Friday 29 December 2017

Advances in treatment of Diabetes

The increasing prevalence of diabetes worldwide is cause for concern both in terms of morbidity and increasing health costs. The main aim is to focus on new and emerging treatments for type 1 and type 2 diabetes. There has been recent focus on diabetes prevention both for type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Prevention program including lifestyle measures and oral hypoglycaemic agents have shown up to 61% reduction in the development of type 2 diabetes in patients with impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose. Little progress has been made to date on type 1 diabetes prevention although current work is focusing on T-cell immunomodulation therapy and beta cell regeneration. Management of type 2 diabetes has been improved by the recent introduction of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma agonists and more recently by the incretins including glucagons. It focuses on the benefits and restrictions of these new agents. The new insulin analogues glargine and detemir have made significant improvements in the management of type 1 diabetes both in terms of improvement in glycaemic control and in reducing hypoglycaemia rates. Inhaled insulin also shows promise for needle-free treatment of diabetes and these insulins are currently undergoing phase 3 trials. Insulin infusion pumps are becoming more sophisticated and increasingly popular in the management of type 1 diabetes. Many studies have shown benefits for improved glycaemic control and reduced rates of hypoglycaemia with pump treatment compared with multiple daily injections.

Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and was previously known as juvenile diabetes.

The following symptoms of diabetes are typical. However, some people with type 2 diabetes have symptoms so mild that they go unnoticed.

Common symptoms of diabetes: Urinating often, Feeling very thirsty, Feeling very hungry - even though you are eating, Extreme fatigue, Blurry vision, Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal, Weight loss - even though you are eating more (type 1), Tingling, pain, or numbness in the hands/feet (type 2).


Early detection and treatment of diabetes can decrease the risk of developing the complications of diabetes.

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