Diabetes News for June 16, 2002
Diet Drug In Development
As a potential cure for Type 2 diabetes and obesity, scientists are in the process of developing a drug that not only suppresses apetite but also burns fat.
The drug is being developed by FASgen and tested by researchers from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. It is called C75, and preliminary studies involving mice have shown that it blocks the body's process of slowing down metabolism and building up fat stores when food intake is reduced.
Mice in the study were given a high-fat diet, and some were also given abdominal injections of C75. These mice burned about 33% more calories and lost 50% more fat than mice that did not receive the drug. However, both groups of mice had similar blood levels of malonyl-CoA, which is a compound that stops the body from burning fat. The drug was effective in preventing the actions of malonyl-CoA from blocking the enzyme that burns fat.
This study has been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Early Edition (volume 10.1073/pnas.132128899, June 2002). The researchers say that much more study must be conducted before the drug can be tested on humans, but believe that it will one day be a viable way of treating obesity and Type 2.
  
DNA May Determine Appetite
People who have a hard time turning down sweets and extra helpings at mealtimes may have their genes to blame.
Recently, researchers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore conducted a study to determine whether obesity and its associated eating habits are rooted in genetics. They studied 624 adults from 28 Pennsylvania Amish families who are participants in the Amish Family Diabetes Study. This study was begun in 1995, using this population of people because they come from a homogenous population, they live in a localized area, and they keep genealogic records of their families.
The participants in this study were asked to complete surveys about their eating habits. In addition, the researchers recorded the participants' fasting blood sugar levels, cholesterol, and body mass index (BMI). They found that restraint when eating, hunger, and disinhibition, which is the ability to say no to favorite foods, levels all corresponded to the participants' BMI. In addition, high levels of these tended to run in particular families.
The researchers also studied the genome of the families who had high levels to see if they also had DNA in common. They isolated areas on certain chromosomes that appear to be connected to restraint and disinhibition. Further research must be conducted in order to determine the exact genes responsible for each eating behavior. The results of their research thus far have been published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (volume 75, pages 1098-1106, June 2002).
Obesity Risk Minimized By Breast-Feeding
As the rates of childhood obesity and Type 2 diabetes continue to rise, researchers seek ways of minimizing the risks of developing these conditions. One new study indicates that babies who are breast-fed may have a lower risk of becoming obese as children.
The research was conducted by doctors at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow, Scotland. The doctors measured the body mass index (BMI) of 32,000 Scottish children when they were 39 and 42 months old, and found that obesity was less common in children who were breast-fed than children who were given formula.
This report, which is published in The Lancet (June 2002), is potentially useful in preventing obesity and Type 2 diabetes, as children who are obese are more likely to be obese as adults. This puts them at a greater risk for developing Type 2, heart disease, stroke, and other medical problems.
Hunger Same For Men And Women
Although men and women may have different eating habits and ideas about food, a new study shows that there is no difference in how the brains of each gender respond to hunger and fullness.
A recent issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (volume 75, pages 1017-1022, June 2002) includes a study published by researchers from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases' Clinical Diabetes and Nutrition Section in Phoenix, Arizona. The study included 44 healthy men and women who fasted for 36 hours prior to undergoing a test of their brain activity.
The participants' brain activity was measured while they were hungry, and then again after they'd had a liquid meal. The researchers found that the brain activity patterns before and after eating were similar in men and women. However, the researchers emphasize that eating behavior is more complex and includes more factors than were measured in this study.
Frustrating Facts About "Fat-Free"
Although there are thousands of low-fat and fat-free foods on the market, Americans continue to gain weight, and Type 2 diabetes has reached an all-time high.
According to a report issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) in a recent issue of the journal Circulation (volume 10, 1161/01.CIR.0000019402.35632.EB; June 11, 2002), people are not following recommended daily doses of food intake, and are getting far too many calories from saturated fat. They warn that people should still eat low-fat foods in moderation, particularly if they are high in sugars and calories. The AHA also warns against eating excessive amounts of fat substitutes like olestra, which are common in snack foods. Olestra can lead to digestive problems and decreased absorption of nutrients.
The AHA encourages people who really want to lose weight to follow the US government's "food pyramid," and to avoid eating oversized portions.
New Healthcare Statistics
The US Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released new statistics regarding the health practices of Americans.
The statistics were based on a survey conducted by the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics in Atlanta, as part of its annual National Health Care Survey. The surveyors found that US physician visits have been on the rise during the last ten years. In addition, there was a 21% increase in doctor visits at which people were prescribed a blood pressure-lowering drug. There was also a 25% increase in visits at which a hormone was prescribed, and a 41% increase in prescriptions of metabolic/nutrient drugs.
The results of the survey also showed that the most frequently diagnosed medical problems in the year 2000 were high blood pressure, acute respiratory infections, and Type 2 diabetes. In the year 1997, diabetes was the eighth most frequent diagnosis, and in the year 2000 it had risen to be the third most frequent diagnosis.
Tips For Diabetes Care
People with Type 2 diabetes often have to take "finger stick" measurements of their blood glucose levels, and recent reports of serious infections highlight the importance of careful hygiene during this process.
A recent issue of the journal Diabetes Care (volume 25, page 1103, June 2002) includes a report of two women treated at the University of Florence, Italy for serious infections of their fingers. Both of the women had Type 2 diabetes, and tested their blood an average of six times per week to determine their glucose levels. Although the instructions included with the blood-glucose monitoring devices called for a changing of the needle each time to prevent infection, the women had been reusing the needles for several weeks. Their infections were so severe that they each had to have part of their finger amputated to prevent further spread of the infection.
These cases should serve as a reminder for all people with diabetes who must test their blood glucose to do so carefully and in accordance with the devices' instructions.
Retinal And Mental Health May Be Linked
People with abnormalities in their eyes' blood vessels, as is common with diabetes, high blood pressure, and some other conditions, may also be more likely to have some mental decline, according to recent research.
The study was conducted at the National University of Singapore, and has been published in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association (volume 33, June 2002). In the study, the researchers examined the retinal health of 8,700 men and women, and also gave them tests of memory and other mental abilities. The participants were examined every three years between 1987 and 1998.
They found that people with retinopathy, which is associated with abnormalities in the blood vessels leading to the retina, were more likely to have lower scores on mental tests than those with healthy eyes. This remained true whether or not the participants had diabetes, high blood pressure, or other conditions that might affect the health of their eyes.
The researchers believe that signs of retinal problems are independently associated with mental decline, but are not sure if retinal problems can also be seen as predictors of lower cognitive function.
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