Articles by Krish Singh
Low-cost micro-incision technique improved diabetic foot ulcer healing in trial
Within 20 weeks, 49% of ulcers treated with the new technique closed, compared with 27.5% receiving standard care alone. The procedure involved clinicians making small incisions in the ulcer bed with a sterile 2mm biopsy punch. The trial included only 100 people with superficial, non-infected ulcers, so the findings cannot be applied to every diabetic foot wound.
Gene variant may explain why glimepiride works less well for some people
A variant near the SLC2A2 gene was associated with a 38% greater risk of losing glucose control for each copy of the risk allele among participants receiving glimepiride. Carriers showed lower beta-cell function and a weaker response to an acute sulphonylurea challenge. The finding is not ready for routine genetic testing and should not be used to change treatment without medical advice.
Childhood screening for type 1 diabetes and coeliac disease proved feasible in Italian pilot
The programme enrolled 5,535 children, exceeding its planned total, across four Italian regions. Primary-care paediatricians collected small blood samples to test for type 1 diabetes and coeliac disease autoantibodies. The study assessed feasibility and clinician acceptability, not whether screening improves long-term health or is cost-effective.
Bedroom air filters reduced glucose swings in prediabetes trial
Working bedroom filters reduced indoor fine-particle pollution by an average of 36% compared with sham devices. Researchers reported an almost 8% reduction in daily glucose variability and smaller glucose rises following breakfast. The complete results have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed paper, so the findings should be considered preliminary. Cleaner bedroom air may help stabilise glucose in people with prediabetes, according to results presented at a major cardiovascular conference.
Simple blood test could help identify serious fatty liver disease in people with type 2 diabetes
An international study involving 1,590 patients found that a routine gamma-GT blood test could be useful as the first step in assessing fatty liver disease severity. Combining blood tests with FibroScan or other specialised assessments could help identify advanced liver scarring and reduce unnecessary liver biopsies. The approach still requires further validation, and detecting active liver inflammation remains more difficult than identifying advanced scarring.
Fruit and vegetable skins contain more fibre than the flesh in most foods tested
Researchers found that parts normally discarded contained more dietary fibre than the commonly eaten portions in 10 of 12 fruits and vegetables. Butternut squash skins and seeds contained 9.25g of fibre per 100g, while watermelon rind contained 2.10g per 100g. The study measured fibre content rather than health outcomes, so it does not prove that eating these parts improves HbA1c or prevents diabetes.
Obesity in your 20s and 30s linked to higher early-onset cancer rates in study of 6.3 million adults
Researchers followed more than 6.3 million adults aged 20–39 and found higher early-onset cancer rates among those with obesity. Over 10 years, cancer developed in 1.84% of adults with a normal BMI, compared with 2.24% and 2.62% in two obesity categories. The research was observational and cannot prove that obesity directly caused cancer or that weight loss would reverse the observed risk.
Living alone linked to higher diabetes-related death rates among adults under 65
Adults aged 18–64 who lived alone had a 22% higher adjusted relative risk of death from any cause than those living with others. Deaths attributed to diabetes were 34% more frequent among people living alone in this age group. The study was observational, and living alone is not the same as loneliness; the findings do not establish that living alone causes diabetes or increases mortality directly.
Study finds gaps in prescribing heart and kidney protecting diabetes medicines after guideline changes
Prescribing of SGLT2 inhibitors increased substantially among people targeted by updated American diabetes guidance. Clinicians who later scored more highly on a professional knowledge assessment tended to show larger increases in guideline-concordant SGLT2 prescribing. The observational study cannot establish that better knowledge-test scores caused prescribing changes or that the findings apply directly to NHS practice.
Scientists discover gut virus previously linked to human illnesses actually infects bacteria
Researchers demonstrated that a picobirnavirus found in human gut samples can infect bacteria rather than human cells. The discovery establishes picobirnaviruses as a third recognised group of RNA viruses capable of infecting bacteria. Previous studies detected these viruses in people with several illnesses, including type 1 diabetes, but there is no evidence that they cause or protect against diabetes.
1 in 6 adults with type 1 diabetes report significant depression or anxiety symptoms
Moderate or severe depressive symptoms were reported by 17.1% of adults with type 1 diabetes. Moderate or severe anxiety symptoms affected 16.2%, around twice the prevalence recorded among people without diabetes. The study was cross-sectional and based on a US health survey, so it cannot show that type 1 diabetes caused the mental health symptoms.
Poor diet linked to higher cholesterol in people with certain diabetes-risk genes
Before full risk-factor adjustment, diabetes was associated with 2.26 times the heart attack rate in women and 1.84 times the rate in men. After cholesterol, blood pressure and other factors were considered, the estimates narrowed to 1.72 in women and 1.67 in men. The observational study cannot prove that changing one individual risk factor will remove the excess cardiovascular risk associated with diabetes.
UK Biobank study identifies 31 new genetic signals linked to fatty liver disease
Researchers identified 60 genetic regions associated with liver fat, including 31 that had not previously been reported. Common genetic variation was estimated to account for around 25% of the differences in liver fat measured between participants. The main MRI analysis involved people of European ancestry, so the findings need validation in more diverse populations and are not currently a clinical genetic test.
Glucose monitors improve blood sugar even in people with type 2 diabetes who do not use insulin
Continuous glucose monitoring reduced HbA1c by an additional 0.9 percentage points compared with usual care in adults with type 2 diabetes who were not taking insulin. Participants using CGM spent approximately five additional hours each day within the target glucose range. The study was randomised, but lasted only 26 weeks and was funded by Dexcom, so longer-term outcomes and cost-effectiveness still need evaluating.
Diabetes and high blood pressure help explain ethnic inequalities in stroke
Black and Asian patients were more likely to develop diabetes and hypertension than White patients in a large South London study. Once diabetes or hypertension was present, researchers did not identify an additional ethnic difference in progression to stroke in their adjusted models. The findings are observational and should not be interpreted as proof that ethnicity itself determines disease risk or that all inequalities have been explained.
First three months on antipsychotics may be critical for diabetes risk, major NHS study finds
HbA1c increased around 14 times faster during the first 90 days after starting antipsychotic treatment than before treatment began. Weight also increased substantially, but changes in weight and glucose did not always occur together. The findings come from observational NHS records and do not mean people should stop taking prescribed antipsychotic medication.
Diabetes drug empagliflozin reduces inflammatory blood-cell activity in small human study
Empagliflozin was associated with reduced inflammatory interactions between immune cells and platelets within two weeks. The study involved just 16 women with obesity and prediabetes receiving the medicine over three months. The research did not measure heart attacks or strokes and cannot establish that reducing these inflammatory markers improves cardiovascular outcomes.
How often should people with type 2 diabetes see their GP?
A data-driven model suggested people at higher risk may benefit from shorter follow-up intervals when HbA1c rises, while stable lower-risk patients could safely have longer gaps. A separate study found the first appointments following a diabetes-range HbA1c were particularly important opportunities to document a diagnosis. Both studies used US healthcare data and neither proves that algorithm-based scheduling would improve NHS outcomes.
Blood immune-cell pattern linked to future type 2 diabetes and chronic illness
Researchers analysed approximately 12.4 million immune cells from 2,609 adults across eight international cohorts. An immune-cell pattern dominated by granzyme B-producing cells was associated with higher future risks of type 2 diabetes and other chronic conditions. The findings are observational and do not establish that the immune-cell pattern causes disease or can currently be used as a clinical screening test.
Olive oil before carbohydrates reduces early blood sugar rise in mice, study finds
Giving mice olive oil before glucose reduced the early rise in blood sugar compared with giving the oil afterwards. The effect involved slower stomach emptying and signalling through glucagon, GLP-1 and nerve pathways. This was animal research and does not prove that drinking olive oil before meals improves diabetes control in humans. The order in which foods are eaten may influence how quickly blood glucose rises after a meal, according to new research from Kyoto University.
Gut bacteria may help explain why some people develop fever after vaccination
Researchers found differences in the gut microbiome before vaccination that were associated with whether people subsequently developed a stronger fever response. Transferring gut microbes from participants into germ-free mice produced similar differences in inflammation, strengthening the case for a biological effect. The human diet findings were observational, and there is no evidence yet that changing diet, taking probiotics or altering the microbiome will prevent vaccine side effects.
Simple programme to cut sugary drinks improves children’s weight outcomes in randomised trial
A community intervention focused on reducing sugary drinks produced a modest but statistically significant improvement in BMI z-scores. The trial involved 437 children aged eight to 13 across 11 after-school centres. Reported changes in sugary drink and water intake were not statistically significant between groups, so the mechanism behind the BMI improvement remains uncertain.
Retatrutide delivers 18.8% average weight loss in Phase III trial of people with type 2 diabetes
People receiving the highest 12mg dose of retatrutide lost an average of 18.8% of their body weight over 80 weeks, compared with 5.1% with placebo. HbA1c also improved substantially, with the treatment targeting GLP-1, GIP and glucagon receptors simultaneously. Retatrutide is not yet approved in the UK, and gastrointestinal side effects led some participants to stop treatment.
Pregnancy complications linked to future diabetes and heart disease in study of 1.4 million women
Gestational diabetes was associated with approximately seven times the subsequent rate of type 2 diabetes. Pre-eclampsia and high blood pressure during pregnancy were linked to higher rates of future hypertension and chronic kidney disease. The observational study suggests pregnancy history may help identify future health risks but does not establish that pregnancy complications cause later disease.
Continuous glucose monitors linked to better blood sugar and kidney markers over three years
People using real-time continuous glucose monitors had HbA1c levels approximately 0.75 percentage points lower than non-users after three years. Longer-term CGM use was also associated with lower levels of albumin in the urine, a marker of kidney damage. The study was observational and found no significant improvement in eGFR, so it does not prove CGM prevents kidney disease.
New triple-action treatment produces 23% weight loss in people with type 2 diabetes
People receiving the highest tested dose of EloraTZP lost an average of 23.3% of their body weight over 48 weeks, compared with 14.8% with tirzepatide alone. HbA1c fell by as much as 2.9 percentage points with the combination, compared with 2.4 points with tirzepatide. The treatment remains experimental, and up to 27% of participants in some combination groups stopped treatment because of adverse effects.
New daily GLP-1 pill cuts HbA1c by up to 1.6% in type 2 diabetes trial
Once-daily safiglipron lowered HbA1c by up to 1.63 percentage points after 32 weeks in people with early type 2 diabetes. Around 71% to 78% of people taking the drug reached an HbA1c below 7%, compared with 25% taking placebo. Safiglipron is still investigational and the study was conducted entirely in China, so its effectiveness and availability in the UK remain uncertain.
New dual-action drug produces 13% weight loss in people with type 2 diabetes
People with obesity or overweight and type 2 diabetes lost up to 13.1% of their body weight with survodutide over 76 weeks. HbA1c fell by up to 1.21 percentage points, compared with almost no change with placebo. The medicine remains experimental, and gastrointestinal side effects caused a meaningful number of participants to stop treatment.
Childhood obesity has its own genetic signature, major study finds
Researchers identified 624 common genetic signals associated with body fat and BMI during childhood. Nearly one-third did not have a matching effect on adult BMI. The results suggest childhood and adult obesity overlap biologically but are not simply the same condition at different ages. The genetics behind obesity appear to change as we grow.
Oral drug shows early promise for diabetic retinopathy in first patient study
An oral drug called danegaptide showed early biological activity in people with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. In a small study of 24 patients, 55% showed signs including reduced retinal leakage or fluid. This was an early-stage trial designed mainly to assess safety, so larger controlled trials are needed before we know whether the drug preserves vision. A tablet that targets the blood vessels damaged in diabetic retinopathy has shown encouraging early results in people with diabetes.
Less ultra-processed food and more activity linked to lower type 2 diabetes risk – even with high-risk genes
Researchers followed almost 57,000 UK Biobank participants for an average of 7.8 years. Higher ultra-processed food intake was associated with higher type 2 diabetes risk, while physical activity was associated with lower risk. The research is observational and does not prove that reducing ultra-processed food by a particular amount will produce the risk reductions reported. Genes influence the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, but they are not the whole story.
Chronic inflammation linked to silent heart changes and 43% higher cardiovascular event risk
Researchers studied inflammatory markers and cardiovascular outcomes across nearly 488,000 UK Biobank participants. People with the highest levels of chronic inflammation had a 43% higher risk of major cardiovascular events than those with the lowest levels. The study linked inflammation with subtle changes to heart structure before obvious cardiovascular disease appears.
Deep sleep and 6-8 hours a night linked to lower type 2 diabetes risk
Researchers analysed sleep patterns from wrist accelerometers worn by more than 95,000 UK Biobank participants. More deep sleep was associated with lower risk of several diseases, including type 2 diabetes. Across many conditions, the lowest risk was seen among people sleeping around six to eight hours a night. How long you sleep matters, but new research suggests how you sleep may matter too.
Gestational diabetes is rising fastest in disadvantaged groups, major study finds
Researchers analysed 938,798 pregnancies and found gestational diabetes prevalence rose from 1.5% in 2015 to 6.6% in 2023. The rise was steepest among women with lower incomes, lower educational attainment and those born outside Sweden. The study cannot show that socioeconomic circumstances directly caused gestational diabetes, and Swedish results cannot automatically be transferred to the UK.
Once-weekly insulin approved in the US as NICE appraisal continues in England
The US FDA has approved insulin efsitora, a basal insulin taken just once each week. More than 3,400 adults with type 2 diabetes took part in the phase 3 programme, with HbA1c reductions comparable to daily basal insulin. The US decision does not automatically make the drug available through the NHS; NICE currently lists its appraisal as in progress. Taking basal insulin every day could eventually become unnecessary for some people with type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes stands out in study of fatty liver cirrhosis before age 50
Around one quarter of people with MASLD cirrhosis in the study had developed it before age 50. Type 2 diabetes was associated with nearly four times the odds of cirrhosis before 50 after adjustment for other factors. Genetic susceptibility also appeared important, showing younger age does not necessarily mean low liver risk. Serious fatty liver disease is often associated with older age. New research suggests that assumption may allow significant disease in younger adults to go unnoticed.
New diabetes guidance says emotional distress should be checked alongside HbA1c
New EASD guidance recommends checking diabetes distress at least annually. It says emotional wellbeing should be considered alongside metabolic and clinical measures. For adults with type 1 diabetes, CGM and automated insulin delivery may modestly reduce diabetes distress. Living with diabetes means making decisions about food, glucose, medication, exercise and health every day.
Researchers find stem-like immune cells that may help type 1 diabetes persist
Researchers found an enrichment of stem-cell-memory-like CD8 T cells in pancreatic lymph nodes from people with type 1 diabetes. These cells may act as a renewable source of immune cells capable of sustaining the autoimmune response. This is mechanistic human-tissue research, not evidence that a new treatment is ready for patients. One of the central mysteries of type 1 diabetes is not simply why the immune system attacks insulin-producing beta cells, but how that attack can persist for years.
1 in 6 children on GLP-1 medicines diagnosed with a nutritional deficiency within a year
Around 17% of children and teenagers starting GLP-1 medicines were diagnosed with a nutritional deficiency or related complication within 12 months. Vitamin D deficiency was the most commonly recorded problem, affecting 12.4% of the group. The study used health insurance records and cannot prove the medicines themselves caused the deficiencies. GLP-1 medicines are increasingly being used to treat type 2 diabetes, severe obesity and related metabolic conditions.
Early gut microbiome pattern linked to threefold higher type 1 diabetes risk
Researchers followed 887 children at high genetic risk of type 1 diabetes and analysed more than 12,000 stool samples. One pattern of slower, plateauing gut microbiome development was linked with more than three times the risk of type 1 diabetes. The study does not show that probiotics, dietary changes or altering gut bacteria can prevent type 1 diabetes. The development of type 1 diabetes appears to involve more than genetics alone.
BPA-free chemical BPS linked to higher HbA1c in type 2 diabetes study
Researchers found a modest association between higher blood levels of BPS and higher HbA1c in adults with type 2 diabetes. BPA itself was not associated with HbA1c in the study. The relationship weakened after additional factors including BMI and fitness were considered, so the study does not prove BPS worsens diabetes control. “BPA-free” has become shorthand for safer packaging. New research suggests the replacement chemicals deserve scrutiny too.
Cancer gap is widening for people with type 2 diabetes, Danish data suggest
Cancer incidence was 12% higher in men and 22% higher in women with type 2 diabetes during 2010–2022 than in people without diabetes. The largest differences were seen for cancers already associated with obesity. This is registry research presented at a conference and does not show that diabetes itself caused the additional cancers. Heart disease, kidney disease and nerve damage dominate conversations about the long-term complications of diabetes.
Sex did not trigger clinically significant hypos in small type 1 diabetes CGM study
Researchers tracked glucose during 110 sexual encounters involving 12 adults with type 1 diabetes. Glucose sometimes fell and sometimes rose, but no clinically significant hypoglycaemia was recorded. The study was tiny and all participants used CGM, so the results cannot guarantee that sex carries no hypo risk for everyone. Sex is rarely discussed during routine diabetes appointments.
New guidance says CGMs and insulin pumps can often stay on in hospital
An international position statement says CGM should usually continue in hospital when the patient or staff can use it safely. People who can safely manage their insulin pump or automated insulin delivery system should generally be allowed to continue it. Hospitals still need bedside glucose checks in some situations, and the devices are not appropriate during every acute illness.
Endometriosis linked to higher type 2 diabetes risk even without obesity
A large US study linked endometriosis with a 46% higher relative risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The association was stronger before menopause and among women with a BMI below 30. The research does not prove endometriosis causes diabetes or mean that everyone with the condition will develop it. Endometriosis is usually discussed in terms of pelvic pain, periods and fertility.
Early statin use after type 2 diabetes diagnosis linked to lower dementia risk
A Danish study found statin use after type 2 diabetes diagnosis was associated with lower dementia risk. Starting statins within one year was linked with a 15% lower relative risk over 10 years. The study cannot prove statins prevent dementia, but it strengthens the case for timely cholesterol management. People with type 2 diabetes are already advised to manage cholesterol carefully. That advice is usually framed around preventing heart attacks and strokes.
Breakfast may be setting up your blood sugar for the rest of the day
A Vanderbilt study suggests the morning meal can affect how the liver manages glucose hours later. The research points to glucagon, not just insulin, as a key player in the “second-meal effect”. For people with type 2 diabetes, this may help explain why blood sugar can rise later in the day even when morning readings look fine. Breakfast has always had a reputation for setting the tone of the day.
New GLP-1 review shows weight loss drugs are getting stronger
A new review found GLP-1-based treatments produced substantial weight loss in adults with overweight or obesity who did not have diabetes. Among currently available options, tirzepatide showed the greatest weight loss in the review. Newer experimental medicines may produce even larger results, but gut side effects remain the main drawback. GLP-1 medicines are no longer just diabetes drugs. They are now reshaping obesity treatment, and a new review shows how quickly the field is moving.
GLP-1 medicines not linked to major mental health harm in new review
A new review found no clear link between GLP-1 medicines and increased suicidal thoughts, depression or serious psychiatric harm. Researchers say early warning reports were investigated and were not supported by larger controlled studies. People with existing mental health conditions should still be screened and followed up properly. Concerns about GLP-1 medicines and mental health have been circulating for several years.
Walkable neighbourhoods may lower type 2 diabetes risk after gestational diabetes
A 12-year study found more walkable neighbourhoods were linked with lower type 2 diabetes risk in women who had gestational diabetes. Among more than 12,000 women, 20.6% developed type 2 diabetes after pregnancy. The benefit of walkability was weaker in deprived areas, showing that pavements alone do not fix health inequality. Gestational diabetes often resolves after birth, but the risk does not disappear.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Krish
Contact Krish, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack