New Atlas

Medical Audio available

Clustered stem cells become working insulin producers in potential cure for diabetes

Nick Lavars February 11, 2019

Medical scientists have made a promising breakthrough in diabetes research, describing a novel technology that converts stem cells into insulin-secreting beta cells by harnessing an often overlooked step in their maturation.

Scientists at the University of California San Francisco have made a promising breakthrough in pursuit of ...

Medical Audio available

MIT's new oral capsule injects insulin through microneedles

Michael Irving February 7, 2019

Plenty of work has gone into developing an insulin pill as an alternative to injections, but that comes with its own challenges. Now, an MIT team has created a new design for a capsule that houses a microneedle made of insulin, which injects the hormone through the stomach lining.

MIT's new insulin-delivering capsule contains a microneedle that injects the hormone into the bloodstream through the ...

Medical

Almost three quarters of type 2 diabetes patients enter remission after gastric bypass surgery

Rich Haridy February 6, 2019

In an effort to better understand the effects of bariatric, or gastric bypass, surgery on type 2 diabetes, a new study has tracked the real-world experiences of over 1,000 patients to reveal 70 percent experience diabetes remission after the procedure, and remain disease free for up to five years.

A new study confirmed that long-term remission rates of type 2 diabetes are high, with the ...

Science Audio available

Lab-grown human blood vessels promise breakthroughs in the fight against diabetes

Dario Borghino January 18, 2019

Stem cell researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) have successfully managed to grow human blood vessels in the lab. The finding could mark a giant leap forward in the fight against vascular diseases.

Stem cell researchers have grown human blood vessels in the lab, allowing for risk-free experimentation on ...

Biology

Turning stem cells into insulin-producing cells could lead to "functional" diabetes cure

Michael Irving January 17, 2019

A possible diabetes cure could be found by replenishing a patient’s own supply of beta cells, which naturally produce insulin. Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis are a step closer to that kind of treatment, after tweaking the recipe for turning stem cells into beta cells.

Created from induced pluripotent stem cells, these new beta cells are already producing insulin, which could ...

Medical

Microneedle-equipped patch may make diabetics' lives easier

Ben Coxworth January 4, 2019

In an effort to spare diabetics the pain of performing daily finger-prick blood glucose tests, various groups have developed continuous blood-sugar monitoring systems. Swedish scientists now believe that they may have improved on such technology, utilizing a skin patch that sports a tiny needle.

The microneedle, as compared to a needle of the type used in typical continuous glucose monitoring ...

Medical Audio available

Electric-paper sensors could replace diabetic finger-pokes

Ben Coxworth December 20, 2018

There may soon be yet another alternative to the painful finger-prick blood glucose tests which diabetics have to endure on a daily basis. Scientists in Saudi Arabia have developed a paper-strip sensor that gauges blood glucose via a patient's saliva.

Sahika Inal, Shofarul Wustoni and Eloise Bihar (l-r) inspect a set of the inkjet-printed sensors

Medical

App brings more consistency to monitoring of diabetic wounds

Ben Coxworth December 19, 2018

When McGill University's Dr. Sheila Wang was in medical school, she noticed that doctors simply used rulers to measure patients' diabetic skin ulcers. Figuring that there had to be a more precise, objective method of doing so, she went on to create the new Swift Skin and Wound app.

Drs. Sheila Wang and Greg Berry, with the Swift Skin and Wound app

Medical Audio available

New 3D-printed electrodes may boost "jab-less" blood glucose monitoring

Ben Coxworth December 7, 2018

Daily finger-prick blood glucose tests are an unpleasant part of life for diabetics, which is why various groups have developed non-invasive glucose-monitoring sensors. Such devices may be becoming more effective and affordable, thanks to a project presently underway at Washington State University.

The research is being led by Asst. Prof. Arda Gozen (pictured) and Prof. Yuehe Lin

Medical Audio available

Stanford scientists warn of insulin shortage growing to affect 40 million diabetics

Nick Lavars November 21, 2018

A new study led by Stanford scientists forewarns of massive gaps in access to the life-saving hormone insulin as the diabetes epidemic continues to worsen. So much so, that half of those who need it simply might not be able to get it.

The number of diabetes sufferers is expected to rise over the coming decade. What does mean ...