10
NEWS
Diabetes UK update
Emphasis on exciting proposals for research, and
other matters for the charity.
Diabetes UK responded to new results from the first
study in very young children using a hybrid closed-loop
(HCL) insulin delivery system to manage Type 1 diabetes.
Dr Faye Riley, Senior Research Communications
Officer at Diabetes UK, commented, "Type 1 diabetes
is a difficult and relentless condition to manage, even
more so in young children. It is vital that children are
helped to keep their blood sugars within the target
range, to prevent them developing diabetes-related
complications later on in life. This important study shows
that the artificial pancreas could be a safe and effective
way to help very young children manage their Type 1
diabetes and provides further evidence of its potential
to transform how the condition is managed. Artificial
pancreas technology can improve the lives of children
with Type 1 diabetes and can help reduce anxiety for their
families. We hope that research like this, along with the
NHS England pilot rollout, will soon lead to many more
children benefitting from this life-changing technology."
Diabetes research
The charity Diabetes UK has announced investment of
more than £6 million in 30 new research projects, thanks
to funding donations received last year
It has published a snap-shot of some of the most
exciting proposals which include work on the genes
involved in raising the risk of T2D, preventing the
destruction of insulin producing cells in T1D, effective
new drugs to treat foot ulcers and the longer term health
impact of gestational diabetes, the transient condition
that affects thousands of pregnant women.
The charity's largest grant, the Harry Keen Fellowship
which is worth almost £1m, has been awarded to Dr
Rachel Jennings at Manchester University, who is
investigating a gene implicated in damage to the pancreas
and insulin producing cells in unborn babies which
influences risk of developing T2D later in life. It is hoped
that understanding understanding this gene will lead to
the discovery of effective personalised treatments and
new ways of preventing the condition altogether.
Professor Noel Morgan of Exeter University is being
funded by Diabetes UK to look at ways of protecting the
pancreas's insulin-producing beta cells from attack by the
immune system. His team will use genetic engineering
to change how the cells respond to the immune attack.
This could show us ways that beta cells can resist attack
and scientists can harness these insights to develop new
treatments. A variety of new immunotherapy treatments
are being investigated to achieve the same goal, which
will prevent T1D and help rescue surviving beta cells in
people newly diagnosed with the condition.
Diabetes UK is funding research by Dr Holly Wilkinson
of Hull University who is looking at new drug treatments
to speed up the healing of diabetic foot ulcers, helping
people to better health and improved quality of life.
Meanwhile, Dr Nerys Astbury at Oxford University
is being helped by Diabetes UK to better understand
gestational diabetes with a project to prevent affected
women developing T2D or heart disease in later life
by comparing health records of women who've had
gestational diabetes with those who haven't, and
identifying factors that affect the women's future health
and wellbeing.
To read more CLICK HERE
Swim-athon
Meanwhile, the leading charity's Swim22 challenge is for
every body, and everybody. This spring, the challenge is
to swim the distance of the English Channel - 22 miles -
to raise funds and awareness for everybody affected by
diabetes. From 22 March to 22 June dive into your local
pool and swim 22 miles over 12 weeks, at your own pace.
To find out more and to register, CLICK HERE.
LIVINGLIVING
be delivered with its dime-sized patch.
Based on technology originally developed
at the University of Queensland, Vaxxas'
HD-MAP includes a 9-by-9 mm array
of thousands of very short projections
around 250 microns in length. Invisible to
the naked eye and coated with vaccine,
the projections can quickly deliver vaccine
to immune cells.
Vaxxas also claims that the patches
can deliver vaccine more efficiently - a
positive when people around the world are
clamouring for a vaccine against COVID19. The
company points to a recent
clinical study in which their micropatch
delivering a sixth of an influenza vaccine
dose produced an immune response
comparable to a full dose by intramuscular
injection. A two-thirds dose by HD-MAP
generated significantly faster and higher
overall antibody responses.
Because a vaccine is dried onto the
patch, the vaccines are stable outside
of cold-chain (they do not have to be
refridgerated), a potential answer to the
question of how to keep a traditional
COVID-19 vaccine cold in developing
countries and even developed countries.
Vaccines delivered through HD-MAP in
the clinical study stayed stable at 40oC
(104o F) for 12 months.
EDIT COMMENT: It's a different use
for patch, in the diabetes sector at this
stage, sensors are used to sense glucose,
not deliver drugs, but it's not beyond the
realms of reason that a similar micropatch
could be used for such a purpose in the
future to deliver diabetes medications.
Life Sport Diabetes
Mel Stephenson-Grey's home workout
circuit consists of six different exercises.
She explains, "With each exercise we'll
do consecutively for 30 seconds and then
rest for 30 seconds. If someone is new to
fitness or this type of activity, they might
choose to take a longer rest between
each exercise, for say a minute or two.
Once all of the exercises are completed,
we then take a six-minute rest (which
again is adaptable) and once recovered,
we repeat the circuit all over again."
Stephenson-Grey took part in the
London 2012 Olympics Games torch
relay and still trains (prior to lockdown) at
the track and in the gym. The exercises
she does include standing squats, pressups, the
plank, lunges, the superman
pose (when the opposite arm and leg are
stretched out) and sit ups.
She says, "This type of fitness session
is inspired by the type of session I've often
done with my training group over the
years, particularly at the start of the winter
or summer training season, as it helps
build strength and fitness as a foundation
to move onto other things. It works the
arms, legs and core areas throughout
the session, which can be helpful when
training a lot, because no one area is
necessarily over-worked or strained."
The home workout videos have been
accepted by many in the community.
She adds, "I'm sharing what training
sessions work for me. Please remember
that you know your own fitness, health
and diabetes best. Seek medical advice
if you are concerned about undertaking
physical activity."
Home workouts with Mel Stephenson-Grey of Life Sport Diabetes.
www. lifesportdiabetes.co.uk
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