The latest guidance on the use of insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitoring and other technology in diabetes care was presented at December’s World Congress on Insulin Resistance, Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease, as Dr Susan Aldridge reports. Technology has now penetrated diabetes care. Insulin pumps have been around now since the late 1970s, the growth of […]
Weight loss is key to prevention and management of type 2 diabetes. Speaking at the 17th National Conference of the Primary Care Diabetes Society (PCDS) recently, Jennifer Logue, Professor of Metabolic Medicine, Lancaster University, shared some tips on how best to work with your patients on this crucial issue. Dr Susan Aldridge reports. The UK […]
What are the clinical characteristics of severe hypoglycaemia requiring emergency room (ER) treatment? Revealing data was presented at the 2021 International Hypoglycaemia Study Group (IHSG) Advances in Hypoglycaemia virtual meeting. Lisa Buckingham reports. Soon H Song, consultant physician and diabetologist at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UK), first outlined what we know about hypoglycaemia, […]
A long-established treatment for gout, colchicine – the world’s oldest anti-inflammatory drug – can attack COVID-19 inflammation at several points and has shown promising results in a clinical trial, reports Dr Susan Aldridge. It’s well known by now that COVID-19 infection can lead to severe inflammatory disease, with manifestations similar to toxic shock syndrome, Kawasaki […]
Hypoglycaemia’s effect on cognitive function was the focus of research presented at the 2021 International Hypoglycaemia Study Group (IHSG) Advances in Hypoglycaemia virtual meeting. Lisa Buckingham reports. People with type 1 diabetes have, on average, a hypoglycaemic episode two to three times per week and for those with type 2 diabetes on insulin treatment, it’s […]
To date, most genetic studies in type 2 diabetes have been limited to people of European ancestry, even though the increasing prevalence of the condition is set to hit low- to middle-income countries hardest. However, the advent of rapid genotyping has meant that global representation in genetic databases and studies been increasing in recent years. […]
Glucose-lowering drugs do not always address beta cell dysfunction in type 2 diabetes, according to findings presented at last month’s 19th World Congress on Insulin Resistance, Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease. Ralph DeFronzo, Chief of the Diabetes Division, UT Health San Antonio, argues that medication that protects the beta cells should be first-line therapy – and […]
As insulin’s centennial year draws to a close, Professor Chantal Mathieu asks what the future holds for medical history’s ‘miracle cure’ – and who might still have cause to celebrate it in another century’s time? As Professor Chantal Mathieu says in her presentation, 2021 has been a festive year for the centenary of insulin’s discovery. […]
Women tend to have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease compared with men. Does this mean they tend to be overlooked when it comes to prevention? A new study, presented at the EASD’s 57th Annual Meeting, looks at gender differences in cardiovascular risk, prevention and outcomes in type 2 diabetes through analysis of a large […]
With type 2 diabetes cases still rising, it becomes ever more important to understand the role of prediabetes. Lisa Buckingham reports. At the latest EASD conference, Coen Stehouwer, Professor of Medicine at Maastricht University, presented ‘Prediabetes: innnocent or guilty as charged?’ and made a compelling case for the latter. He began with the statement that, […]
For people with painful diabetic neuropathy, turning off the pain completely is usually not a realistic option, says Professor Solomon Tesfaye in his latest EASD e-Learning module. But don’t let that stop you from pursuing maximum pain relief as aggressively as possible. After several decades working in the field of diabetic neuropathy, Professor Solomon Tesfaye […]
Second-generation people of South Asian and African Caribbean ancestry born in the UK have a lower risk of type 2 diabetes than their parents, as do those of mixed heritage, according to a new study published in Diabetologia in October. However, they still have a higher risk than Europeans, some of which can be explained […]
New research presented at the latest EASD conference compared two different insulins in pregnancy for women with type 1 diabetes. Lisa Buckingham reports. Poor glycaemic control in women with type 1 diabetes is related to poor pregnancy outcomes. Achieving good diabetic control is therefore extremely important in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes – a […]
Hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic syndrome (HHS) is associated with four- to five-fold higher mortality than diabetic ketoacidosis, yet the condition is still poorly understood. Professors Guillermo Umpierrez and Ketan Dhatariya take a closer look at a complication all too often overlooked by diabetes research. HHS is a diabetic complication, primarily of type 2 diabetes, that is marked […]
Non-beta cells in the pancreas can take over insulin production from beta cells lost to diabetes, according to new research presented at the 57th annual EASD meeting. This offers the tantalising prospect of a diabetes treatment in which the pancreas heals itself. This year’s Albert Renold Lecture, entitled ‘Diabetes remission through insulin secretion from non-beta […]
Just over two years after its approval in the UK and EU as the first new treatment for type 1 diabetes since the discovery of insulin, the use of dapagliflozin is no longer authorised in this population group. Dr Susan Aldridge reports. In September 2019, dapagliflozin became the first adjunct therapy to be prescribed to […]
Are you a junior doctor interested in research? Have you just started your research fellowship? Do you need training in clinical research design and analysis? The interactive and highly successful EASD Robert Turner Clinical Research Training Course will be returning to the face-to-face format in 2022 – hosted once again by Oxford University’s Clinical Departments. […]
There is a wealth of new findings on how to optimise treatment for kidney and heart complications in type 2 diabetes and many sessions at the 57th Annual EASD Meeting were devoted to personalised medicine. One of the highlights was the Camillo Golgi Prize Lecture, with its presentation of the breadth of recent research – […]
“The longer you leave it, the worse the outcomes,” says Professor Kamlesh Khunti in his new module on therapeutic inertia and type 2 diabetes, which launches today. The evidence has been mounting up for years. The UKPDS demonstrated that tight glycaemic control reduces the complications of type 2 diabetes. Subsequent UKPDS follow-up studies showed that […]
Another two EASD e-Learning modules have been accredited for CPD by the UKs Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP). As of today, the modules ‘Hypoglycaemia in older people’ by Professor Brian Frier and ‘An introduction to real-world evidence’ by Dr Marc Evans will carry the RCGP’s quality mark. EASD e-Learning Programme Director Dr Eleanor D […]
As we battle the entwined epidemics of obesity and type 2 diabetes, exercise is an important tool at our disposal. In her Claude Bernard prize lecture at this year’s EASD conference, Professor Juleen Zierath reflected on work that is deepening our understanding of how exercise can best be utilised. Lisa Buckingham reports. In the Claude […]
Obesity is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes but it’s not universally the case that those who are diagnosed are overweight or obese. Two pieces of new research presented at the recent 57th EASD Annual Meeting shed light on the mechanisms behind this, suggesting promising avenues for treatment and prevention. Lisa Buckingham reports. Effects […]
Findings presented at the 57th EASD Annual Meeting suggest that calcium dobesilate can prevent retinal damage by stopping capillary leakage. It may therefore be able to protect the eyesight of people with diabetes by slowing the progression of diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular oedema. Dr Susan Aldridge reports. Calcium dobesilate, a compound that has been […]
The strong influence of genetics in type 2 diabetes is becoming increasingly apparent, thanks to advances in technology like next generation sequencing. In her Minkowski Prize Lecture at the 57th EASD Annual Meeting, Dr Amélie Bonnefond described recent research that shows type 2 is so much more than a lifestyle disease, as well as opening […]
In the latest in our new series, ‘Insulin in my country’, we learn about the challenges of treating diabetes in St Lucia. ‘Insulin in my country’ launched on Horizons in September to shine a light on the issues still faced with insulin usage across the world. Access and choice is not equitable, varying hugely from […]
Webcasts from the EASD’s 2021 virtual meeting are now available free to all on the EASD website. To help you explore what’s on offer, over the coming weeks we’ll be giving you a taste of some of this year’s conference highlights. To start us off, Susan Aldridge reports on Professor John Todd’s Novo Nordisk prize […]
Current technologies and hopes for the future were hot topics at October’s GAED Annual Virtual Congress. There is one treatment target in all age groups at all times and that is good metabolic control, said Professor Carine de Beaufort, paediatric endocrinologist at the Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg and President of the International Society for Paediatric […]
Listening and responding to feedback from our learners continues to be at the forefront of ensuring the EASD e-Learning programme is up-to-date, evidence based and meets the needs of our learners. It is also important that you know your feedback is taken seriously. CPD accreditation We have regularly received feedback from learners asking for continuing […]
Dr Kenneth Cusi, chief of the division of endocrinology and diabetes at the University of Florida and Professor Gianluca Perseghin, chief of endocrinology at the University of Milano-Bicocca, team up to discuss why diabetologists should be screening the liver, how best to do it, the lifestyle interventions that can help and medications on the horizon. […]
A study presented at last month’s EASD Annual Meeting reveals that spinal cord stimulation is a safe and effective treatment for persistent pain caused by diabetic peripheral neuropathy. It also brings about neurological improvements and a better quality of life. Dr Susan Aldridge reports. Dr Erica Petersen from the Arkansas University of Medical Sciences presented […]
Regional nuances in the public health impact of inactivity and approaches to its treatment were in the spotlight at this year’s EASD Annual Meeting, as part of an ‘East meets West’ symposium on medical nutrition, physical activity and exercise for diabetes. Lisa Buckingham reports. To begin his presentation, ‘Physical activity guidelines: East meets West’, Dr […]
Seven EASD e-Learning modules have now been accredited as educational resources for continuing professional development by the UK’s Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and will carry the college’s quality mark. We take a closer look at what accreditation means for learners. Starting today, RCGP accreditation marks will appear on the module and course introduction […]
Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) can be prevented and involving the patient in their own footcare plays a large part in achieving that. At the Gulf Association of Endocrinology and Diabetes (GAED) Annual Virtual Congress 2021, Andrew Boulton, Professor of Medicine at the Universities of Manchester and Miami, Florida, discussed the latest technologies in diabetic footcare […]
A new study from the Steno Diabetes Center, presented at last month’s EASD conference, shows the value of multifactorial intervention in type 2 diabetes. Improvement in more than one risk factor had a significant impact on clinical outcomes such as cardiovascular death. We know quite a lot about the risk factors affecting outcomes in type […]
Reporting at the EASD’s 57th Annual Meeting, a team at the Karolinska Institute has found that mental health issues like depression and anxiety affect not just the person with type 1 diabetes, but their family as well. It seems that both genetics and shared environment likely contribute to this association. It has long been known […]
Psychosocial care and individualisation were common themes from the new ADA/EASD consensus report presented at the 57th EASD Annual Meeting 2021. Dedicated to adults with type 1 diabetes, this new report sits alongside the consensus report on type 2 diabetes. Chairing the session at which the report was presented, Professor Richard Holt, co-chair of the […]
To kick off its latest initiative, ‘The briefing room’, EASD e-Learning has brought together a stellar panel to discuss one of the most urgent and significant issues facing diabetes today: obesity. At one point during this lively and entertaining discussion, professor and bariatric surgeon Francesco Rubino urges his fellow panelists: “Let’s make a theory of […]
Researchers in Finland have used the latest genome-analysis technology to discover some rare gene variants that contribute to severe diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is a microvascular complication of diabetes which can, when severe, lead to visual loss and disability. Grading on the ‘gold standard’ ETDRS (Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study) scale during diabetic eye screening […]
It may be worth paying more attention to both degree of insulin resistance and fasting insulin levels when monitoring the health of people with type 2 diabetes, according to new research presented at the EASD’s 57th Annual Meeting last month. Insulin resistance is known to be a risk factor in cardiovascular disease, while stroke can […]
A further analysis of the STEP 2 trial results presented at last week’s 57th EASD Annual Meeting showed promising glucose metabolism results for the GLP-1 receptor agonist, with two thirds of participants assigned semaglutide (2.4 mg) in the trial attaining HbA1c of <6.5%. STEP trials 1 and 2 showed semaglutide 2.4 mg as a promising […]
Results from the EMPEROR-Preserved trial give further testament to the benefits offered by SGLT-2 inhibitors in diabetes care. Responding to results presented at the EASD’s virtual conference, leading cardiologist Mark Drazner described the EMPEROR-Preserved trial in heart failure – one of the main complications facing people with diabetes – as “a win against a formidable […]
The brain is a voracious consumer of glucose and for many the effects upon it of a lack of blood sugar are among the most concerning aspects of life with diabetes. For our latest ‘Long and short of it’, Professors Stephanie Amiel and Rory McCrimmon join forces to examine what we know about hypoglycaemia’s acute […]
The value attached to real-world evidence (RWE) in clinical decision making has increased significantly over recent years. Using examples taken from diabetes treatment, our latest module – launching today – looks at what RWE is, why it is important and who can benefit from it. Over several years Dr Marc Evans (University Hospital of Llandough, […]
In his second module for our ‘Diabetic neuropathy’ course, Professor Solomon Tesfaye takes a closer look at the pathophysiology of diabetic peripheral neuropathy and surveys the treatments currently available. There is little doubt in Professor Solomon Tesfaye’s mind as to what causes diabetic peripheral neuropathy. “The cause is impaired blood flow. This is another microvascular […]
The close link between obesity and type 2 diabetes is well established, but our latest module digs deeper – exploring the wider relationship with ethnicity, age and complications, cardiovascular disease in particular. One of the standout sessions at last year’s EASD Annual Meeting was Professor Naveed Sattar’s Camillo Golgi lecture, which had delegates gripped by […]
What happened when we asked our authors to list the top five research questions in their area of specialisation? The answer is a new series of short films, starting today. “It was one of those questions we would casually throw out there, almost as a warm up before getting down to the real business of […]
Centennial celebrations of insulin’s discovery have, with good reason, tended to dwell on progress and innovation in its design and usage. But what about the more basic challenges still faced by so many users of this medical miracle? A new series launching simultaneously today on Horizons and on EASD TV at the virtual Annual Meeting, […]
Modules on the EASD e-Learning platform have now received formal educational accreditation for continuous professional development (CPD) from the UK’s Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), it was announced today at the EASD’s 57th Annual Meeting. EASD President Stefano Del Prato told delegates during his address at the Annual Meeting’s opening ceremony that two modules […]
In the wake of the diabetes pandemic, prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is on the rise. Following his first module about the epidemiology, pathophysiology and diagnosis of NAFLD, Professor Michael Roden’s new module looks at potential treatments for this serious but reversible condition. The need for therapies to combat NAFLD is clear. Between […]
The 57th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) opens tomorrow. Once again, this year’s conference will be virtual – and there are some new ‘live’ twists to tempt you in too. Last year over 20,000 registered delegates attended the EASD’s first ever Virtual EASD Annual Meeting – with a […]
Though not much talked about, fear of hypoglycaemia can have devastating implications for the wellbeing and health of people with diabetes. In his new module, Professor Frank Snoek examines the challenges fear of hypoglycaemia present for people with diabetes and the options available to healthcare professionals to identify, prevent and treat it. Balancing the risk […]
Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes are on the rise in young people, so finding ways to prevent them early in life is becoming ever more urgent. Delegates at the American Diabetes Association 81st Scientific Sessions were treated to a closer examination of the competing impacts of physical activity and screen time on type 2 diabetes […]
A draft consensus report on the management of type 1 diabetes in adults from the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and European Association for the Study of Diabetes is now available. In our latest ‘The long and the short of it’, Professors Pratik Choudhary and Emma Wilmot take a closer look. “This is a meaty document,” […]
Action to take before, during and after exercise for people with type 1 diabetes was the focus of a presentation at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) 81st Scientific Sessions. ‘Is there an optimal target blood glucose (BG) during physical activity?’ was the question posed and answered by Dr Ian Gallen, endocrinology and diabetes consultant at […]
Insulin choices are inevitably influenced by economic circumstances – but never more starkly than in developing countries, as Professor Kaushik Ramaiya demonstrates in his presentation on the role of human insulin in the care of children with type 1 diabetes in Tanzania. Much of the discussion marking the centenary of the discovery of insulin has […]
A session at the American Diabetes Association 81st Scientific Sessions shone a spotlight on the impact of intermittent fasting on health, ageing and disease. Alternate-day fasting (ADF) or intermittent fasting (IF), as it’s now more commonly known, has become a popular weight-loss strategy in recent years. It has other health outcomes that are being investigated […]
Old friends, colleagues and compatriots, Professors Stefano del Prato and Antonio Ceriello join forces once again to examine the current state of play in the perennial struggle against cardiovascular disease in people with diabetes. For time immemorial, the inter-relationship of heart disease and diabetes has been the object of determined clinical effort and the subject […]
Two presentations at the American Diabetes Association 81st Scientific Sessions highlighted the differences a good understanding of executive functioning can make to supporting young people with diabetes. Danny Duke, associate professor of paediatrics at Oregon Health and Science University, began by defining executive functioning (EF). This can vary according to context but he defined it […]
Diabetic neuropathy exacts a heavy toll on the health and wellbeing of people with diabetes – and the health services that care for them. So why aren’t we finding cases earlier, when there’s still time to prevent the worst of the damage? Professor Solomon Tesfaye’s new module gets to the nub of the matter with […]
Hurdles that need to be overcome in managing hypoglycaemia were put in the spotlight at this year’s American Diabetes Association 81st Scientific Sessions. Dr Nicole de Zoysa, a clinical psychologist at the King’s College London Department of Diabetes, specialises in chronic health conditions and gave a presentation on the role that psycho-education (PE) can have […]
The introduction and development of insulin analogues over recent decades have helped people with diabetes to smooth their glucose management, reducing both HbA1c and hypoglycaemia. In this month’s contribution to our Insulin@100 series, Dr Tim Heise looks back at how they made a difference – and looks forward to the changes yet to come. One […]
Preserving the physical and mental health of young children with type 1 diabetes and their parents was the subject of a presentation at the American Diabetes Association 81st Scientific Sessions. When type 1 diabetes is diagnosed in babies and young children, it comes with a set of challenges unique to that stage of life. Special […]
It’s better to get a false positive than to miss a woman with gestational diabetes, say Professor Fidelma Dunne (National University of Ireland) and Dr Eoin Noctor (University Hospital Limerick, Ireland) in their presentation on the current controversies around screening and diagnosis for gestational diabetes. According to the latest figures from the International Diabetes Federation, […]
Insulin has been a lifesaver for people with diabetes, though its use is not without its challenges. But 100 years after its discovery, innovation in insulin therapy is still alive and could improve diabetes care. In this centenary year, new insulins were naturally a hot topic at the Advanced Technologies and Treatment for Diabetes (ATTD) […]
Exercise is a key part of a healthy lifestyle, but it’s notoriously hard to instil as a behaviour change. Here’s the latest on how to succeed… We know that exercise can improve quality of life and outcomes for people with diabetes, and help to prevent progression from prediabetes, but questions remain on the most effective […]
Hypoglycaemia can be uncomfortable and even dangerous. Is it any wonder, then, that fear of hypoglycaemia contributes to diabetes burden and diabetes distress, particularly for parents whose children have type 1 diabetes? Delegates at this year’s Advanced Technologies and Treatment for Diabetes (ATTD) meeting learned of a new approach to alleviating fear of hypoglycaemia, which […]
Links between the presence of microvascular diabetic complications and worse outcomes in COVID-19 are well established. Now, however, new research suggests those linkages may reverberate way beyond the acute disease phase, compounding post-COVID syndrome. In his presentation on the links between diabetic microvascular complications and COVID-19, Professor Rayaz Malik quotes a celebrated line from the […]
Premixed insulins have been around almost from the earliest decades of insulin manufacture. But as innovation in insulin design gathers pace, do they still have a role to play? Professor Shashank Joshi is in no doubt as to the future of premixed insulin formulations: “Premixed insulins are here to stay,” he says. “Particularly in regions […]
Nuts are a nutritional powerhouse. Might they be a prevention powerhouse too? Delegates at the 38th International Symposium on Diabetes and Nutrition heard presentations on their role in preventing and managing metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Nuts have long been known for their nutritional value but they’re now coming under the research spotlight for […]
Hypoglycaemia presents particular challenges for older people, yet is frequently misdiagnosed in this group. In his new module, launching today, Professor Brian Frier sheds new light on this important but often underestimated aspect of diabetes. Among our many current global health challenges, two of the most commonly cited are ageing populations and the rising tide of diabetes. Yet the two are rarely considered together – with the […]
The pandemic has provided healthcare professionals with a unique opportunity to make the most of a digital approach to diabetes care. The last year has seen dramatic changes in the way diabetes teams deliver care – with COVID-19 dictating a switch from traditional face-to-face appointments to remote care, backed up by the use of digital […]
At the American Diabetes Association (ADA) 81st Scientific Sessions, two fascinating presentations on the evolution of diabetes nutrition therapy revealed how we’ve got to where we are today. We’ve known about the importance of nutrition in diabetes for more than a century. Melinda Maryniuk, a renowned dietitian who was previously Director of Care Programs at […]
Topline results from the EMPEROR-Preserved Phase 3 trial suggest potential for empagliflozin as a treatment for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. The as-yet-unpublished findings are due to be presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2021 in August. The EMPEROR-Preserved trial investigated the safety and efficacy of the SGLT-2 inhibitor Jardiance® (empagliflozin)in […]
People with type 1 diabetes have been pushing the boundaries of sporting excellence for the past 100 years. Now, thanks to technology like continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and closed-loop, they are achieving more than ever before Several athletes with type 1 diabetes are aiming for a medal at this summer’s Tokyo Olympics, while professional cyclists […]
Listening to your feedback continues to be at the forefront of ensuring the EASD e-Learning programme is up to date, evidence based and meets the needs of our learners. You may recently have read about some changes we made to the e-Learning platform to make it easier for you to let us know what you […]
If you want a deeper understanding of the COVID-19 vaccination landscape, Dr Marc Evans is here to help. This week on Horizons we’re launching part one of his two-part presentation, an in-depth survey of the various vaccination approaches and how each of them performs against new variants. Dr Marc Evans’ research passions are real-world evidence, […]
Look to the liver – for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has important links with type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, and can worsen the risk of cardiovascular disease. NAFLD is a multisystem disease that begins with fat accumulation in the liver. Once 5% or more of the liver cells contain fat, the person actually […]
The human microbiome, its role in diabetes and whether we can modify it with diet was the subject of two presentations at the 38th International Symposium on Diabetes and Nutrition. As an increasing amount of research turns its attention to the human gut microbiome and its influence on disease prevention, yogurt consumption is in the […]
Early puberty timing is linked with type 2 diabetes and our increasing understanding of this could lead to targeted interventions in the future… With type 2 diabetes on the rise, understanding the origins of the disease and whether we can tackle its causes earlier in life is key. At the 2021 Diabetes UK Professional Conference, […]
The discovery of insulin was one of the most remarkable breakthroughs in the history of medicine – and subsequent innovations have radically improved its use and flexibility, says Professor Kamlesh Khunti in the latest in our series ‘Insulin@100’. But its full potential is being stymied by therapeutic inertia. Professor Khunti is in no doubt as […]
Empowering women to choose the right contraception can make a huge difference to their lives – and to their experience of pregnancy should they choose that later down the line. This year’s Diabetes UK Professional Conference highlighted the importance of providing good contraceptive advice to women with diabetes. As part of a session on women’s […]
The need for precision medicine to inform diabetes management decisions is widely understood, but how can we achieve it? Precision monitoring could be the enabler. Historically, biomarkers have been complex measurement process unsuited to home testing and involving expensive data points. Diabetes biomarkers may include blood glucose drawn at a clinical lab and mean glycaemia […]
The latest module in EASD e-Learning’s course on metabolic surgery launches today, written and presented by Dr Dimitri Pournaras, a prolific researcher in the field, who is also a bariatric and metabolic surgeon at North Bristol NHS Trust. And as his module shows, there’s more to this surgery than meets the eye… Dimitri’s module is […]
There are pros and cons to each of the non-surgical approaches designed to reduce bodyweight in people living with obesity and type 2 diabetes, and these were outlined at this year’s Diabetes UK Professional Conference. Dietary interventions came first in a thorough and concise presentation from Dr Karl Neff, consultant endocrinologist and obesity physician at […]
As bariatric surgery becomes more popular, we’re finding out more about its safety and outcomes. At the 2021 Diabetes UK Professional Conference, two experts explored its complications and benefits. As bariatric surgery increases in popularity, we are encountering more problems such as nutritional deficiencies, post-operative pain, osmotic dumping syndrome and post-bariatric hypoglycaemia (PBH), said Dr […]
We now have unprecedented levels of research and development into drugs that can help manage cardiovascular risk, particularly in type 2 diabetes. Professor Naveed Sattar (University of Glasgow, UK) and Professor Darren McGuire (UT Southwestern, USA) get to grips with how this has come about and what new treatments we might look to in the […]
Diabetes in pregnancy can impact both mother and child. Two experts at this year’s Diabetes UK Professional Conference covered the link between gestational diabetes and stillbirth, and how to prepare women with pre-existing diabetes for pregnancy. At around three in 1,000 births, the UK has one of the highest stillbirth prevalence proportions in Europe and […]
Diabetes was identified as a risk factor for poor prognosis of COVID-19 early on in the pandemic. Research is now revealing a more nuanced association between levels of risk and phenotypic characteristics – work that could help identify which people with diabetes are at greater risk of developing severe COVID-19 or dying from the disease. […]
Metformin is used in pregnancy but there are still knowledge gaps. Here’s what we do and don’t know… In 2019, one in six pregnancies was affected by gestational diabetes, according to the International Diabetes Federation, and type 2 diabetes in pregnancy is also an increasing concern. At the 2021 Diabetes UK Professional Conference, Professor Fidelma […]
Surgical intervention to help manage or even reverse type 2 diabetes has become well established over the last two decades. In the first module in EASD e-Learning’s latest course, ‘Metabolic surgery’, Professor Carel Le Roux examines the underlying mechanisms that make this much talked-about treatment so effective. There are various mechanisms by which metabolic surgery […]
Healthcare providers need tools to help personalise care for people living with diabetes, so they can achieve better outcomes and quality of life. But as attendees at this year’s Precision Medicine Diabetes Conference heard, patients themselves aren’t waiting; they can’t afford to. Each of the three days of this year’s Precision Medicine Diabetes Conference (a […]
Quality screening, early diagnosis and timely referrals are key to preventing amputations in diabetes. Two experts shared their knowledge in an enlightening Primary Care Diabetes Europe webinar Jane Diggle, a specialist diabetes nurse practitioner, set the scene with statistics demonstrating just how important it is to provide good diabetes foot care – one in three […]
Professors Miles Fisher and Mike Riddell – both of whom are keen advocates of exercise for people with type 1 diabetes, and cycling aficionados – gear up and don the lycra for the latest in our series ‘The long and the short of it’. The general benefits of exercise people with type 1 diabetes are […]
It’s not the most glamorous of nutrients but it’s making a big comeback in research into non-infectious diseases, including diabetes. For decades, dietary fibre only got a mention for easing constipation, but its powers extend way beyond that. Dr Denise Robertson, reader in nutritional physiology at the University of Surrey, gave a fascinating presentation at […]
Changes are afoot on the e-Learning platform – all aimed at making it easier for you to let us know what you think about our courses and alert us to any technical problems. Starting this week, regular visitors will notice a new presence on our pages. To the right of the screen, wherever you are […]
With the second COVID-19-era Ramadan now ended, Professor Wasim Hanif presents detailed guidance on supporting people with diabetes to fast safely during a pandemic. At the end of his presentation, Professor Hanif shares several sayings from the prophet Muhammad. One of these reads “ ‘Your soul, indeed, has rights on you!’ (Bukhari) Among its rights […]
Psychosocial factors have profound effects on the way people live with diabetes, but how can we apply findings from behavioural research to diabetes care? Two insightful, eye-opening presentations at the 2021 Diabetes UK Professional Conference pointed the way. Difficult conversations in diabetes care are inevitable but how and when they’re done impacts on their efficacy. […]
Semaglutide shows promise as an obesity treatment yet again, but this time in people with type 2 diabetes Semaglutide hit the headlines earlier this year after the 68-week Semaglutide Treatment Effect in People with Obesity (STEP 1) trial found that a subcutaneous 2.4 mg dose once weekly plus lifestyle intervention resulted in a sustained, clinically […]
Do recent studies showing unprecedented success for weight loss-inducing medications spell an end for surgical interventions to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes? Far from it, say Professor Carel Le Roux and Dr Dimitri Pournaras in the latest contribution to our series ‘The long and the short of it’. “It was the best of times. […]
Nearly all ulcers are preventable, which is why foot care and education is such a vital part of looking after diabetes patients – and took centre stage at one of the sessions of this year’s Diabetes UK Professional Conference. There are over 7000 diabetes-related amputations in England each year and 80% are preceded by foot […]
Continuing the EASD e-Learning Insulin@100 series, Professor Eelco de Koning turns to the subject of physiological insulin replacement by transplantation. One of the surprising facts revealed in Professor Eelco de Koning’s presentation is that the first attempt at pancreatic cell transplantation predated even the discovery of insulin. In 1893, a 15-year-old English boy was admitted […]
Fasting-induced stimulation of SIRT1 holds the key to an association between fasting regimens and the prevention of microvascular complications in diabetes, according to a new study in Diabetologia. It is now widely understood that the pathogenesis of chronic diseases such as diabetes can be exacerbated by the sort of high energy-dense foods so often consumed […]
This year marks the second Ramadan carried out under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is an event that already comes with additional layers of risk for Muslims with diabetes, as Dr Sarah Ali, consultant in endocrinology, diabetes and general medicine at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust told the South Asian Health […]
Awareness among healthcare professionals and the importance of education and discussion with patients were key points in a survey of issues around hypoglycaemia and how to fast safely during Ramadan at the South Asian Health Foundation (SAHF) and Diabetes and Ramadan (DAR) International Alliance Annual Diabetes in Ramadan Conference in March. Fasting from sunrise to […]
In a lively and thought-provoking contribution to our Insulin@100 series, Professor Tina Vilsbøll takes us on a whistlestop tour of insulin’s clinical use – past, present and future. Professor Vilsbøll, who is a Professor at the University of Copenhagen and a consultant at the Steno Diabetes Centre, is known for her work as a researcher […]
Study shows machine-learning-based clustering using finite mixture models can help identify phenogroups of people with type 2 diabetes, distinct clinical characteristics and cardiovascular risk. Individuals with type 2 diabetes are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. In a new study published in Diabetes Care, Segar et al. developed and validated different […]
Primary care is an ideal place to identify hypoglycaemia and help patients to avoid it in the future, according to the latest Primary Care Diabetes Europe (PCDE) webinar If you look at the data and ask enough patients, hypoglycaemia is common in clinical practice, according to Kamlesh Khunti, Professor of Primary Care Diabetes and Vascular […]
Sometimes seen as the price you pay for good glycaemic control, hypoglycaemia can have a profoundly damaging impact on the lives and wellbeing of many people on insulin and other glucose-lowering therapies. Hypoglcyaemia’s negative effects can be felt in almost any part of the body – from cardiac arrhythmias to cognitive impairment. The associated feelings […]
Severe hyperglycaemia shortly after admission to a non-ICU hospital setting in patients with COVID-19 is associated with a 7-fold increase in mortality risk, according to a study published in Diabetes Care. The study by Klonoff et al. also showed that admission glucose was a strong predictor of death among patients directly admitted to the intensive […]
The latest feature in our series celebrating Insulin@100 focuses on the potent but precarious synergy of exercise and insulin. By the standards of any era, Harley Street physician and diabetologist RD Lawrence was remarkable. But he must have seemed particularly so in the 1920s and 30s, when people with diabetes – despite the recent discovery […]
Promising results from the Pre-POInT-early study, which investigated the safety and immune effects of high-dose oral insulin immunotherapy in children before the age of 2, when they are most susceptible to developing type 1 diabetes-associated autoimmunity. Autoimmunity against insulin in childhood type 1 diabetes has a peak incidence between 6 and 24 months of age […]
In lock step with the pandemics of obesity and type 2 diabetes, another, less talked about condition is on the rise: non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Between 70 and 80% of people with type 2 diabetes also have NAFLD. And having diabetes also increases the risk of NAFLD’s progression to other, more severe forms of […]
Transplantation conference hears calls for an end to the notion of islet transplantation as experimental therapy, to be dealt with separately from whole pancreas transplantation in national allocation policies. But are we comparing apples and oranges? As islet transplantation is increasingly accepted as an effective treatment, the issues surrounding supply are being grappled with. In […]
Links between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and type 2 diabetes loomed large at the Paris Hepatology Conference in March, as did the potential use of diabetes treatments to counter the rise of this life-threatening condition. Despite being a liver condition, patients with NAFLD can require the care of a multi-disciplinary team and the importance […]
EASD e-Learning’s latest initiative, ‘The long and the short it’, launches today. The series showcases leading diabetes experts interviewing one another on a particular aspect of diabetes treatment or research. The twist is that you get to choose how long the discussion lasts. “We know that our learners tend to be incredibly busy,” explains EASD […]
Are DCD donors the solution to boosting islet transplantations? One of the main challenges facing islet transplantation is supply of pancreases. At the 11th European Pancreas and Islet Transplant Association Symposium and 40th Artificial Insulin Delivery Systems, Pancreas and Islet Transplantation Workshop, Professor Eelco de Koning from Leiden University Medical Centre gave a convincing presentation […]
Results from the Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and Diabetes Outcomes (CORONADO) study have identified variables linked to hospital discharge or to death among patients with diabetes hospitalised for COVID-19, establishing indicative prognostic factors for clinicians during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. According to the study, which was published in Diabetologia in February 2021, protective and deleterious factors mirrored […]
Vaccine strategies across Europe have been called into question after a large-scale analysis revealed that middle-aged people with type 2 diabetes have a disproportionately higher risk of dying from COVID-19. By evaluating published community and hospital data, the study, led by the University of Exeter Medical School in collaboration with Diabetes UK, showed that an […]
That patients should play a central role in managing their condition is now a generally acknowledged truism of diabetes care – at least in theory. What’s less widely spoken of are the many ways in which individual patients’ experiences help to shape a clinician’s vision and understanding of diabetes. In our new series of podcasts […]
The importance of involving patients in their own care and ensuring that their voices are heard was the theme of three presentations within the Patients Inclusion Initiative, a joint EPITA/EDTCO/ETAHP symposium to close the 11th European Pancreas and Islet Transplant Association Symposium and 40th Artificial Insulin Delivery Systems, Pancreas and Islet Transplantation Workshop. First up […]
A study published last May in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), which described morphological and molecular changes in the lungs of people who died from COVID-19, is now cited as a turning point in our understanding of why people with type 2 and type 1 diabetes are more vulnerable to severe infection. In […]
This week the EASD e-Learning platform is launching a new section on its site. Called ‘Horizons’, the section aims to be a more user-friendly central place where our learners can get diabetes news, updates about EASD and the diabetes research world generally and, of course, access our own initiatives – such as ‘Around the diabetes world’, […]
Listening to our learners is at the forefront of ensuring the EASD e-Learning programme is up to date, evidence based and meets the needs of our learners. It is also important that you know your feedback is taken seriously. As we launch some new features on the platform – several of these have been designed […]
COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on islet and pancreas transplantation, with many centres suspending their programmes and major reductions in organ retrievals. On day one of the 11th European Pancreas and Islet Transplant Association Symposium and 40th Artificial Insulin Delivery Systems, Pancreas and Islet Transplantation Workshop, delegates heard how this community is rising to […]
With world-wide prevalence of diabetes forecast to hit 700 million in the next 25 years, the need for effective insulin initiation and intensification has never been more pressing. Yet despite remarkable therapeutic advances since insulin’s discovery in 1921, particularly over the last 20 years, the last two decades have seen achievement of glycaemic targets decline […]
This year’s Robert Turner clinical research training course will be taking place on-line, according to an announcement from the EASD’s postgraduate education committee. The course, named in honour of the late Professor Robert Turner, principal investigator of the ground-breaking United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS), offers young researchers the opportunity to be trained by an […]
Should type 2 diabetes medications with proven cardiovascular benefits be used to prevent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in type 1 diabetes? This was the topic of debate on the final day of the 18th World Congress on Insulin Resistance, Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease (WCIRDC). In the ‘Yes’ camp, Dr Richard Pratley, Adjunct Professor of Medicine at […]
As the obesity pandemic accelerates, the search for a safe, affordable, practicable, minimally invasive solution has become ever more urgent. The need to tackle this crisis has been further highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with higher rates of severe disease and death among people with obesity. A promising development came last week with the results […]
The association between severe COVID-19 and obesity is well established, but how exactly does obesity fit into the COVID-19 picture? This pressing question was taken up at December’s 18th World Congress on Insulin Resistance, Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease (WCIRDC) by Tracey L McLaughlin, Professor of Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine. Obesity is a […]
At 11 years old, Elizabeth Evans-Hughes weighed just 45 lb. Elizabeth had type 1 diabetes – which, for a child at the start of the 1920s, was pretty much a death sentence. Remarkably, however, she lived on to the age of 73. What saved Elizabeth was the discovery of insulin in 1921. In the following […]
As hospital beds fill with COVID-19 patients, elective surgery is being delayed for millions of people across the world and doctors in every area of medicine are having to make tough decisions about who gets treatment and who must wait. Even once the pandemic begins to recede, waiting times will continue to lengthen as pent-up […]
Professor Naveed Sattar’s Camillo Golgi lecture had delegates at the EASD’s recent Virtual Annual Meeting gripped by its exploration of cardiovascular risk in diabetes. An interactive, abridged version of this talk is now available here on the EASD e-Learning site. With its stirring call to arms to counter the devastating impact of type 2 diabetes […]
In case you didn’t have time to catch the prize lectures at this year’s 56th EASD Annual Meeting, here’s your chance. EASD e-Learning has produced a series of interactive, abridged versions of some of the most fascinating of this year’s lectures, starting with the 55th Minkowski lecture: ‘Should I stay or should I go?’ Professor Gian […]
‘Two pandemics in collision: COVID-19 and diabetes’ was the title of a presentation by Paul Zimmet, Professor of Diabetes at Monash University in a joint session between The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology and the 18th World Congress on Insulin Resistance, Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease (WCIRDC) in December. Professor Zimmet began by making the important point […]
NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) is increasingly in the spotlight due to its high prevalence and growing incidence in people across the world. As obesity and diabetes pandemics gather pace, cases of NAFLD are only going one way, so the research world is throwing its weight behind the hunt for better diagnostic tools and effective […]
Diabetes’ spiraling global prevalence comes with hefty price tag – estimated at US$161 billion according to the 2019 IDF Diabetes Atlas. The ‘Diabetes care is expensive’ session at this year’s EASD Annual Meeting took a closer look at the economic burden of diabetes, beginning with a study that shed new light on the problem’s source. […]
One of the most powerful sessions at this year’s EASD Annual Meeting concerned COVID-19. First up was Professor Juliana Chan, whose Hong Kong registry has proved such a vital resource for understanding the relationship between COVID-19 and diabetes. Here was a masterful survey of the available evidence in this sadly burgeoning field. Professor Chan began […]
Personalised treatment for people with diabetes is a long-cherished goal of diabetes care. A session on unusual forms of diabetes at the EASD’s Annual Meeting was a timely reminder of just why understanding the differences between people with diabetes is so important.
New trial results announced at the EASD’s recent Annual Meeting, provide fresh evidence in support of joint ADA/EASD guidelines on type 2 diabetes management – specifically, the emphasis on use of SGLT-2 inhibitors in patients at high risk of cardiovascular and kidney complications. Patients with diabetes who have heart failure and reduced ejection fraction are […]
Intermittent fasting is the diet industry’s hot new kid on the block, dominating headlines and bestseller lists. But for all the books and column inches, evidence of its benefits from clinical trials - particularly human trials – is in relatively short supply. Which made the presentations at the ‘Fasting and diabetes’ session at the EASD’s Annual Meeting especially welcome.
Primary care was prominent at this year’s EASD Annual Meeting, testament to the “vital, pivotal role played by primary care in diabetes around the world” – as described by Professor Andrew Boulton, chair of the ‘Diabetes in primary care’ session.
Digital health has been much talked about as one of the great hopes of better diabetes management, and with so many new technologies now established in the market – continuous or flash glucose monitoring (CGM or FGM) in particular, as well as remote data-gathering platforms – the supply side of that expectation seems to be […]
Non-alcohol related fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is big news these days; already, a quarter of adults in the USA are estimated to have the condition, and prevalence looks set to rise globally in step with the obesity pandemic.
Virtual conference. EASD blog – Day 1 (22 September) For obvious reasons, this year’s Annual Meeting was a virtual affair. Which meant that instead of the usual crush of researchers and healthcare professionals, the EASD plaza was populated by surprisingly slender avatars and everyone got a front-row seat at the lectures – albeit via their […]
Madrid EASD blog – Day 3 (22nd February 2020) The last day of the ATTD conference in Madrid ended, for me, with three very different sessions − from liver disease and hypoglycaemia to metabolic surgery and stem cells. The increasing burden of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is one being felt […]
Madrid EASD blog – Day 2 (21st February 2020) On the second day of the ATTD conference and, indeed, scattered throughout the programme, were several sessions on the use of SGLT-2 inhibitors in type 1 diabetes. This new class of drug has and is continuing to prove very beneficial in the management of type 2 […]
Madrid EASD blog – Day 1 (20th February 2020) This year’s Advanced Technologies and Treatments for Diabetes (ATTD) conference was held in Madrid in Spain. Over the course of three days, although a much smaller conference than, for example, the congresses of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of […]
The last day of this year’s American Diabetes Association (ADA) conference in San Francisco is only a half day – but it is quite a half day! The results from three clinical trials are reporting. Normally on the last day of any conference, attendance has shrunk dramatically. But not today and I enter into a […]
The penultimate day of the ADA conference starts with the Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award Lecture given, this year by Professor Sadaf Farooqi from the University of Cambridge. Entitled “Obesity and the Biology of Weight Regulation”, Professor Farooqi’s research focusses on severe obesity and people with this have the highest burden of complications. Deaths from diabetes […]
My third day in San Francisco starts with a session on “The Resilient Beta Cell in Type 2 Diabetes”. Emerging research is indicating that not all beta cells are equal and that some have very different levels of activity. Professor Jim Johnston from the University of British Columbia in Canada explains that individual beta bells […]
This year’s organising committee has opted to pepper the 2019 programme with debates and, like yesterday’s debate between Professor David Matthews and Professor Thomas Pieber on the link between hypoglycaemia and cardiovascular events (click here to read the report from Day 1 of the conference), today presents three very different debates. The first of these […]
This year’s American Diabetes Association 79th Scientific Sessions are being held in San Francisco on the Californian coast. Thousands of delegates from around the world are gathering here for more than 180 sessions and over 2,000 original research presentations. Obviously, I cannot go to all of them – at any one time there are up […]