ways to prevent or treat diabetes, particularly in special populations such as metabolic pathways not previously connected with diabetes or obesity. …
R E S E A R J A H U A A YD 2008 N C E S CN VA R
APRIL 2008
Diabetes
VA researchers are studying innovative strategies and technologies–including group visits, telemedicine, peer counseling, and Internet-based education and case management– to enhance access to diabetes care and improve outcomes for patients In addition, VA researchers are seeking to develop better ways to prevent or treat diabetes, particularly in special populations such as the elderly, amputees, minorities, spinal cord injured veterans, and people with kidney or heart disease
Examples of VA research advances
Hunt for diabetes genes–VA investigators have been honing in on genes that boost the risk for type
2 diabetes One group of VA diabetes specialists, working with Mexican-American families, has narrowed their search to seven genes The exact functions of these genes are still unknown Two are involved in metabolic pathways not previously connected with diabetes or obesity The remaining five appear to be master regulators that can alter the expression of hundreds of other genes Ongoing research is aimed at determining exactly how these genes raise the risk of diabetes, as well as obesity
Improving therapy
for type 2 diabetes–VA is conducting a seven-year study, cosponsored by the
American Diabetes Association and four pharmaceutical companies, testing the use of stronger doses of drugs currently given to lower blo 
od-sugar levels and help the body use insulin The aim of the study is to Facts About Diabetes help prevent macrovascular complications such as coronary heart disease and peripheral vascular disease Diabetes is a chronic disease in which the Results are expected by 2009 body can not produce or properly use
Diabetes registry–An invaluable tool for research
in this area is VAs diabetes registry, which contains data on hundreds of thousands of veterans with diabetes, including information on prescribed drugs, test results, blood pressures, and vaccinations A recent VA study that took advantage of this resource, for example, identified factors predicting chronic uncontrolled hypertension in patients with diabetes
insulin, the hormone needed by the body to change food sugar into energy About a quarter of the veterans receiving care from VA have diabetes, and an even greater number are at risk due to overweight or obesity Of the estimated 16 million Americans with the
condition, more than 90 percent have type 2, or non-insulindependent, diabetes While it has been long known that type 2 diabetes runs in families and that certain populations eg, Hispanics and Native Americans are at a higher risk, it was not until recent advances in genetics that researchers began to investigate the link between specific genes and diabetes
Source:nyccouncil.info
