Wilhelm Krek explains that, “Cells need energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the cell’s energy currency, to enable them to maintain their functions. In a healthy person, the b-cells of the pancreas, which are responsible for insulin production, recognise when food is ingested. Sugar is burnt in the mitochondria of the b-cells by what is known as oxidative phosphorylation, producing ATP which, in turn, initiates insulin secretion in the b-cells. This stimulates the muscle cells, among others, to absorb sugar, thus regulating and normalising the level of sugar in the blood. Krek says that some diabetics may have an abnormality in this signal pathway. The plan now is to investigate this in a follow-up study. Join discussion...

A common treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) decreased the average glucose level during sleep of type 2s who were newly diagnosed with OSA. After seven weeks of the therapy, known as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), the diabetic patients' average BG level fell 20 mg/dl. Join discussion...

A Spanish university study has found that a traditional Mediterranean diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, and fish may reduce the risk of acquiring type 2 diabetes by 83 percent. One interesting outcome of the study was the finding that people at high risk of developing diabetes could substantially lower their risk by following the diet. High-risk factors included old age, a family history of the disease, and a former smoking habit. Join discussion...

No less an authority than the New York Times wrote in May 2006 that Halle Berry has type 1 diabetes, listing her as one of several "stars who have type 1 - Gary Hall, the Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer; Adam Morrison, the Gonzaga University basketball star; [and] Halle Berry." Ms. Berry is also described as having type 1 by other sources. Health24.com, for example, reported that "it was during the taping of the television sitcom called "Living Dolls" in 1989 that Halle went into a diabetic coma. Shortly afterwards she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes." Join discussion...

A new report suggests that treating gum disease in patients who have diabetes with procedures such as cleanings and periodontal scaling is linked to 10 to 12 percent lower medical costs per month. The findings are encouraging but the study was not designed to firmly establish cause and effect, said George Taylor, University of Michigan associate professor of dentistry, who also has an appointment in epidemiology in the U-M School of Public Health. Taylor led the research project to investigate whether routine, non-surgical treatment for gum disease is linked to lower medical care costs for people with diabetes. Join discussion...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning about more than two dozen weight-loss products that they say contain undeclared products that may be dangerous. Among the undeclared ingredients are prescription anti-seizure medications, controlled substances, and possible cancer-causing agents that FDA officials say could cause health problems such as high blood pressure, seizures, heart attack, or stroke. Join discussion...

Having the so-called metabolic syndrome may raise the risk of chronic kidney disease in people with type 2 diabetes, researchers from China report. Metabolic syndrome refers to a cluster of risk factors for diabetes and heart disease -- including abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, low levels of "good" HDL cholesterol and high triglycerides (another type of blood fat). The syndrome is typically diagnosed when a person has three or more of these conditions. Join discussion...

Young people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes are often overweight and many turn to unhealthy weight loss practices, such as using over-the-counter diet aids without a doctor's advice, fasting and taking laxatives, new research shows. Dr. Jean M. Lawrence, of Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, and colleagues studied 1742 female and 1615 males, of whom 520 had type 2 diabetes and 2837 had type 1 diabetes. The subjects' average age was 15 years. Join discussion...

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...

A harmless virus, which is encountered by most infants and displays few symptoms, may trigger type 1 diabetes, according to a new study. Researchers at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, who conducted the study, suggested that this “silent” Human parechovirus should be taken into consideration when looking for triggers for type 1 diabetes among those who are genetically at risk. This study was conducted as part of a long-term project to examine if environmental risk factors affect type 1 diabetes. For closer study, faecal samples and questionnaires about the health of 102 children were sent in monthly by their parents. Join discussion...