Helping people gain better

Parents will be pleased to know that beginning in February, Texas Diabetes & Endocrinology (TDE) will begin clinical trials for new insulins in children and teens with Type 1 diabetes.

Dr. Tom Blevins, Medical Director of TDE Research explains, “We are excited to finally offer these trials to children and teens with Type 1 diabetes right here in Austin. The goal is to find better treatments and technology to help improve the lives of those children and teens.”

In addition, TDE plans to pursue pediatric device trials, including trials for new glucose sensors……AND……DRUM ROLL…. Closed loop systems (also known as the artificial pancreas).

To find out more about how your child/teen can participate call TDE Research at 512.334.3505 Ext. 1 or visit https://texasdiabetes.com/clinical-trials/ to apply for currently enrolling trials.

People of Austin, what do you think…. Should we pursue further Pediatric (Child/Teen) diabetes research here in Austin? Let’s get the buzz going…..

According to research in The BMJ, two new algorithms can accurately calculate the absolute risk during a 10-year period for developing blindness or needing limb amputation, two potentially serious complications for men and women living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The risk calculator takes into account multiple factors including age, type and duration of diabetes, smoking status, HbA1c, BMI, BP, hypertension, and known CVD. Here is the link to an online version of the calculator: http://qdiabetes.org/amputation-blindness/index.php

On September 25^th, the FDA approved Tresiba (insulin degludec / Novo Nordisk), making it the first new basal insulin to be approved in ten years. This is a once-daily, long acting basal insulin. The half-life is 25 hrs and it is active for up to 42 hours. One benefit of Tresiba is that the patient is not required to take it at the same time every day, although “patients are still encouraged to take it around the same time every day”. The approval was based on two clinical trial programs – BEGIN, which showed non-inferiority to comparators in A1c reduction, and DEVOTE, the cardiovascular safety program. Read the press release from Novo and additional information about Tresiba: www.tresibapro.com.

This is an exciting time in Diabetes management as there are several advancements in insulin therapy available now and coming in the near future.  These therapies will provide patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes with safer and more effective treatment options moving forward.  There are three therapies that we’re discussing here.

Toujeo® (Insulin Glargine 300u/ml) is a highly concentrated type of long-acting insulin that, in clinical trials, showed less risk for causing nocturnal (overnight) hypoglycemia and no increased risk for daytime hypoglycemia versus its comparator Lantus® (Insulin Glargine 100u/ml).  Toujeo® is an FDA approved therapy for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes that allows for a smaller volume of insulin injected.  There are several ongoing clinical trials (many being done at Texas Diabetes & Endocrinology) researching other concentrated insulin therapies, as well as some ultra-long and ultra-fast acting insulin varieties.  We expect to see more of these types of insulin coming to market in the coming years.  These advancements will alter how we manage diabetes for the better.

Another FDA approved therapy is an inhaled rapid-acting insulin called Afrezza®; this is an appealing option for those who would like to avoid administering insulin via an injection or reduce the number of insulin injections administered each day.  The insulin is approved for treatment of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and is administered at mealtime.  Other varieties of insulin are being researched, many pursuing alternative modes of administration, such as: oral, buccal (placement of medication between gums & cheek), transdermal (on skin ex: patches), ocular (eye drops), and intranasal (through the nose) to name a few.  It will be very interesting to see which therapies get approved and it will hopefully provide patients with better, safer insulin treatment options.

There has also been a lot of buzz about the ongoing work toward the development of an Artificial Pancreas.  This would be a continuous glucose monitoring system, which transmits data wirelessly to an insulin pump, then the pump in turn delivers insulin automatically based on a precise algorithm.  This system would allow for more accurate glycemic control, faster response time and less fluctuation in glucose levels.  This is a remarkable technological advancement and will truly revolutionize how one manages insulin-dependent diabetes.