Endo News Roundup for February 2018

February 27, 2018

Three new diabetes studies highlight one risk, one potential prevention, and one possible new treatment.

Three new diabetes studies highlight one risk, one potential prevention, and one possible new treatment. This short slide show highlights:Â -- The impact of night shift work on risk of T2DMÂ -- A potential role for methyldopa to prevent T1DM onsetÂ -- Use of a ketone ester supplement to lower blood sugar levels

Endo News Roundup for February 2018 -- Diabetes Prevention

Night Shift Work and Genetics: What Impact on T2DM Risk?

Current, Lifetime Night Workers. Study examined vulnerability to T2DM of current and lifetime night shift workers

Authors' Insights. Study found a dose-response relationship between frequency of night shift work and T2DM that was true regardless of genetic predisposition.

Source: Vetter C, et al. Night shift work, genetic risk, and type 2 diabets in the UK Biobank. Diabetes Care. 2018 Feb; dc171933.

Methyldopa Blocks Molecule That Leads to Type 1 DM.

DQ8 Molecule Associated with DM Pathogenesis. Clinical trial of methyldopa in 20 new-onset T1DM patients found the drug specifically blocked DQ8; also reduced inflammatory T-cell response toward insulin.

Authors' Insights. The goal for use of methyldopa would be to delay or prevent onset of T1DM among at-risk patients.

Source: Ostrov DA, et al. Methyldopa blocks MHC class II binding to disease-specific antigens in autoimmune diabetes.J Clin Invest. 2018 Feb 13. pii: 97739. doi:10.1172/JCI97739.

Ketogenic Drink Lowers Blood Sugar Levels.

Ketone Ester vs Placebo in OGTT. Compared to placebo, ketone ester drink decreased AUC for glucose, non-sterified fatty acid, and c-peptide incremental; also improved oral glucose insulin sensitivity index.

Authors' Insights. While this study was done in healthy volunteers, the same response seen in persons with, or at risk for T2DM, might suggest that a ketone monoester supplement could be used to lower glucose levels and improve metabolic health.

Source: Myette-CÃ´tÃ© E, et al. Prior ingestion of exogenous ketone monoester attenuates the glycemic response to an oral glucose tolerance test in healthy young individuals. J Physiol. Accepted Author Manuscript. doi:10.1113/JP275709