Researchers said that the drug prevented the growth of lung tumors in mice exposed to cancer causing agents related to smoking. Mice that were given the drug orally had 40% to 50% fewer tumors than those mice not taking the medicine. Mice injected with metformin had 72% fewer tumors. Previous studies have concluded that the drug can reduce the risk of breast cancer and pancreatic cancer in diabetics.

Historically, mice studies relating to diabetes have not been good indicators of a drug’s success in humans. Further testing is needed to determine of metformin can prevent lung cancer in humans.

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The number of dogs with diabetes has jumped 32% since 2006. The number of cats with diabetes grew by 16%. The report linked the increased rates of diabetes to the growing number of overweight and obese pets. For example, fat cats are six times more likely to become diabetic than cats that are normal weight. Like in humans, symptoms of pets with undiagnosed diabetes include increased thirst, excessive urination and unexplained weight loss. However, there are some differences between cats and dogs.

Dogs are more likely to develop Type 1 diabetes, which means their pancreas stops making insulin. In humans, Type 1 diabetes is thought to be caused by a combination of genetics and environment. Cats, on the other hand, are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes, which is more closely associated with diet and weight. According to the article, the animals are treated with insulin shots and special diet or exercise regiment, depending on their condition.

Researchers looked at data from 2.5 million dogs and cats seen last year.

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The FDA announced recently that the drug will only be available to patients that have been using the drug safely, cannot control their blood sugar levels with other medication or who understand the risks and choose to take the drug anyway. In order to physically get the drug, patients will have to enroll in a special program and receive Avandia through the mail.

Eight months ago the FDA said it was severely restricting the sale of the drug over safety concerns and its link to heart attacks and other cardiovascular issues.

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Irva Hertz-Picciotto, an autism researcher and author of the study, said that mothers with at least one of those medical issues are 60% more likely to have a child with autism. About 1 out of every 110 kids in the U.S. have autism spectrum disorders.

For the study, researchers looked at 1,001 kids – 508 with autism or ASD, 178 with developmental delays and 315 that appeared to be developing without any problems. Mothers that were obese was found to have a much higher chance of having developmentally delayed children. In fact, moms of kids with such disability were 150% more likely to be obese.

Geraldine Dawson, the head scientist at advocacy group Autism Speaks said that previous studies have shown a link between Type 1 diabetes and autism.

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The drug, which is considered a DPP-4 inhibitor, is to be taken once a day and potentially in combination with other diabetes drugs. Januvia and Onglyza are in the same class of diabetes drugs. Tradjenta works by blocking a specific type of chemical messenger in the guy in order to cause the body to release more insulin after a meal. The drug does come with potential side-effects, including upper respiratory infection, sore throat, headache, muscle pain and even a stuffy or runny nose.

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The 100 women in the study in the U.K. are being given the common diabetes drug Metformin up to three times a day. The drug, which has been safely used by pregnant women for many years, cuts the food supply to the baby and reduces sugar and insulin levels in the mother’s blood.

The heavier the child is at birth, the more likely they are to become obese. 

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Normally, B-cells instruct the body to release antibodies and cytokines to fight off disease. In people with Type 2 diabetes, specific B-cells identified in the study instruct the body to attack its own proteins, leading to insulin resistance.

Researchers conducted a study on mice in which mice given a drug designed to deplete the B-cells did not develop insulin resistance when fed a high fat diet. Meanwhile, those mice not given the drug did develop the disease.

While mice studies do not often produce translatable results when it comes to humans, the researchers also examined the antibodies in the blood of 32 obese men. Half of the men in the study were insulin resistant and half were not. All of the insulin resistant men showed similar antibody profiles as was found in the insulin resistant mice, suggesting the results of the mice study may be translatable after all.

While the researcher are hopeful that drugs to treat the disease, or even a vaccine, may one day be developed, they say such therapies are a long way off. And, immunosuppressant therapies are risky since the immune system is used to fight off infections and diseases. Hindering that system may open individuals up to other illnesses.

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Many incorrectly think people with Type 1 diabetes ate too much sugar to cause the disease, while they accuse people with Type 2 of overeating. The truth is that both forms of the disease have both genetic and environmental factors that trigger the disease’s onset. Scientists have shown that if certain genes are present in individuals, environmental triggers can bring the disease to the surface.

In order to confirm these findings, scientists looked at identical twins. If one identical twin has Type 1 diabetes, the chances of the second one developing the disease is 50% of less. With Type 2 diabetes, if one identical twin has it, there is a 90% chance the other will develop it as well. However, there is still a 1 in 10 chance the twin will not develop the disease, meaning there is some sort of environmental factor at play.

In Type 1 diabetes, it is still not know what triggers the onset of the disease, despite years and years of research. Therefore it is nearly impossible to alter behavior to lower the risk of developing the disease in those most at risk for it. However, researchers have ruled out sugar consumption as a possible cause.

For those with Type 2, it is well known that being obese or overweight is a major risk factor for the disease. However, obesity also involves genetics, environment and behavior. Researchers have concluded, though, that body weight is not the only explanation for the development of the disease since not all those that are obese get Type 2 diabetes. Another clue is that some people of normal weight develop Type 2 diabetes. Most people can lower their risk of Type 2 diabetes with modest weight loss and physical activity.  

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The study finds that caffeine may disrupt glucose metabolism and lead to higher blood sugar levels.

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The study also found that the drug didn’t raise patients’ risk of hypoglycemia compared to a placebo.

The drug works by stimulating the pancreas to release extra insulin when blood sugar levels run too high. If the drug received FDA approval, it would compete against Victoza and Amylin from Novo Nordisk and Byetta from Eli Lilly.

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