Diabetes News You Can Use
Chronic cough tied to GLP-1s for patients with diabetes
A study of more than 2 million patients with type 2 diabetes found that GLP-1 receptor agonists were associated with a 12% increased risk of chronic cough, compared with other second-line diabetes medications. The risk persisted even when patients with a history of gastroesophageal reflux disease were excluded, according to the study in JAMA Otolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery.
Full Story: MedPage Today (free registration) (11/26)
GLP-1 use before pregnancy may carry risks
Discontinuing glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists before or during early pregnancy may be associated with increased gestational weight gain and higher risks of preterm delivery, gestational diabetes and hypertensive disorders, according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
More study needed: “We need to do more research to find ways to help manage weight gain and reduce risks during pregnancy when stopping GLP-1 medications,” senior author Dr. Camille Powe said.
Full Story: HealthDay News (11/25)
Data: Oral GLP-1 drug may help with weight loss, diabetes
An 18-month clinical trial found that the oral GLP-1 medication orforglipron, from Eli Lilly, may help patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity lose an average of 10.5% of their body weight and improve blood sugar levels. The study in The Lancet reported that the drug had similar side effects as injected GLP-1 medications.
Full Story: HealthDay News (11/25)
Manufacturers to sell obesity drugs directly to employers
Starting January 1, Eli Lilly & Co. and Novo Nordisk will sell their weight-loss drugs Zepbound and Wegovy directly to employers through a program with Waltz Health, bypassing traditional pharmacy benefit managers. The initiative will offer the drugs at fixed up-front prices, aiming to make them more accessible and affordable for employees.
Full Story: BenefitsPRO (free registration) (11/21)
Semaglutide does not slow Alzheimer’s progression
Novo Nordisk said an oral version of semaglutide did not slow Alzheimer’s disease progression in two Phase 3 trials involving more than 3,800 adults. While the drug was safe and improved Alzheimer’s-related biomarkers, it did not delay disease progression.
Full Story: CNN (11/24)
Ultra-processed foods may raise overeating risk for teens
Ultra-processed foods, which make up a significant portion of young Americans’ diets, are linked to increased calorie consumption, especially through snacking. A study in the journal Obesity found that young adults aged 18 to 21, when exposed to a diet high in ultra-processed foods, tend to overeat even when not hungry. This behavior was not observed in those who consumed a diet of unprocessed foods.
Full Story: HealthDay News (11/24)
Metformin reduces insulin needs with type 1 diabetes
A study in Nature Communications found that metformin did not counteract insulin resistance among patients with type 1 diabetes but did reduce their insulin needs. “Although we didn’t find changes to insulin resistance from the use of metformin, we did show that people taking it used around 12% less insulin than those on placebo,” endocrinologist and study co-leader Dr. Jennifer Snaith said.
Next steps: Researchers are looking at how metformin may affect the microbiome in the gut. “We’re hoping this will provide clues on metformin’s mechanism of action, so that it can be more widely used in the management of type 1 diabetes,” Snaith said.
Full Story: Medical Xpress (11/24)
Lawmakers voice concern over CMS diabetes device plan
Leaders of the House and Senate Diabetes Caucuses have voiced concerns over a CMS proposal that would include insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors in a competitive bidding program and change payments to a monthly rental system. The lawmakers said the rule would reduce access to diabetes technology.
Full Story: MedTech Dive (11/4)
Investigative obesity pill shows cardiovascular benefits
Novo Nordisk presented data showing that its experimental weight-loss pill provides cardiovascular benefits and blood sugar control. New analyses of data from the OASIS 4 trial found that a 25-milligram dose of oral semaglutide provided comparable results to injectable semaglutide.
Full Story: Medscape (11/5), Healio (free registration) (11/5)
Fat cell enzyme has gene-regulating role
A study published in the journal Cell Metabolism suggests that the enzyme hormone-sensitive lipase has a previously unknown role in regulating gene activity within the nucleus of fat cells. The findings may lead to new treatments for obesity by focusing on restoring fat cell function.
Full Story: Science (10/23)
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DRC Affiliate Ian de Boer to Give Garabed Eknoyan Endowed Lectureship
DRC affiliate Ian de Boer, professor (Nephrology) will present the Garabed Eknoyan Endowed Lectureship, “KDIGO Guidelines Decoded: What They Mean for CKD Management in Practice” at the American Society of Nephrology Kidney Week. Named in honor of Garabed Eknoyan, MD, an esteemed researcher, educator, and clinician, the lecture recognizes individuals who have made an impact on or dedicated their lives to the kidney community. More information here.
Congratulations to this year’s funding awardees
Congratulations to this year’s funding awardees: Dr. Nicholas Chavkin and Dr. Stephen McCartney have been awarded Pilot and Feasibility awards and Ms. Jocelyn Cervantes has been awarded the Stroum Graduate Fellowship award.
NIDDK 75th Anniversary
In celebration of the 75th anniversary of NIDDK, Diabetes Care and Diabetes have published a compendium of ten articles that highlight just a few of the major contributions NIIDK has fostered through its support of research. These articles provide a broad, but clearly not complete, view of the results that have been achieved through their fostering of science across the country. Included amongst these is a paper by members of NIDDK about the research centers including the Diabetes Research Centers Program. There is also an editorial that celebrates NIDDK and at the same times raises concerns about the future of research and public health related to diabetes given the current discussion about the funding and restructuring of NIDDK and CDC.
DRC Affiliate Edward Boyko is Co-Chair of New Diabetes Atlas
DRC affiliate, Edward Boyko, professor (General Internal Medicine) is co-chair of the new edition of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Diabetes Atlas. As the number of people living with diabetes continues to rise, the latest IDF Diabetes Atlas emphasizes the urgent need for improved prevention, early detection and intervention to tackle the burden diabetes places on individuals, communities, health systems and economies.
Learn more on our news site.
CVTMC Director Karin Bornfeldt Announced as 2025 American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Fellow
The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) announced that CVTMC Director Karin Bornfeldt, professor (Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition), has been named among its 2025 class of fellows. Designation as a fellow recognizes commitment to the ASBMB through a history of exceptional and sustained service to the society as well as impactful accomplishments in research, education, mentorship, and service to the scientific community. Twenty-four fellows were selected this year. Read more here.