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Tag: Endocrinology

  • Vosoritide’s first phase 2 study shows increased growth in children with hypochondroplasia

    Vosoritide’s first phase 2 study shows increased growth in children with hypochondroplasia

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    Vosoritide’s first global phase 2 study showed an average increased growth rate of 1.8 cm per year in children with hypochondroplasia, a genetic cause of short stature in children, according to researchers from Children’s National Hospital.

    This is the first medicine that has been developed to specifically target the pathway involved in hypochondroplasia. These findings will help inform future studies of vosoritide for addressing growth disorders.” 

    Andrew Dauber, M.D., Chief of Endocrinology at Children’s National

    This clinical trial funded by BioMarin is the first-of-its-kind to treat children with genetic short stature who do not have achondroplasia. 

    The team found the annualized growth velocity increased by 2.26 standard deviation (SD) and the height standard deviation score (SDS) increased by 0.36 SD during the treatment period versus the observation period. Hypochondroplasia specific height SDS increased by 0.38 SD, according to the trial published in eClinicalMedicine. 

    The authors studied 24 children with hypochondroplasia. Half were female and 22 out of 24 had the p.Asn540Lys variant in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) gene. The mean age was 5.86 years old, and the baseline height was between -4.78 SD to -2.27 SD. The trial consisted of a 6-month observation period to establish a baseline annualized growth velocity followed by a 12-month intervention period during which vosoritide was administered daily via subcutaneous injection at a dose of 15 micrograms/kg/day.

    The researchers found the absolute annualized growth velocity increased from a mean of 5.12 +/- 1.36 cm/year during the observation period to 6.93 +/- 0.93 cm/year during the intervention period for a mean difference of 1.81 cm/year for children with this condition. During the trial, the researchers also noted there were no treatment-related serious adverse events and no one discontinued therapy.

    The study findings also showed standing height SDS increased by 0.37 SD during the year of treatment or 0.41 SD using hypochondroplasia specific growth charts.

    Other growth-related conditions included in this phase 2 trial were Noonan syndrome, Neurofibromatosis type 1, Costello syndrome, NPR2 mutations and Aggrecan mutations. This manuscript includes only information specific to hypochondroplasia. Full data for all conditions studied in the trial will be available at a later date. 

    “Patients have come from all over the world to be part of our trial,” Dr. Dauber says. “We’re excited to see how well tolerated the medication was and how some patients had excellent responses.”

    Source:

    Children’s National Hospital

    Journal reference:

    Dauber, A., et al. (2024). Vosoritide treatment for children with hypochondroplasia: a phase 2 trial. eClinicalMedicine. doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2024.102591.

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  • New study reveals lifestyle factors boosting IVF success

    New study reveals lifestyle factors boosting IVF success

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    In a recent study published in the journal Frontiers in Endocrinology, researchers examined how lifestyle factors and fertility-specific quality of life (QOL) influence the outcomes of assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatments.

    Study: Lifestyle and fertility-specific quality of life affect reproductive outcomes in couples undergoing in vitro fertilization. Image Credit: Corona Borealis Studio / ShutterstockStudy: Lifestyle and fertility-specific quality of life affect reproductive outcomes in couples undergoing in vitro fertilization. Image Credit: Corona Borealis Studio / Shutterstock

    Background 

    Infertility impacts around 48.5 million couples worldwide, leading to an increase in ART treatments, with 2.5-3 million cycles annually and nearly 450,000 in Japan alone. With 1 in every 13.9 Japanese babies born via ART, the influence of factors like age, ovarian reserve, and lifestyle choices- including diet, smoking, exercise, and sleep- on treatment success is recognized. The World Health Organization (WHO) highlights the need to assess QOL, including fertility-specific QOL, via tools like the Fertility Quality of Life tool (FertiQoL). The relationship between fertility-specific QOL and ART outcomes, however, requires further research to understand their complex interactions better.

    About the study 

    The present study focused on infertile couples undergoing their first in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment in Japan, selecting participants based on specific health and demographic criteria. At the outset, participants detailed their dietary habits, modeled after the Mediterranean diet but tailored to Japanese preferences, and lifestyle choices, including sleep patterns, work habits, computer usage, smoking status, and physical activity, measured by metabolic equivalent tasks (METs). Additionally, the fertility-specific quality of life was assessed using the Japanese version of the FertiQoL questionnaire, exploring its influence on treatment outcomes.

    The study outlined the protocols for controlled ovarian stimulation, laboratory procedures, and embryo transfer (ET), including medication dosages and administration schedules based on individual patient profiles. The selection of good-quality blastocysts for transfer was based on the Gardner classification, with a wash-out period required between stimulation and ET. Outcomes of the IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) were precisely recorded, from hormone levels to the rates of fertilization, embryo development, and pregnancy confirmation via serum Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) test and transvaginal ultrasound for gestational sac (GS) detection.

    Statistical analysis aimed to explore the relationship between patient background, dietary and exercise habits, FertiQoL scores, and IVF outcomes, using a multivariable approach to identify significant factors. The study attempted to recruit 286 patients to detect a clinically relevant difference in the primary outcome, the good-quality blastocyst rate, with comprehensive statistical analysis performed using SAS software.

    Study results 

    Between May 2019 and March 2022, 291 women seeking their first IVF treatment at clinics within the IVF Japan Group and the University of Tokyo Hospital were initially considered for the study. After excluding those who discontinued treatment, became pregnant spontaneously, or met exclusion criteria, 281 women proceeded with controlled ovarian stimulation and oocyte retrieval. Various reasons, including lack of fertilization, absence of good-quality embryos, and loss of follow-up, further narrowed the participants to 260 who underwent ET, with 200 undergoing single blastocyst embryo transfers (blast-SETs). Of these, 139 women showed positive hCG levels, indicating pregnancy, and in 121 women, a single GS was detected without instances of multiple GSs.

    The study examined the rate of good-quality blastocysts per oocyte retrieval, revealing that women over 36 years old or those with Hashimoto’s disease had significantly lower rates, while frequent fish consumption was also tentatively linked to lower rates. Analysis of all ET cycles showed that older women had lower chances of a positive pregnancy test. In contrast, adequate sleep, computer use, and non-smoking partners were associated with higher chances. GS detection post-ET was more likely with the use of olive oil, more prolonged computer use, and a body mass index (BMI) of 20.8  kg/m2 or higher, with older age decreasing the likelihood.

    Explicitly focusing on blast-SET cycles, computer use for four or more hours a day significantly improved the chances of a positive pregnancy test and GS detection. Older age tended to decrease the likelihood of a positive pregnancy test, while a higher FertiQoL Total scaled treatment score and a certain BMI threshold appeared to favor GS detection, however, with a trend towards significance rather than definitive proof.

    Conclusions 

    To summarize, the study explored the effects of lifestyle, dietary habits, and fertility-specific QoL on ART outcomes among Eastern Asian women. Key findings include the negative impacts of advanced age and Hashimoto’s disease on blastocyst quality and positive associations between adequate sleep, computer use, and pregnancy success. Olive oil consumption emerged as beneficial for gestational sac detection, challenging assumptions about dietary impacts on fertility. Notably, male smoking negatively affected outcomes, highlighting the importance of lifestyle factors in reproductive success. 

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  • Childhood sedentariness associated with increase in blood insulin concentration, study shows

    Childhood sedentariness associated with increase in blood insulin concentration, study shows

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    An increase in sedentary time from childhood is associated with a significant increase in blood insulin concentration, a new study shows. However, light physical activity could reduce the risk of excess insulin and insulin resistance. The study was conducted in collaboration between the Universities of Bristol and Exeter, and the University of Eastern Finland, and the results were published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

    Based on the University of Bristol’s Children of the 90s data, the study included 792 children followed up from 11 to 24 years of age. At baseline they spent an average of 6 hours per day in sedentary activities, which increased to 9 hours per day during the follow-up. This increase in sedentary time was associated with continuously higher insulin levels in fasting blood, especially among youths with overweight and obesity, whose risk of excess insulin increased by 20%. On the contrary, an average of light physical activity (LPA) of 3-4 hours per day throughout the follow-up decreased the risk of excess insulin by 20%. Higher LPA was also associated with lower insulin resistance.

    Participating in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) showed signs of reducing insulin but to a much smaller extent.

    Earlier results from the same cohort have linked sedentariness to fat obesity, dyslipidaemia, inflammation, and premature vascular damage. The researchers have also observed a vicious cycle of obesity and worsening insulin resistance.

    Light physical activity is now emerging as an effective approach to reversing the deleterious effect of childhood sedentariness. However, whether long-term exposure to LPA from childhood reduces excess glucose, insulin, and insulin resistance has not been examined before. This is because only a few studies have repeatedly measured all these in a large population of healthy youth.

    The current study is the largest and the longest follow-up accelerometer-measured movement behaviour and glucose, insulin, and insulin resistance study in the world. The participants wore accelerometer devices on their waists at ages 11, 15, and 24 years for 4-7 days and had fasting glucose and insulin measurements at ages 15, 17, and 24 years. Their fasting blood samples were also repeatedly measured for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Blood pressure, heart rate, smoking status, socio-economic status, and family history of cardiovascular disease were controlled for in the analyses.

    Calling a spade a spade, our recent studies have identified childhood sedentariness as a monster that threatens the young population across the globe, no thanks to excessive screen use.”


    Andrew Agbaje, award-winning physician and associate professor (docent) of clinical epidemiology and child health, University of Eastern Finland

    “Sedentariness should be recognized as one of the twenty-first century independent causes of excess insulin, fat obesity, high lipid levels, inflammation, and arterial stiffness. 3-4 hours of LPA per day is critically important to antagonizing childhood sedentariness. While we await the update of the current World Health Organization’s physical activity guideline, which does not include an LPA recommendation, public health experts, health policymakers, health journalists, pediatricians, and parents should encourage kids to participate in LPA daily.”

    Prof. Agbaje’s research group (urFIT-child) is supported by research grants from Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation, the Finnish Cultural Foundation Central Fund, the Finnish Cultural Foundation North Savo Regional Fund, the Orion Research Foundation, the Aarne Koskelo Foundation, the Antti and Tyyne Soininen Foundation, the Paulo Foundation, the Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation, the Paavo Nurmi Foundation, the Finnish Foundation for Cardiovascular Research, Ida Montin Foundation, Eino Räsänen Fund, Matti and Vappu Maukonen Fund, Foundation for Pediatric Research, and Alfred Kordelin Foundation.

    Source:

    University of Eastern Finland (UEF Viestintä)

    Journal reference:

    Agbaje, A. O. (2024). The Interactive Effects of Sedentary Time, Physical Activity, and Fat Mass on Insulin Resistance in the Young Population. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgae135.

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  • Statins linked to slight diabetes risk but benefits outweigh the concerns

    Statins linked to slight diabetes risk but benefits outweigh the concerns

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    In a recent study published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, a large collaborative team of researchers investigated the factors associated with the increased risk of diabetes due to statin use, such as the types of individuals or populations that are at greater diabetes risk due to statin therapy, at what point after beginning statin therapy does the risk increase, and whether the use of statins has an impact on the glycemic control of known diabetes patients.

    Study: Effects of statin therapy on diagnoses of new-onset diabetes and worsening glycaemia in large-scale randomised blinded statin trials: an individual participant data meta-analysis. Image Credit: Fahroni / ShutterstockStudy: Effects of statin therapy on diagnoses of new-onset diabetes and worsening glycaemia in large-scale randomised blinded statin trials: an individual participant data meta-analysis. Image Credit: Fahroni / Shutterstock

    Background

    One of the leading causes of mortality across the world is cardiovascular disease, with low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol being the major risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The risk of atherosclerosis also increases significantly in diabetic patients. Treatment with statins such as 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitor is believed to decrease the incidence of ischemic stroke and myocardial infarction by one-fourth for a reduction of 1 mmol/L LDL cholesterol reduction.

    However, findings from recent meta-analyses have indicated that standard regimens of statin therapy are linked to a 10% increase in new-onset diabetes risk, as compared to usual care for hypercholesteremia or placebo. The risk of new-onset diabetes was also found to be higher with more intense regimens of statin therapy. However, aspects of this association between statin use and diabetes risk, such as the populations at greater risk and the impact of statin use on individuals already diagnosed with diabetes, remain unclear.

    About the study

    In the present study, the researchers obtained information on adverse events related to diabetes, diabetes treatments, and records of glycemia measurements from participants registered in the Cholesterol Treatment Trialists’ Collaboration, which consisted of double-blinded, long-term, randomized controlled trials evaluating statin therapy.

    This study included statin therapy trials if they had a minimum of a thousand participants with a mean follow-up period of two years. Furthermore, the only differences mandated in the protocol of these trials had to be in the administration of statin therapy or placebo or the intensity of statin therapy. The individual participant data, which also included information on comorbidities, anthropometric measurements, and laboratory results for blood glucose tests, was used for a meta-analysis.

    The adverse events related to diabetes that were considered in the analysis included a diagnosis of diabetes, complications related to diabetes, such as glucose control and ketosis, or any other complications specific to diabetes. The medications for lowering glucose levels were identified from the prescription information using a standard drug dictionary, and fasting status was used to categorize the glucose concentrations.

    A history of diabetes, the occurrence of any diabetes-related adverse event, fasting blood glucose levels of 7 mmol/L or above, or the use of medications to lower blood glucose before the registration or assignment of the participant to the trial was used to define baseline diabetes. In those without baseline diabetes, the occurrence of any adverse event related to diabetes, a higher than the standard cut-off of blood glucose, or the use of any medication to lower blood glucose levels after the commencement of the trial were considered as new-onset diabetes diagnoses.

    Results

    The study found that statin use was indeed linked to an increase in new-onset diabetes, although the association was moderate and dose-dependent. Furthermore, while a slight increase in glycemia was observed after statin treatment, most of the diagnoses for new-onset diabetes were in individuals whose baseline glycemic markers were already quite close to the threshold for diagnosing diabetes.

    The potential increase in cardiovascular disease risk that could occur due to the marginal increase in glycemia was accounted for in the significant decrease in cardiovascular risk brought about by lowering LDL cholesterol due to statin therapy. Additionally, the impact of statin therapy on glycemic control in individuals with diabetes was not dissimilar from that observed in cases of new-onset diabetes.

    The results also suggested that the incidence rates of new-onset diabetes were significantly higher for the trials involving high-intensity statin regimens in both the intervention and placebo groups, as compared to trials evaluating moderate or low-intensity statin regimens. The researchers believe this significant difference in event rates could be because the trials evaluating the high-intensity regimens had a higher follow-up frequency, including more frequent blood glucose tests.

    Conclusions

    Overall, the findings suggested that while statin therapy was associated with an increase in the rate of new-onset diabetes diagnoses, the association was moderate and dose-dependent. Furthermore, the risk of new-onset diabetes was higher in individuals whose glycemic markers were already quite close to the threshold for diagnosing diabetes. Any potential increase in cardiovascular disease risk due to the hyperglycemic effect of statins was mitigated by the overall reduction in cardiovascular risk due to statin therapy.

    Journal reference:

    • Reith, C., Preiss, D., Blackwell, L., Emberson, J., Spata, E., Davies, K., … Marschner, I. (n.d.). Effects of statin therapy on diagnoses of new-onset diabetes and worsening glycaemia in largescale randomised blinded statin trials: an individual participant data meta-analysis. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.  DOI: 10.1016/S22138587(24)000408, https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(24)00040-8/fulltext

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  • Study sheds new light on the heterogeneity of type 2 diabetes

    Study sheds new light on the heterogeneity of type 2 diabetes

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    A landmark study by the German Diabetes Center (DDZ), published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, sheds new light on the heterogeneity of type 2 diabetes. The researchers employed an innovative algorithm to stratify people with type 2 diabetes using routine data and thus visualize the metabolic diversity of diabetes.

    Type 2 diabetes is a disease with highly diverse progression pathways. Using an innovative algorithm, a team led by the German Diabetes Center (DDZ) used routinely measured variables to open up new perspectives on the diversity of type 2 diabetes in terms of insulin sensitivity, insulin secretion, distribution of fatty tissue, and pro-inflammatory profiles.

    Algorithm for precision diabetes diagnosis

    The work presents a unique, tree-like representation of diabetes heterogeneity that was originally developed by researchers in Great Britain under the leadership of Ewan Pearson and has now been refined with data from the German Diabetes Study (GDS) and the LURIC cohort. This innovative structure makes it possible to show different subtypes of type 2 diabetes in order to more clearly demonstrate how complex this disease is. Lead author Dr. Martin Schön stresses the importance of the study: “Our results demonstrate that we must consider type 2 diabetes in a significantly more differentiated manner and also, therefore, that there should not only be a single treatment for everyone.”

    Besides age and sex, the algorithm is based on simple routine data that is either available to therapists or can be collected easily, such as BMI, total cholesterol, or HbA1c. In this way, people who produce less insulin or tend to exhibit insufficiently controlled hypertension or lipid metabolism disorders within the first five years of a diabetes diagnosis can be identified early on. Additionally, risks such as premature mortality and specific diabetes complications can also be visualized.

    On the way to precision diabetology

    In recent years, countless results have been obtained at the DDZ for the purpose of subtyping diabetes mellitus. Continual refinement of these subtypes is now the goal for the precision diabetology of the future, says Prof. Dr. Michael Roden, director of the Clinic for Endocrinology and Diabetology at the University Hospital Düsseldorf and director of the DDZ.

    Differentiating between subgroups of diabetes using simple clinical data will rapidly accelerate the development of new approaches to prevention and treatment in order to ultimately identify and treat high-risk groups in a targeted manner.”

    Prof. Dr. Michael Roden, Director of the Clinic for Endocrinology and Diabetology, University Hospital Düsseldorf

    Practical application

    A simple illustration of the different forms and risks of type 2 diabetes, which can also be discussed with patients, delivers added value in daily practice. “Consequently, these research results could also be incorporated into everyday practice,” says Prof. Robert Wagner, who led the study at DDZ and is deputy director of the Clinic for Endocrinology and Diabetology at the University Hospital Düsseldorf. “The results of the study have the potential to change the way we understand and treat type 2 diabetes. An easy-to-use online tool already exists, making it possible to recognize and understand the biological heterogeneity of type 2 diabetes,” states Wagner. It has the potential to serve as a template for the development of more precise therapeutic approaches.

    The algorithm clearly visualizes the diversity of type 2 diabetes and the variability of diabetes progression. 

    Source:

    Deutsches Zentrum fuer Diabetesforschung DZD

    Journal reference:

    Schön, M., et al. (2023). Analysis of type 2 diabetes heterogeneity with a tree-like representation: insights from the prospective German Diabetes Study and the LURIC cohort. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. doi.org/10.1016/s2213-8587(23)00329-7.

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  • Unraveling the complex cellular composition of aldosterone-producing adenomas

    Unraveling the complex cellular composition of aldosterone-producing adenomas

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    Researchers from Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) find that the cells that make up aldosterone-producing adenomas become more transcriptionally active and express higher levels of genes linked to hormone production over intratumoral differentiation.

    There is strength in teamwork, and it turns out that this applies to tumors, too. Researchers from Japan have reported that different types of cells within a single benign tumor may work together to promote the tumor’s growth.

    In a study published this month in Hypertension, researchers from Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU）have revealed that a common hormone-producing tumor may actually be composed of a more complex collection of cells than previously thought.

    Primary aldosteronism a type of high blood pressure that can be caused by tumors growing in the outer layer of the adrenal glands. These tumors, known as adenomas, produce a hormone called aldosterone that raises blood pressure and can cause other cardiovascular problems.

    Adrenal tumors include nonfunctional adenomas (NFAs), which do not produce aldosterone, and aldosterone-producing adenomas (APAs), which do,” explains lead author of the study Masanori Murakami. “At present, it was unclear whether all of the cells within an APA are involved in hormone production, or whether different cell types within APAs play different pathogenic roles.”


    Masanori Murakami, lead author of the study

    To investigate this, the researchers performed single-nucleus RNA sequencing. This involves extracting RNA from the nucleus and sequencing it to reveal which genes are active. The researchers analyzed the sequencing results to categorize the tumor cells based on their gene-expression profiles. All in all, the team sampled adrenal-gland tissue from two patients with NFAs and three patients with APAs.

    “The results were striking,” says Tetsuya Yamada, senior author. “We identified 13 clusters, some of which expressed genes associated with hormone production, especially CYP11B2, which encodes an enzyme that produces aldosterone.”

    Simulated analysis of how these different cell types interacted and changed in the differentiation process identified two cell-fate pathways in APAs, both of which were involved in hormone production but expressed different sets of genes. As the cells differentiated, they expressed even higher levels of genes involved in aldosterone synthesis and became increasingly active.

    “The identification of two distinct cell fates in APAs suggests that these tumors have a complex cellular composition that contributes to their growth, development, and effect on the clinical characteristics,” says Murakami.

    In addition to CYP11B2, cells later in the cell-fate pathway also expressed more CYP17A1, which contributes to cortisol synthesis, possibly explaining the small amounts of excessive cortisol produced in some patients with APA. Furthermore, cellular clusters with active hormone production display an augmented expression of ribosome-related genes, indicative of increased transcriptional activity at single-nucleus level.

    Source:

    Tokyo Medical and Dental University

    Journal reference:

    Murakami, M., et al. (2023). Single-Nucleus Analysis Reveals Tumor Heterogeneity of Aldosterone-Producing Adenoma. Hypertension. doi.org/10.1161/hypertensionaha.123.21446.

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  • UT Health San Antonio scientist receives $1.2 million to implement early intervention measures for pre-diabetes

    UT Health San Antonio scientist receives $1.2 million to implement early intervention measures for pre-diabetes

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    More than one out of three people have pre-diabetes, characterized by abnormal blood sugar levels not yet in the diabetes range – and yet associated with significant increases in eye, kidney and neuropathic diseases, and risk of cardiovascular death.

    Moreover, the number of people with the condition is expected to double by 2030, with prevalence substantially higher in minority populations, including Hispanics. Both pre-diabetes and diabetes are considered global epidemics.

    As pre-diabetes largely is underdiagnosed and undertreated, Carolina Solis-Herrera, MD, a physician-scientist, associate professor and chief of endocrinology at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) has received a first-of-its-kind, $1.2 million award from Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio to implement early intervention measures for the condition. It will serve a significant unmet need in the community.

    The goal is to establish pioneering and affordable treatment regimens for early intervention and treatment of pre-diabetes and obesity, with emphasis in the Hispanic population, that later can be spread throughout our community by establishing pre-diabetes clinics and stopping the progression of diabetes.”

    Carolina Solis-Herrera, MD, physician-scientist, associate professor and chief of endocrinology at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

    “Additionally,” she said, “using sophisticated imaging and molecular technology, we aim to identify novel therapeutic targets to treat these disorders as we work toward a cure.”

    “Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio is honored and excited to be involved in Dr. Solis-Herrera’s work,” said Cody Knowlton, president and CEO of the foundation. “Diabetes is a pressing concern for so many people in our service area, and we pray that this study will have clear, impactful results that can improve the future health of our community.”

    What indicates pre-diabetes?

    Pre-diabetes is indicated by a “glycated hemoglobin blood test,” commonly known as an A1C test, that provides information on average levels of blood glucose, or blood sugar, over a previous two-to-three-month period. Results are reported as a percentage; the higher the percentage, the greater the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, the most common form.

    An A1C level of 5.7% to 6.4% indicates pre-diabetes, with a level of 6.5% or more indicating diabetes. A combination of lifestyle changes and medication can lead to a long-term prevention of progression to Type 2 diabetes. As it is, however, more than half of patients with pre-diabetes will develop Type 2 diabetes in their lifetimes.

    More than 37 million Americans, or approximately one in 10, have Type 2 diabetes – and about one in five of those don’t know it. Diabetes is the main cause of blindness, amputation and dialysis worldwide, and in this population, cardiovascular events are the leading cause of death. The prevalence of Type 2 diabetes is significantly higher in Hispanics.

    But pre-diabetes itself is considered a serious health condition, even though blood sugar levels are not high enough to be Type 2 diabetes. More than 96 million Americans have pre-diabetes, and an estimated 80% of those are not diagnosed. And yet pre-diabetes patients have a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular disease and death.

    Risk factors for both pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes include obesity, sedentary lifestyle, family history and minority descent. More than 41% of Americans are classified as obese. And risk factors in San Antonio and South Texas are greater.

    More than 65% of the population of greater San Antonio is Hispanic, and the prevalence of pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes here is significantly higher than the rest of the country. Bexar County has the highest Type 2 diabetes age-adjusted mortality rate in Texas, and each year, the cost of diagnosed Type 2 diabetes statewide is approximately $25.6 billion.

    “Given the lack of early diagnosis and treatment, the cost of pre-diabetes and its complications is unknown, but can be expected to be much greater than with Type 2 diabetes,” Solis-Herrera said. “In addition, cost of treatment can be a barrier. Therefore, affordable alternatives are needed and will be identified through this study.”

    While multiple studies have explored available therapies for Type 2 diabetes, she says, only recently has there been significant attention paid to pre-diabetes.

    “Proactive detection and early intervention of pre-diabetes will significantly decrease the progression of diabetes, with a tremendously positive impact in our community,” Solis-Herrera said. “Moreover, by using state-of-the-art research technology, this study will be the first of its kind to utilize a combination of the latest pharmacological therapies and biomolecular tools, giving us a distinct advantage that will uniquely focus on our Hispanic population.”

    Source:

    University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

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