diabetes

May 20, 2021

Type 2 diabetes medication shown to benefit asthma patients

Type 2 diabetes patients who also have asthma are benefitting from a diabetes medication, typically given to help the pancreas produce more insulin, that also improves asthma symptoms and may reduce lung and airway inflammation.

By Craig Boerner
March 18, 2021

HIV, diabetes and immune cells in fat

In HIV-positive individuals with diabetes, immune cells in fat are more proinflammatory and cytotoxic and may represent a therapeutic target for diabetes.

By Leigh MacMillan
March 4, 2021

Targeting glucagon action in diabetes

Disrupting the action of glucagon — a pancreatic hormone that works to raise blood glucose — restores functional insulin-producing cells in mouse models of type 1 diabetes and may be a promising treatment strategy.

By Leigh MacMillan
Insulin in vials
February 18, 2021

Gene variant and glucose metabolism

Genetic variation that impacts glucose- and insulin-related signaling affects responses to type 2 diabetes treatments and warrants further study.

By Leigh MacMillan
Katie Coate, PhD, left, Jeeyeon Cha, MD, PhD, and colleagues are working to understand the interaction of diabetes and COVID-19.
December 10, 2020

Study sheds light on diabetes and COVID interaction

COVID-19 has been linked to cases of new-onset diabetes, diabetes-related emergencies and a higher death rate among diabetes patients.

By Bill Snyder
December 4, 2020

Researchers urge priority vaccination for individuals with diabetes due to increased COVID-19 impact

Vanderbilt University Medical Center researchers have discovered individuals with type 1 and type 2 diabetes infected with COVID-19 are three times more likely to have a severe illness or require hospitalization compared with people without diabetes.

By Jill Clendening
November 17, 2020

A cohort for type 2 diabetes studies

A study group of more than 600,000 patients with type 2 diabetes, identified from electronic medical records in the PCORnet national research network, could be valuable for assessing the safety of type 2 diabetes drugs.
By Leigh MacMillan
November 13, 2020

VUMC employee attends honor walk for her brother, becomes passionate organ donation advocate

Her brother Taylor's death was heartbreaking, but Anna Lorenz is determined to inspire others with his example
By Matt Batcheldor
November 3, 2020

New treatment for a rare obesity

Diabetes drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, such as exenatide (Byetta), are a promising and safe treatment for a rare form of obesity.
By Bill Snyder
October 5, 2020

Clue to diabetic kidney disease

Vanderbilt researchers have identified a signaling pathway that promotes kidney fibrosis in patients with diabetes — and that could be targeted with an existing approved medication.
By Sarah E. Glass
July 28, 2020

Study challenges idea that lower BMI shields smokers from fat-associated health risks

While some smokers might rationalize continuing to smoke because of the lower weight often associated with the habit, Vanderbilt University Medical Center investigators have determined that even with a lower body mass index (BMI), smokers have a higher risk of depositing fat in and around organs and tissues compared to those who never smoked.
By Jill Clendening
July 9, 2020

Keeping beta cells “fit”

Vanderbilt cell biologists are defining the factors that help beta cells in the pancreas stay healthy, secrete insulin and prevent diabetes initiation and progression.
By Leigh MacMillan
June 11, 2020

Staff Nurses of the Year named

Rosamund Gabrielson Staff Nurse of the Year recipients were announced representing the four entities of VUMC
By Matt Batcheldor