One of the reasons for the increased interest is the sheer number of people with the disease. There are between 24 million and 28 million people with diabetes in the United States, the vast majority of them with Type 2. There is an estimated additional 57 million people with Pre Diabetes, a condition that can, and often does, lead to Type 2 diabetes. Another reason is the growing interest in preventative care, which can help save the healthcare system significant dollars down the road, not to mention the benefit it can have to many people suffering from chronic illnesses.

People with Type 2 diabetes produce insulin, the hormone responsible for regulating sugar in the blood, but their body doesn’t use it properly. People with Type 1 diabetes do not produce the hormone at all and need to inject it into their body. If blood sugar levels are left unchecked it can lead to a number of series short-term and long-term complications, including heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, amputations and even death.

Here’s a look at some of the companies that have received funding recently:

• Intuity Medical, which raised $64 million in financing, is a company that makes products that helps diabetics test their blood sugar levels.  
• Calibra Medical, which raised $9.3 million, makes insulin delivery devices.   
• CeQur SA, which raised $30.6 million late in 2009, makes insulin delivery devices and looks to develop a patch that will eliminate the need for daily insulin injections for people with Type 2 diabetes.
• Flexible Medical Systems, which raised $1.3 million last month, looks to monitor blood sugar levels through interstitial fluids.
• MicroChips Inc., which raised $16.5 million, makes implantable microchips that may help deliver drugs in humans, plans to test its continuous glucose monitor in humans.
• Tandem Diabetes Care Inc, which raised $52.3 million, makes insulin pumps.

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Fasting blood sugar level of at least 92, a one-hour blood sugar reading of at least 180,  and a two-hour level of at least 153 were believed to be within a typical range.  The study of more than 23,000 women in nine countries found that is no longer the case. If doctors adopt these new guidelines, many more women will be diagnosed with gestational diabetes.

Researchers examined records from 11,140 diabetic patients in 20 countries, according to an article recently published by Reuters.  They looked at the complications, hospital stays and costs. What they found was that patients in Asia and Eastern Europe tended to have longer hospital stays, but also higher rates of some complications such as stroke.

For example, in China, the average healthcare spending per individual per year was 10 times more expensive for a diabetic that has a stroke than the average citizen.

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In fact, women that pack on more pounds than recommended by the Institute of Medicine had a 50% greater chance of developing gestational diabetes, a form of the disease that appears during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes typically only lasts the length of the pregnancy, but can remain as Type 2 diabetes, also known as “insulin-resistant” diabetes. Insulin is the hormone that regulates the amount of sugar in the blood.

Gestational diabetes can cause complications in 7% of pregnancies in the U.S, including early delivery, C-sections, oversized babies, and an increase risk of Type 2 diabetes for the child later in life. Additionally, women that have gestational diabetes are also more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes later on in life as well.

For this particular study, Kaiser Permanente examined 1,145 pregnant women from an ethnically diverse population – 345 of which had gestational diabetes. The association between weight gain and gestational diabetes risk was more pronounced among overweight, non-white women.

Most women are typically screened for the condition between the 24^th and 28^th weeks of pregnancy. While the exact cause of any form of diabetes is not known, researchers hypothesize that with gestational diabetes, rapid weight gain early in pregnancy ultimately leads to the “exhaustion” of the beta-cells in the pancreas that make and release insulin. This could reduce beta-cells’ capacity to secrete adequate levels of insulin, leading to the development of gestational diabetes.

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Currently, there are at least seven different diabetes vaccines being developed. Most of them are for Type 1 diabetes and are in Phase I testing, meaning they have a long way to go before being considered for the public, if they ever are. However, Diamyd Medical, a Swedish company is conducting a Phase III trial of 640 kids recently diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes to see if their vaccine can halt or slow the destruction of insulin-producing beta cells. The company claims its Phase II trial results show that those given the vaccine shortly after diagnosis have a much better diabetes status compared the a group given a placebo.   

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body mistakenly attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Insulin is the hormone that regulated sugar levels in the blood. Without the insulin-producing cells, people with Type 1 diabetes must inject themselves with insulin several times each day.

For drug companies, a diabetes vaccine could be a real boost to the bottom line, according to Kalorama. The firm predicts the markets for such a vaccine could hit $100 million by 2012 and $2.4 billion by 2020.

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While many diabetics test their blood sugar levels several times a day, an A1C test is designed to provide a big picture look at overall blood glucose control over a period of several months. It can tell patients and doctors how well a specific treatment plan is working. The American Diabetes Association says diabetics should aim to keep their A1C readings below 7%. High levels of sugar in the blood can lead to some of the disease’s more devastating complications, such as blindness, stroke, heart disease and amputations.

Bayer says the at-home device enables patients to stay better informed in between doctor visits and arm them with greater knowledge so that they can have a more meaningful discussion with their doctor during visits.

The company says the at-home test should not serve as a replacement for their healthcare provider-administered A1C test, but rather should be used to complement it. Currently, A1CNow Selfcheck comes as a 2-test-kit and sells for about $30.

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The things in life that can have affect our blood sugar and the complications that diabetes can cause sometimes amaze me, especially when they work both ways.

Studies have found that people with diabetes are at a greater risk for periodontal disease and that periodontal disease can make managing blood sugars more difficult. While periodontal disease is the most common complication that affects the mouth there are others. People with diabetes can also suffer from tooth decay, salivary gland dysfunction, fungal infections (such as thrush), and taste impairments, among others. 

Diabetes can reduce your body’s abilities to fight off infections and periodontal diseases are infections of the gums and bones in the mouth. The symptoms of periodontal disease include swollen gums, bleeding from the gums, bad breath, receding gum line and loose teeth.

We all know that infections can wreak havoc with blood sugars. Periodontal disease is an infection of an area about the size of your fist. If you had an infection that size anywhere else in your body you would more than likely seek treatment from your doctor and you would probably monitor blood sugar levels as if it were a sick day. So what can those of us with diabetes do?

Of course good blood sugar control is the first place to start to prevent complications associated with diabetes. Regular dental checkups and periodontal screenings is the second step. Your dentist may recommend more frequent cleanings to help prevent complications. The road to good health with diabetes is a maze and good support from others is the best way not to get lost.

(Each of the Expert columns are based on the experiences and knowledge of the individual columnists. The columns are meant to provide you with helpful information, but are not meant to be considered direct advice. Before making any decisions that could affect your health, make sure to contact a physician or the appropriate medical professional.)

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Scientists are hoping to manipulate three ‘longevity genes’ they have identified that promote a healthy and long life. Researchers hope they can create a pill that imitates the genes’ function. One gene is thought to prevent diabetes, while the group of genes is said to protect people who have them against smoking, obesity and poor diet.

However, some are already questioning their scientists’ claims. As more information becomes available, we will surely hear more expert opinions on both sides.

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The sensors can be mass-produced using current technology used in making cell phone semiconductors or chips. This means they are not cost-prohibitive to make.

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The problem? Finding a less intrusive, yet equally accurate, way to monitor blood sugar levels has proven to be a tall task. In the last six months, we have reported on various new blood sugar-reading technologies under development, including eye scans and under-the-skin sensors. However, a recent article from the magazine Diabetes Forecast says that scientists are trying to develop a way to measure blood sugar levels by analyzing your breath.  

University of California-Irvine scientist Pietro Galassetti, MD, PHD, is working with a grant from the American Diabetes Association to try and make the breath test a reality. Before current glucose monitors were developed, smelling the breath of diabetics was one way people could informally test for blood sugar problems.  

Now, Galassetti is using technology originally designed to identify chemicals in the atmosphere. He is also working to develop an algorithm to make sense of the data collected from such breath tests. Such an algorithm is needed to be able to provide blood sugar readings from the data.  

However, even if everything goes as planned, breath-test monitors are still a long way off. If successful, Galassetti hopes that the private sector can refine the technology and bring it to market within the next 20 years.

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