Close Concerns Weblog

What! What do you mean, someone with diabetes can't be healthy?! the new york times!

As I may have mentioned, I LOVE the new york times. Living on the west coast, I receive an email message every night, late night, with the next day's headlines and I am a pretty avid follower of it. LAST night, I didn't read it but TODAY! I am aghast!

Type 2 Diabetes, Reinvented

Researchers’ understanding of type 2 diabetes is being reinvented before our eyes. Some time ago, there was a split among diabetes researchers about whether type 2 diabetes was driven by insufficient insulin production (beta-cell failure) or flawed insulin use in cells (insulin resistance). Eventually a consensus was reached: beta-cell failure and insulin resistance both contribute to the progression of type 2 diabetes, and both abnormalities emerging, typically insulin resistance first. Researchers then identified another problem in type 2 diabetes: the over-production of glucose from the liver (gluconeogensis), especially at inappropriate times such as after meals. For some time, this palpable trio – insulin resistance, beta-cell failure, and increased gluconeogenesis – encompassed the mainstream understanding of the pathology of type 2 diabetes.

This trio is expanding before our eyes to encompass a wide range of newly identified problems associated with type 2 diabetes. Suddenly researchers are paying attention to abnormalities in gut hormones (incretins), mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress, inflammation, and even the brain as drivers of type 2 diabetes. The newest member of the pack, abnormal fat distribution, which has been standing on the sidelines since the earliest descriptions of type 2 diabetes, suddenly finds itself in center field. 

Good weather's coming, dust off those walking shoes for a good cause

Ok so this is a quick heads up WAY in advance.  We just heard about another great cause worth supporting. The Obesity Action Coalition is co-organising a national obesity awareness walk to bring attention to the need for prevention and treatment of the obesity epidemic that is taking the US by storm.

This event will take place in Washington DC at the National Mall  - Monument Park on Tuesday, June 17th 2008 starting at 6:30pm. You can register by clicking here and registration is absolutely free.

Taranabant – Not a magic bullet

The data for Merck’s obesity drug taranabant is out, and the verdict is: There is no magic bullet for obesity. Taranabant belongs to the same drug class as rimonabant, which is marketed in Europe as Acomplia but has not been approved in the US. Both taranabant and rimonabant cause weight loss by blocking the cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) receptors in the brain – the very receptors that are activated by marijuana. So, in a sense, these drugs do the opposite thing as marijuana. Whereas marijuana is known (theoretically) to cause the “munchies”, these drugs seem to block food craving. There are loads of people who would love to stop desiring food, but there is no “calorie-free lunch” (pun intended).

Take me out to the ballgame... or buffet?

CNN just run a piece about a mildly disturbing trend in spectator sports leagues such as the MLB, NHL, NBA and NASCAR. Say hello to “All-you-can-eat seats.” It sounds pretty nifty from a business perspective to charge customers a premium for tickets that eliminate the hassle of clambering over multiple knees to get to the unbelievable line at the concession stands. That’s the idea behind these “all-you-can-eat seats.”