Deaths attributable to so-called “lifestyle diseases”, such as liver disease and diabetes, are increasing, while traditional killers, cancer and circulatory diseases (e.g. stroke), are claiming fewer victims, according to data from the Department of Health’s Health Profile of England 2009.
Premature deaths from heart disease and cancer are falling faster in the UK than the European average, but the study reveals that almost one in four adults in England is now classed as obese – twice as many as in France. One result of this rise in obesity is the rise in diabetes. The percent of English men with diabetes jumped from 4.3% in 2003, to 5.6% in 2008. More than 2.6 million people in the UK are thought to have diabetes.
Libby Dowling, from Diabetes UK, said the study “underlines what we already know about diabetes – that it is one of the biggest health challenges faced by the country today.”
The Telegraph, 1 April 2010
Metformin found to reduce breast cancer risk
Metform may have protective effects for breast cancer. In a recent study, women on metformin had a lower risk of breast cancer than women who had been treated with other antidiabetes agents.
From a group of 1400 women taking medication to treat type 2 diabetes, researchers found that those who had taken metformin for more than 5 years were 56% less likely to have breast cancer than women with no history of metformin use. However, the positive effect of metformin on breast cancer was based on only 17 women who had used metformin and had a diagnosis of breast cancer.
This study adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting that the commonly used drug may have anticancer effects. Researchers at Harvard University are currently developing a large clinical trial to test the effect of metformin on breast cancer recurrence.
MSNBC, 21 April 2010
Midlands fattest in UK
The East Midlands is the UK’s fattest region, according to data from the weight loss company Slimming World.
The average BMI of East Midland residents is 28.9 kg/m2. Scotland takes second place with an average BMI of 28.4 kg/m2 and the West Midlands in third place with and average of 28.1 kg/m2. Lowest average BMI in UK was in London, 26.1 kg/m2.
With a healthy BMI being 18.5–24.9 kg/m2, Slimming World’s findings suggest that the UK average BMI puts the country as a whole as overweight.
The higher someone’s BMI, the greater the risk of developing life-threatening conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
Metro, 15 February 2010
Sugar-sensing tattoos to replace finger-stick tests
Scientists believe that nanotechnology could mean the end of painful finger-stick blood-glucose testing for people with diabetes.
Tiny blood-glucose sensitive nanospheres that change colour depending on the concentration of glucose in the blood would be tattooed into the fingertips of people with diabetes. The nanospheres used are infused with two substances; one pulls glucose into the sphere, the other is a fluorescent dye which turns from yellow in the presence of little or no glucose to purple as blood glucose increases.
Researchers say early results in mice have been very promising.
MSNBC, 13 December 2009
Mother’s milk for diabetes
Could breast milk be a cure for adult illnesses?
Researchers from Perth University, Australia, have discovered stem cells in breast milk, the use of which is being studied for their potential in the treatment of long-term conditions, such as diabetes.
With exciting development in the use of breast milk components to treat cancer, acne and arthritis, it is hoped that the regeneration of islet cells damaged or destroyed as party of diabetes may also be a good target for this therapy.
Daily Mail, 27 April 2010
Amid accumulating evidence of benefits with new diabetes drugs, Vinod Patel asks whether the costs can be justified.
9 Nov 2023