Repaglinide for type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Repaglinide (Prandin) lowers long term cardiovascular complications of diabetes by working on reducing the postprandial glucose excursions by modulating early-phase insulin release. It has a rapid onset and relatively short duration of action allow for flexible meal schedules. Several studies have shown that repaglinide plus rosiglitazone was better than rosiglitazone alone, and repaglinide plus metformin had greater benefits to patients over nateglinide plus metformin.

Reference:

Repaglinide: A Pharmacoeconomic Review of its Use in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Plosker, Greg L; Figgitt, David P

Impaired insulin secretion due to TRPM2-deficiency.

A new study published in the Diabetes journal found that TRPM2-deficiency (a Ca2+-permeable channel  in pancreatic beta-cells ) led to higher blood glucose levels because the ion channel is responsible for modulating insulin secretion.

 

Reference:

K. Uchida, K. Dezaki, B. Damdindorj, H. Inada, T. Shiuchi, Y. Mori, T. Yada, Y. Minokoshi, M. Tominaga. Lack of TRPM2 Impaired Insulin Secretion and Glucose Metabolisms in Mice. Diabetes, 2010

Increases in the prevalence of diabetes across United States

According to the American Diabetes Association, 23.6 million children and adults in the United States -- 7.8% of the population -- now have diabetes, and this number is growing. Of this group, 5.7 million people have not yet been diagnosed and another 57 million people have pre-diabetes, when their blood glucose levels are higher than normal, making them especially at risk to develop Type 2 diabetes.

Reference:

http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/diabetes-statistics/

Pre-diabetes diagnosis by hemoglobin A1c test

The A1c test measures average blood glucose level over the past 8 to 12 weeks and now research shows that it also easily identifies pre-diabetics. Pre-diabetes is a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. Pre-diabetes is also called impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or impaired fasting glucose (IFG).

Reference:

Ronald T. Ackermann, Yiling J. Cheng, David F. Williamson, Edward W. Gregg. Identifying Adults at High Risk for Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Using Hemoglobin A1cNational Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005–2006. American Journal of Preventive Medicine

Late Complications of Diabetes

Diabetic patients suffer from complications leading to neuropathy, cardiovascular complications, skin ulcers/gangrene, peripheral vascular disease, atherosclerosis,  myocardial infarction ophthalmic complications that increase with age. The total cost of the treatment of late diabetic complications on a percentage basis os from: cardiovascular 74%; renal diseases 10%; nephropathy 3.6%; ophthalmic disorders 1.5%; other unspecified diseases 10%

Reference:

Jacobs, J., Sena, M. and Fox, N. The Cost of Hospitalization for the Late Complications of Diabetes in the United States. Diabetic Medicine

What is trans-palmitoleic acid?

Trans-palmitoleic acid, can cause lower insulin resistance, higher lipids and possible diabetes. The compound is a fatty acid found in milk, cheese, yogurt, and butter.

Dariush Mozaffarian, Haiming Cao, Irena B. King, Rozenn N. Lemaitre, Xiaoling Song, David S. Siscovick, and Gökhan S. Hotamisligil. Trans-Palmitoleic Acid, Metabolic Risk Factors, and New-Onset Diabetes in U.S. Adults. Annals of Internal Medicine