Diabetes Research

Progress in diabetes research has led to better ways of managing and treating the condition. For example, recent advances have resulted in the development of quick-acting and long-acting insulins. Research is sponsored by various government agencies and other organizations. The future looks promising, as scientists study different aspects of diabetes.

Diabetes Research: An Overview

In recent years, advances in diabetes research have led to better ways of managing the condition and treating its complications.
 
This research is being conducted by a number of different organizations. Many government agencies sponsor this research, including:
 
  • The National Institutes of Health (NIH)
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  • The Indian Health Service
  • The Health Resources and Services Administration
  • The Department of Veterans Affairs
  • The Department of Defense.
     
Many organizations outside the government support diabetes research and education activities. These organizations include:
 
  • The American Diabetes Association
  • The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International
  • The American Association of Diabetes Educators
  • Pharmaceutical companies.
     

Recent Advances in Diabetes Research

Recent major advances in research into diabetes include:
 
 
  • Development of quick-acting and long-acting insulins
     
  • Better ways to monitor blood glucose and for people with diabetes to check their own blood glucose levels, including advances in noninvasive blood glucose monitoring
     
  • Development of external insulin pumps that deliver insulin, replacing daily injections
     
  • Laser treatment for diabetic eye disease, reducing the risk of blindness
     
  • Successful kidney and pancreas transplantation in people whose kidneys fail because of diabetes
     
  • Better ways of managing diabetes in pregnant women, improving their chances of a successful
    delivery
 
  • New drugs to treat type 2 diabetes and better ways to manage it through weight control
     
  • Evidence that intensive management of blood glucose reduces and may prevent development of diabetes-related complications
     
  • Demonstration that two types of antihypertensive drugs -- ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors and ARBs (angiotensin receptor blockers) -- are more effective than other antihypertensive drugs in reducing a decline in kidney function in people with diabetes
     
  • Promising results with islet transplantation for type 1 diabetes reported by the University of Alberta in Canada
     
  • Evidence that people at high risk for type 2 diabetes can lower their chances of developing the disease through diet, weight loss, and physical activity.
     
(Diabetes Research Continued: Page 2)
Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
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