Category: Research

A recent study published in the journal diabetes from the group of Dr. Michael Christie at the University of Lincoln in England has identified a fifth element involved in the immune system’s destruction of beta cell (the cells that produce & secrete insulin) that cause Type 1 diabetes.  Other well-understood targets include insulin and glutamade […]

A report on Reuters Health yesterday shared that Type 1 diabetes is tied to risk for a wide range of cancers and that, specifically, “people with type 1 diabetes are more likely than the general population to develop cancers of gastric organs and the kidneys, as well as endometrium and ovaries for women, according to […]

In September BC Diabetes blogged on the astounding outcome of the EMPA-REG OUTCOME® study indicating a 32% reduction in all- cause mortality in high risk individuals with Type 2 diabetes randomized to empagliflozin 10 or 25 milligrams compared to placebo. This report on the presentation of the renal outcomes of the same study from San Diego last week. It […]

Empagliflozin “Jardiance” is the third member of the SGLT2 inhibitor class to be marketed in Canada.  Like the other two members of the class (canagliflozin “Invokana” and dapagliflozin “Forxiga”) it lowers blood sugar and weight by causing wasting of sugar/glucose in the urine.  This results in increased urine volumes in all patients and a tripling […]

We are very excited about this made-in-BC research to help us find out if a drug will be beneficial for those taking it or whether it might make them ill before ever taking the drug. From Dr. Tom Elliott: “A new class of medication for diabetes known as GLP-1 agents have been on the Canadian market […]

We are very happy to announce that we have been added to a prestigious roster or institutions and organizations from across North America. This study is examining how a drug might help prevent kidney disease in people with Type 1 diabetes. To hear from the principal investigators, please click here to watch a brief video […]

This past Friday the US Federal Drug Administration released a warning that some newer type 2 diabetes drugs, known as SGLT2 inhibitors, may cause ketoacidosis, or dangerously high levels of blood acids that could require hospitalization. The warning comes from the US, but what does this mean for Canada. Our Medical Director, Dr. Tom Elliott, lets us know. […]

  We have had a very busy week as news of our latest Type 1 diabetes study, sponsored by UBC and the JDRF Canadian Clinical Trials Network, is making the news. In the past 48 hours, our medical director, Dr. Tom Elliott, along with various members of our team and study participants, have appeared on the […]

Earlier this month, Kathryn Doyle wrote a piece for Reuters Health on diets with the headline: “Diets work, but the brand doesn’t matter.” One need not travel far into the media sphere to hear about diets – there are commercials, gurus, ‘experts’, actual experts, various programs with a wide assortment of menus from all-fat to no-fat and […]

On Monday of this week, Reuters reported that two US-based hospitals are preparing to launch trials related to HealthKit, a software product from Apple that will be available with iOS8, Apple’s new OS that launches today. These trials will look at how HealthKit helps patients use glucose meters that integrate with their phones and make […]