Non-stick pancreatic implants to cure diabetes

The compound polytetra-fluoroethylene – or Teflon – used most commonly to coat non-stick frying pans, may hold the key to the successful implantation of beta-cells, according to new data presented by researchers from the University of California San Diego and the Burnham Institute for Medical Research in California.

The research, published recently in Transplantation, descibes how clusters of Teflon-coated beta-cells, implanted into the pancreases of diabetic mice, appear to “hide” the cells from the body’s immune system, specifically T-cells, preventing them from being attacked and destroyed.

The article suggests that the method produced enough insulin in the mice to replace the otherwise necessary daily injections to regulate blood glucose levels.

The research team took stem cells, harvested from pancreases, and deposited them inside a Teflon-coated pouch-like membrane. The membrane pouch was designed to allow the release of insulin by the enclosed beta-cells, but was too fine to allow T-cells to enter.

Director of Research at Diabetes UK, Iain Frame, cautioned that the use of this technology could take some time. “This area of research is certainly very interesting … [but] we have to bear in mind that these are very early experiments in mice.”

While Teflon is usually found in the kitchen, it is compatible with human tissue, is a lubricant and has been used in surgical implants for more than 30 years.
The Mail, 1 September 2009

Surgery – a quick fix for type 2 diabetes?
Bariatric surgery can eliminate the symptoms of type 2 diabetes in eight out of 10 patients undergoing the surgery, results from a large-scale study show.

The report from researchers from the University of Minnesota shows that more than 78% of cases experienced complete resolution of their diabetes for at least 2 years following the surgery, indicating a positive role for bariatric procedures in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. In total, 86.6% of patients saw at least some improvement, according to the study, led by Dr Henry Buchwald.

The research, presented at a conference of the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO) in Paris, France, is one of the largest studies of its kind to show the benefits of the operations. Prof Jean-Marc Chevallier, President of the IFSO Congress, said: “Faced with a rising tide of diabetes it is essential that we actively seek new strategies to manage the disease. Bariatric surgery holds significant promise in this area and … we are committed to exploring how we can use this rapidly evolving area of medicine to benefit patients.”

A spokesperson for Diabetes UK cautioned those who might see bariatric surgery as a “cure” for diabetes. Rather, people with diabetes or a history of diabetes need to maintain a healthy diet and undertake exercise to manage their condition.

The number of bariatric procedures performed on the NHS has doubled in the past year, numbering 4324. The procedure can cost up to £12000.
The Telegraph, 27 August 2009

Diabetes not much fun between the sheets
Fourty-four per cent of people with type 2 diabetes feel that their diabetes affected their ability or desire to have sex, recent research conducted by The Research Partnership has revealed.

The online survey, conducted simultaneously in the UK, the US and Germany, of 2000 people with type 2 diabetes, investigated participants’ attitudes, feelings, health status, drug treatment programmes and coping mechanisms. One in every two people surveyed said that their diabetes impacts on their general mood. However, general mood was found to be significantly lower among women with the condition, who were more likely to feel challenged, frustrated or tired than men.

The research also yielded interesting results in the areas of diabetes management and the doctor–patient relationship. The majority of participants felt in control of their diabetes, yet 43% of those surveyed reported that they were sometimes or often unsuccessful in managing their condition. Most reported a positive relationship with their physician, but one-fifth felt that their doctor was sometimes annoyed with them for failing to managing their diabetes.

Comorbidities were common in the study population. More than half of those surveyed were receiving treatment for high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels.

The vast majority of the study participants from the UK and US were clinically obese. One-third of participants from all countries revealed that they did not engage in any physical exercise at all.

The survey found a clear correlation between a high BMI and a lack of regular exercise.
United Press International, 31 August 2009

Metabolic conditions linked to swine flu mortality
Metabolic disorders may place people at an increase risk of death following the contraction of H1N1 influenza, or “swine flu”, according to new research looking at deaths caused by the pandemic in countries around the world.

The team from the French Institute for Public Health Surveillance found that of 574 deaths associated with swine flu and in whom an underlying disease was present, more than one in four cases had a metabolic condition, i.e. diabetes or obesity.

The data, published in Eurosurveillance, looked at the characteristics and medical histories of those who died to determine whether a link could be made between an existing condition, swine flu and the risk of mortality.

This finding opens up a new line of inquiry for epidemiologists. The research team warns that deaths from swine flu will continue to occur, and that this data further emphasises that not all groups of people are affected equally.

Demographic variation in the number of deaths from swine flu was also seen. The average age of those who died was 37 years, and more than half of all deaths occurred among the 20- to 49-year-old age group.
The Telegraph, 27 August 2009

Low income doubles the risk of type 2 diabetes 
People in the lowest income households in Great Britain are more than twice as likely to have diabetes as those in average income households, a study from Diabetes UK has revealed. Furthermore, those with diabetes in the lowest income households are more than twice as likely to develop the complications of diabetes.

The results also uncovered a sex bias: women in England who live in homes with the lowest incomes were found to be more than four times as likely to get diabetes as those who live in homes with the highest incomes.

Diabetes UK suggests that the prevalence of obesity, physical inactivity, poor diet and high rates of smoking are responsible for the increased risk among this group. Douglas Smallwood, the charity’s chief executive, stressed that those living in deprived parts of the community should be targeted for diabetes education awareness campaigns, to ensure that the risk factors and symptoms are known. In particular, food labelling should be clearer so that people know what they are eating, he added Mr Smallwood said: “Action must be taken now to stop a generation of people living in deprivation ending up in an early grave.”
Metro, 27 July 2009

Too lazy to change channel
Some Britons are so lazy they would rather watch a television programme they do not like than get out of their chair to change channels, new data reveals.

Almost one in six (15%) of those surveyed said that they would continue to watch whatever was on TV, rather than get up to change the channel. The survey, carried out on behalf of the not-for-profit organisation Nuffield Health, in which 2000 people were questioned on a range of daily activities, also revealed that 64% of people with children were too tired to play with them.

The report’s authors suggest that the inactive lifestyles uncovered illustrate why the incidence of diabetes is rising annually in Britain.

The report also revealed Britain’s laziest cities, with Glasgow, Birmingham and Southampton topping the list for the laziest locals.
The Telegraph, 10 August 2009

Berry, berry good for you
Blueberry juice, fermented using bacteria that occurs naturally on the skin of the fruit, may help to both prevent and manage diabetes and obesity, new research from Canada suggests.

Researchers from the University of Montreal conducted research using a group of mice predisposed to type 2 diabetes. The berries used were low-bush blueberries, grown in various parts of Canada following use of the fermented blueberry juice, the mice were shown to have significantly reduced their blood sugar by one-third. About 60% of the mice had normal blood sugar levels after consuming the juice. 
The Canadian Press, 2 September 2009

A chilli a day keeps diabetes away
The active ingredients in chilli – capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin – may have a variety of clinical applications, including the potential to lower blood glucose, delay or prevent the onset of diabetes, and also prevent blood clots.

Researchers from the University of Tasmania, Australia, have produced preliminary data showing that the consumption of chilli paste resulted in the body producing less insulin, while glucose from the blood stream was used efficiently. Use of chilli in this way did not result in any reported adverse side-effects.

This finding may have implications for those in the early stages of diabetes, when the pancreas is over-producing insulin.

The researchers say that it is not yet possible to tell what dose of chilli will be effective in this way, as it is related to the hotness of the chilli. Research is continuing.
The Age, 3 September 2009