Almost 75 percent of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes have insufficient levels of vitamin D, researchers at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston report. A deficit in vitamin D can lead to bone problems later in life, especially among those with type 1 diabetes. While vitamin D is usually gotten from exposure to sunlight or from the diet, researchers suggest that supplements are needed to boost vitamin D levels. Join discussion...

Two inflammatory disorders, type 1 diabetes and celiac disease, cosegregate in populations, suggesting a common genetic origin. Since both diseases are associated with the HLA class II genes on chromosome 6p21, we tested whether non-HLA loci are shared. Join discussion...

As levels of parathyroid hormone rise, so does the risk of falls in older, well-functioning men and women with diabetes, according to findings from the Health, Aging and Body Composition (Health ABC) Study. Results from a number of studies have suggested that high levels of parathyroid hormone promote muscle weakness. In terms of falls, some reports have indicated that high levels of the hormone increase the risk, while others have not found this. Join discussion...

Gene tests may be no better for predicting diabetes risk than having a doctor ask some old-fashioned questions about weight, smoking status and family history, according to two studies published on Wednesday. Both studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine looked at more than 16 genes linked to type 2 diabetes and found that the information they provided was no better than traditional risk factors, including blood sugar levels. Join discussion...

The researchers indicated that the T-cells that regulate the immune system lose their effectiveness over time, leading to type 1 diabetes . These ‘lazy’ cells are therefore the root cause of the disease, and could open up new treatment pathways in the future. Join discussion...