Diabetes is caused by the body's inability to produce or process insulin, a hormone that cells need to convert food into energy. Uncontrolled diabetes causes serious complications throughout the body, including cardiovascular disease, blindness, kidney failure, and nerve disease. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, caused when the body's own immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. This damage was once thought to be irreversible, however, new evidence suggests that the pancreas has an innate ability to repair and regenerate the insulin-producing cells. In Type 1 diabetes, however, the pancreas' ability to self-repair cannot keep pace against the autoimmune response that is causing the diabetes.
Unique Drug Combination May Hold The Key To Reversing Type I Diabetes
12 Jun 2008
Promising results from a study that tested a new approach for reversing Type 1 diabetes were presented at the American Diabetes Association's 68th Annual Scientific Session in San Francisco.
The study tested the combination of Lisofylline (LSF), a drug that is being developed to halt immune damage to insulin producing cells, and Islet Neogenesis Associated Protein peptide (INGAP), a drug based on a naturally occurring protein produced by the pancreas. (ADA abstract number: 1620-P Unique Drug Combination for Reversal of Type 1 Diabetes, by Tersey, Carter, Kropf, Rosenberg, Nadler)
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INGAP was discovered in 1997 at the EVMS Strelitz Diabetes Center by Aaron I. Vinik, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Internal Medicine and the Strelitz Center's Director of Research.
In this study, diabetic mice were either given a placebo (saline) or treated with LSF, INGAP peptide, or LSF and INGAP together. The remission rate was most striking when mice were first treated with LSF in an effort to dampen the autoimmune system and then treated with the combination of LSF and INGAP peptide. This novel therapy resulted in a remission of diabetes in 70% of the mice after all treatments were withdrawn, including animals with very high blood glucose levels prior to treatment. Mice treated with INGAP peptide alone or INGAP peptide/LSF combinations averaged markedly higher levels of serum insulin after treatment than saline treated controls and were similar to non-diabetic mice. It was only when the combination of LSF and INGAP was used that a reversal of hyperglycemia was observed.
"These are very encouraging results," Nadler said. "Since both LSF and INGAP are already known to be safe, we should soon be able to begin testing the combination of LSF and INGAP in the clinic as a potential therapy for Type 1 diabetes in people soon."
Nadler was recruited to EVMS as part of a strategic initiative to expand the medical school's research capabilities in four areas where the state's eastern region has specific health needs and EVMS has existing research strengths, including: diabetes, cardiovascular disease, women's health/infant development, and cancer.
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Critical Diabetes Test - A1C –
Proven To Be Accurate Average Glucose
10 Jun 2008
A mathematical relationship between the average glucose level over the preceding three months and levels of the A1C test, thus yielding translation of the A1C for reporting as estimated average glucose (eAG), was proven in an international study published online in the August issue of Diabetes Care. A1C has been used for more than 25 years as the major measure of glucose control and to establish targets for diabetes therapy.
While eAG will not replace A1C, physicians will be able to obtain reports both in A1C units of glycated hemoglobin and eAG units of milligrams per deciliter or millimols per liter, depending on the country, and choose which to use in clinical situations."
The implications of using eAG in mg/dl the same units that patients use for self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) at home It is extremely helpful for health care professionals and patients to be using the same language to discuss glucose goals, Since patients sometimes find it difficult to understand the concept of glycated hemoglobin, it will be much easier to have all test results -- both those from the lab and those the patient performs -- in the same units.
With A1C translated from a difficult-to-understand chemical entity into an easy-to-understand value that relates to the patient's every day home glucose monitoring, eAG will prove to be a valuable education tool.
When health care professionals set goals based on eAG units, then patients will know how close they are to reaching their goals every day when they test at home with self-monitoring,.
Checking Blood Glucose Levels
People check their diabetes control at home by glucose - meter, usually by pricking their fingers for a blood sample and getting a reading using a simple monitor. Frequency varies depending on the type of diabetes and whether insulin injections are being used. Many people with type 1 diabetes, who must use insulin, do test several times a day, or use continuous glucose monitors, which automatically check levels as often as every few minutes. The test provides information on blood glucose only at that moment.
In contrast, A1C testing is a measure of glucose control over the prior 2-3 months. The test measures the amount of glucose that has attached to a portion of the hemoglobin molecule in the blood. It is reported as the percent of hemoglobin molecules that has glucose attached. The American Diabetes Association recommends a goal of less than 7%. It is also known as glycated hemoglobin testing.
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RECIPIE FOR U
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Misi (Mix flour) roti |
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Preparation time: 30 minutes. |
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Cooking time: 10 minutes. |
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Makes 15 rotis |
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Ingredients |
- 2 teacups gram flour (besan)
- 2 teacup whole wheat flour
- 2 onions, finely chopped
- 2 to 3 Green chilies, chopped
- 1teaspoon ajwain
- 1 teaspoon cumin powder
- 2 teaspoons curds
- 2 tablespoons chopped coriander
- Salt to taste
- Oil for frying roti
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Steps to Cook: |
- Mix all the ingredients (except the oil) and knead into soft dough.
- Keep aside for 10minutes.
- Divide into 15 parts and make into balls.
- Roll out rotis and shallow fry with a little oil in a non—stick pan.
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Serve hot for breakfast or lunch with curd. |
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QUIZ FOR YOU
“Type 1 Diabetes is an infectious disease leading to destruction of beta cells , resulting in
insulin deficiency “
