Biologists at Harvard say they’ve transformed one type of fully developed adult cell into another type. They transformed adult pancreas cells into insulin producing cells in mice. Could this be a potential cure for type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes? And, could this be the death knell for embryonic stem cell research?

My Take?

According to the BBC, a Swedish study is reporting that anxiety, depression, and sleepless nights increase the risk of diabetes in men. Researchers found men with high levels of “psychological distress” had more than double the risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those with low levels.

My Take?

WebMD is reporting on the CDC’s latest diabetes statistics – and, the results are gruesome. Nearly 24 million people in the U.S. have diabetes — including almost 6 million who don’t know they’re diabetic — and at least 57 million have prediabetes.

Diabetes is the No. 7 cause of death among U.S. adults. Researchers reported last year that type 2 diabetes hastens heart disease and shortens lives by about eight years.

My Take?

One researcher claimed that infants immunized with one dose of Hib vaccine at twenty-four months of age were less likely to get diabetes than if they received four doses of the Hib vaccine (at three, four, six, and eighteen months of age). He concluded that the risk of diabetes could be reduced if children did not receive vaccines at a young age. 

After carefully reviewing the data, researchers discovered that analytic methods used in the study were incorrect.

Reuters Health is reporting a small study showing adolescents can safely take, and may need, vitamin D doses that are up to 10 times what is generally recommended. They found that the high vitamin dose caused no toxic effects.

Reuters is reporting the American Diabetes Association featuring dueling studies on the question of whether intensive blood sugar lowering in diabetics provides health benefits. (see also the coverage on WebMD)

WebMD Health News is reporting a summary of available research showing that taking care of your gums may be one of the best things you can do for your health if you have diabetes.