Diabetes News - Nov. 26, 2000

Liver Disease May Be Linked To Obesity

It is commonly known that drinking large amounts of alcohol can lead to liver disease. However, a new study shows that bacteria in the intestines also produces alcohol, and that this is more common in people who are obese.

Doctors at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland recently conducted a study with mice to determine whether obesity was connected to alcohol-induced liver disease. The researchers compared mice who were genetically engineered to be obese with mice who were lean. The results, which are published in the journal Gastroenterology (November 2000), indicate that the obese mice had produced higher levels of ethanol, which is a type of alcohol. These mice developed fatty liver disease that is similar to the liver disease developed by people who drink alcohol in excess.

The researchers also found that ethanol levels could be reduced by 50% in the obese mice by giving them the antibiotic neomycin. Another possible treatment is lactobacillus, which is a bacteria found in yogurt that is able to clear the gastrointestinal tract of certain bacteria.

Scientists believe that a possible cause for liver disease in obese individuals may be a build-up of food in the intestines. This food may be a nutrition source for bacteria, which can then ferment the food and produce the alcohol that damages the liver. More research is needed to fully understand the link between obesity and liver disease.

Artificial Pancreas At The Testing Stage

One of the most widely-anticipated developments in diabetes technology is the artificial pancreas, which is a device intended to take the place of a faulty pancreas in people with Type 1 diabetes. Many companies are undertaking the research needed for this gold standard for controlling blood sugars, but we are still years away from seeing a product brought to market.

An artificial pancreas is currently being developed by the Medical Research Group, a  company in Sylmar, CA associated with MiniMed, Inc. Their device integrates a glucose monitor, insulin pump, and software used to monitor insulin levels. The device would be implanted in the body to automatically regulate blood sugar levels without the person having to constantly monitor the levels or give themselves insulin doses.

The Medical Research Group, Inc. has recently begun testing the device in human study participants at Montpelier University in France. The study will last for six months and involve 50 participants. Although predictions of success are premature, this is good news for people with diabetes who are looking for an alternative to multiple daily injections of insulin and constant monitoring of their insulin levels.

Veterans Should Be Tested For Type 2

In recent months, representatives of many veterans' groups have voiced their concern that Type 2 diabetes occurs in Vietnam veterans at a higher rate than in the general population. They believe that this might be a result of exposure to Agent Orange. The House VA Committed has answered that concern with an encouragement for all veterans to be tested.

The House Committee on Veterans' Affairs encourages all veterans to seek health examinations at any VA healthcare center. In most cases, health care at a VA center is free. Being tested for diabetes is easy and pain-free, and is important for anyone concerned that they are at risk for the disease.

Seeing Is Believing With Vitamins

Vitamin supplements are commonly prescribed for people who do not meet their daily recommended intake through diet alone. Recent evidence suggests that vitamins may also help protect people from developing cataracts.

A recent issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology (volume 118, pages 1556-1563, November 2000) includes data compiled by researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical School. These researchers studied health records of 3,000 people between the ages of 43 and 86. They found that those who took multivitamins or supplements of vitamins C or E for more than ten years has a 60% lower chance of developing cataracts, regardless of other risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes, age, weight, and exercise. There was no change in risk level for those who took vitamins for less than ten years.

The researchers noted that the people who did take vitamins tended to be female, physically active, and have a healthy body weight. They also tended to consume more fruits and vegetables.

Prescription Pill Fights Flu

There has been much concern about the flu this year, as there have been delays and shortages in producing the vaccine. While officials now say that there is enough vaccine to go around, the development of an anti-flu pill comes as welcome news for many.

The pill, called Tamiflu, is manufactured by Hoffmann-La Roche. It works by inhibiting a protein which is vital to the virus' ability to infect cells. The downside is that people must take a pill every day if they are exposed to a flu virus, and the pill costs $49 wholesale for a ten-day supply. The manufacturers are currently negotiating with insurance companies to cover the cost of the drug, as Medicare does not cover prescription drugs.

While the flu shot is still the easier and cheaper way to prevent the flu, Tamiflu has also been shown to be effective. It is also approved to treat people who already have the flu, and can shorten people's flu symptoms by a day.

Does Ageism Decrease Quality Of Care?

A British research group recently conducted a study to determine whether men and women victims of heart attacks were given the same quality of care. The results were surprising to the researchers, as they indicated that age had more weight in determining quality of care than gender.

Researchers from the Department of Public Health at the University of Liverpool, UK have published their study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 2000 (volume 54, pages 912-916, November 15, 2000). The researchers studied data from the medical records of 2,000 people who had heart attacks in 1995.

The researchers found that 30% of the women and 19% of the men who had heart attacks died in the hospital. Women were less likely to receive treatments known to increase survival after a heart attack, such as prescriptions for blood-thinning drugs and aspirin. In addition, 74% of men were admitted to intensive coronary care units for treatment, while only 61% of women were given this treatment.

Although the study seems to point at differences based on gender, the study authors note that the average age of the women was 75, while the average age of the men was 68. The study indicates that older people were less likely to receive intensive care for their condition than younger people.

Since 1995, the UK has set new standards to insure that age is not a factor when people are being treated for heart disease. However, the researchers emphasize that all people should become more aware of the signs of heart attacks, and take measures to prevent the attacks from happening.

New Information About Syndrome X

Before a disease can be identified, its characteristics and complications must be linked and studied. One emerging disease which has had media attention lately is currently known as Syndrome X. It is now being linked with high insulin levels and colorectal cancer.

Syndrome X was identified in 1988, and studies suggest that it affects one in three people in America. It may contribute to Type 2 diabetes and other complications stemming from high insulin levels. A recent study links high insulin levels to colorectal cancer. Doctors at the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon, France published their study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (volume 92, number 19, October 4, 2000). They included 14,275 people in the study, and tested the participants' insulin secretions by measuring C-peptide levels. The researchers found that the individuals with the highest levels of C-peptide had the greatest risk for colorectal cancer.

It is not clear yet that a disease known now as Syndrome X is the cause of high insulin levels or resulting complications. The disease was first described by Dr.Gerald Reaven, who is a professor at Stanford University, and the Vice President of Clinical Affairs at Shaman Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Dr.Reaven has written a book called Syndrome X, The Silent Killer That Can Give You A Heart Attack, (Simon & Schuster). Shaman Pharmaceuticals has also developed a new product called Syn X bar, which they believe is a good balance of nutrients needed to curb the effects of Syndrome X. More research is needed to determine whether Syndrome X exists, and why and how it might develop.

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