Diabetes News You Can Use
Orforglipron may maintain weight loss after injectables
Patients who switched from injectable tirzepatide or semaglutide to oral orforglipron maintained significant weight loss, according to findings from the ATTAIN-MAINTAIN trial presented at the European Congress on Obesity and published in Nature Medicine. Orforglipron, a once-daily oral GLP-1 receptor agonist, preserved 74.7% of weight loss from tirzepatide and 79.3% from semaglutide.
Full Story: Medscape (5/15)
Obesity rates slow in some high-income countries
A study in Nature shows that obesity rates are plateauing or declining in high-income countries such as France, Italy and Portugal, but are rising in low- and middle-income countries. The analysis of obesity trends from 1980 to 2024 highlights the need for prevention despite the potential impact of obesity drugs. The US remains an outlier with high obesity rates, particularly among adults.
Full Story: STAT (5/13)
GLP-1 gene therapy trial approved in Europe
Fractyl Health has received regulatory approval in the Netherlands to begin the first clinical trial of a gene therapy for type 2 diabetes. The Phase I/II trial will test the safety and efficacy of RJVA-001, a GLP-1 receptor agonist gene therapy delivered to the pancreas by endoscopic infusion.
Full Story: Inside Precision Medicine (5/12)
Obesity, diabetes are factors in excess deaths in US
A study published in JAMA Network Open found that the US reported 12.7 million excess deaths from 1999 to 2022, more than any other high-income country. Annual excess deaths jumped from about 346,000 in 1999 to 905,000 in 2022. Circulatory diseases were the leading cause, along with deaths related to diabetes, kidney and metabolic diseases. Obesity factored into higher rates of cardiovascular disease in Americans ages 45 to 64.
Full Story: Health Exec (5/10)
About 9% in US have obesity and drink heavily
A study in JAMA Internal Medicine found that 9% of US adults in 2023 had both obesity and heavy drinking, a combination that increases the risk of liver disease. The study, which surveyed 45,133 adults, also notes that the overlap is especially prevalent among young and middle-aged adults, particularly those without insurance or on Medicaid. The researchers said that GLP-1 drugs could be a dual treatment.
Full Story: MedPage Today (4/20)
SGLT-2 inhibitors cut adverse outcomes with diabetes, cirrhosis
Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors are associated with a significantly reduced risk of adverse kidney, cardiovascular and hepatic outcomes in patients with Type 2 diabetes and cirrhosis, according to a study in JAMA Network Open. The study found that SGLT-2 inhibitors lowered the risk of end-stage kidney disease, acute kidney injury, major cardiovascular events and hepatic decompensation by 35% compared with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors.
Full Story: Healio (free registration) (4/20)
Switch to INSTIs to treat HIV is tied to diabetes risk
A study in The Lancet HIV found that adults with HIV who switch from protease inhibitor-based regimens to integrase strand transfer inhibitors face a significantly higher risk for diabetes, especially within the first two years. Researchers analyzed data from 13,071 patients, finding a 6% incidence of diabetes over two years among those who switched to INSTIs, compared with 4% among those who continued protease inhibitors.
Full Story: Infectious Disease Advisor (4/13)
Genes related to type 1 diabetes may affect brain cells
A study in Nature Communications based on UK Biobank data found that genetic risks associated with type 1 diabetes may affect brain cells, particularly microglia, as well as immune and pancreatic cells. “These findings do not mean that type 1 diabetes causes cognitive differences, but rather that both may reflect shared underlying biological pathways,” senior author David Alagpulinsa said.
Full Story: Medical Xpress (4/13)
Endocrine Society says proposed obesity criteria would complicate care
A proposed framework for diagnosing obesity that moves away from using body mass index as a standalone metric could delay treatment for millions of patients, especially those with preclinical obesity, according to the Endocrine Society. In an article in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, the organization wrote that the framework could complicate routine clinical care and widen health disparities.
Full Story: MedPage Today (free registration) (4/2)
Senate bill would cap insulin costs for privately insured
A bipartisan group in the Senate has introduced the INSULIN Act, which would cap insulin costs at $35 per month for Americans with private insurance and initiate a pilot program for uninsured individuals in 10 states. The bill faces challenges but represents a potential bipartisan win on health care affordability amid rising costs.
Full Story: The Associated Press (4/2)
Diabetes Research Center
Related News
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.