmols/L. Two hours after meals, the recommendation is less than 10 mmols/L. For adults with type 1 diabetes, it is 4-7 mmols/L and for two hours after meals, it is less than 9 mmols/L.
In 2008 NICE recommendations for type 2 diabetes have changed to 4-7 mmol/L for before meals and less than 8.5 mmols/L for two hours after meals. So you see it is important to self-monitor the blood sugar level as part of the routine every day. This way, we can watch for symptoms for either hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia as well as those of possible complications. That's how important it is to check one's blood glucose level.
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