JDRF Metro Saint Louis / Greater MO Chapter

JDRF announced today, 8-30-10, another important step on the road to the development of an artificial pancreas with the establishment of a research program to speed the development of faster-acting insulin.

JDRF is funding investigators at leading academic institutions to test novel insulin formulations and delivery systems that may speed insulin action – making it work faster than the insulin currently used by people with diabetes around the world today.  The objective is to use faster-acting insulin in an artificial pancreas system to more closely mimic a human pancreas in sensing blood sugar and secreting insulin in response.

One means to improve the speed of insulin action is to reformulate the molecule.  JDRF will fund Dr. Bruce Buckingham of Stanford University to test such an insulin, Viaject, which is currently in development at Connecticut-based Biodel Inc.  JDRF will also fund Dr. W. Kenneth Ward of Oregon Health Sciences University to perform artificial pancreas experiments with Viaject Insulin.

In addition to modifying the insulin molecule, another way to speed insulin action may be to improve the route of delivery. Currently, insulin is delivered subcutaneously (under the surface of the skin); this contributes to the slow action compared to insulin made in the pancreas.  JDRF will provide grant funding to Dr. Howard Zisser at the Sansum Diabetes Research Institute to conduct studies there with AFREZZA®, a rapid-acting insulin being developed by California’s MannKind Corporation; inhaled at mealtime, AFREZZA achieves peak insulin levels quickly.

JDRF recently announced a collaboration with BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) to develop a microneedle-based delivery system.  In addition, JDRF will provide funding to test two new devices also aimed at providing mechanical means to achieve faster insulin action. The first will support Dr. Howard Zisser at the University of California, Santa Barbara’s Sansum Diabetes Research Institute testing Roche Diabetes Care’s Accu-Chek® DiaPort system. The Accu-Chek  DiaPort is a percutaneous port system, connected with an external pump, that delivers insulin directly to the liver, the primary site of insulin action. The second JDRF grant will support Dr. William Tamborlane of Yale University to test a unique warming device, InsuPatch, made by InsuLine Medical Ltd.  Preliminary data suggests that this device, adaptable to most infusion pumps, considerably accelerates the action of insulin.

This new JDRF Insulin Initiative is another component in the four-year-old Artificial Pancreas Program, which looks to automate blood sugar control by combining continuous glucose monitors with insulin pumps and a sophisticated computer program that links the two.  With JDRF funding, numerous clinical trials of early-generation artificial pancreas systems in people have demonstrated an ability to better control diabetes and lower the risk of dangerous low-blood sugar emergencies in people with type 1 diabetes.

“But one of the missing pieces remains an insulin that works faster,” said Aaron Kowalski, PhD, Assistant Vice President and Research Director of JDRF’s Artificial Pancreas Program.  ”We can measure glucose levels in real-time, and through a computer program direct an insulin pump to give just the right amount of insulin in response to those levels.  But currently available synthetic insulins can’t keep up from a time standpoint – once in the body, they can take dramatically longer to be assimilated than insulin produced by someone who does not have type 1 diabetes.”

Studies have shown that in people without diabetes, insulin is released and acts almost instantaneously.  But even the fast-acting insulins currently available take more than 30 minutes to reach the bloodstream, and more than 90 minutes to reach peak effectiveness.

“A key to making an artificial pancreas system significantly better than current methods to manage diabetes is to mirror as much as possible how the human pancreas works,” said Sanjoy Dutta, Director of JDRF’s Insulin Initiative.  ”So we either need faster-acting insulin or devices or a combination of the two that more quickly and efficiently deliver insulin.”

Dr. Dutta noted that while the JDRF insulin initiative is focused on developing new insulins and devices specifically to accelerate the development and commercial availability of artificial pancreas systems, faster-acting insulin would also have significant benefits for people with all types of diabetes who might chose not to use an artificial pancreas to manage their disease.

“Our work to date involving faster-acting insulin reflects the philosophy of JDRF’s Artificial Pancreas Project to partner with multiple academic and corporate researchers to speed the development of artificial pancreas systems,” Dr. Dutta said.  ”Each of these projects holds promise to demonstrate that faster-acting insulins will help improve glucose control.  And that gets us one step closer to much better treatments for people with diabetes, healthier lives, and fewer complications – while we continue the ultimate search for a cure.”

Click here to count carbs with Lenny

My son’s nurse is Nancy, and let me tell you she is wonderful!  She truly cares about Parker’s well-being and she NEVER makes us feel that his diabetes is too much work.  Of course, those of us who deal with diabetes on a daily basis know how much work it can be.  Parker is in the 6th grade so he is very independent with his diabetes.  But there is not a minute that goes by that Nancy does not ask him about his sugar levels or just makes sure he is feeling okay.  She has an entire school of students to take care, and Parker is never overlooked.  She is the reason that I can go about my day and actually never worry or wonder if Parker is okay, because I know he is in her hands.  Do you know how rewarding that is to a mother?!  That is the reason I feel she is so great, but I asked Parker about Nancy and he had his own thoughts. Parker thinks Nancy is great too!  He loves that she buys him special snacks and does not always make him eat sugar tablets when his sugar is low.  He also enjoys her sense of humor when he visits her office.  But most of all, Parker said that, “she always double checks things and reminds me of things I need to do.”  We love all that she does for our family and what she does to make Parker feel the most comfortable with his diabetes at school.  I cannot even explain how comforting it is to know that Parker has another “mom” to take care of him when he is at school. Thanks Nurse Nancy, we would be lost without you!
~The Weiss Family

Contact Kelly for more info. sykorakelly@yahoo.com and visit www.ckshowmewickless.scentsy.us.

Contact Tracy for more information.  Tracyn85@hotmail.com

West St. Francois County R-IV Health Fair from 5:30-8pm. Contact Lisa Puller for more information. 573-562-7558

Win a ride at the Great Forest Park Balloon Race in the Nawgan Hot Air Balloon on September 18th, 2010.  Winner announced Monday, September 13th.  View flyer

The YLC is a group of young professionals dedicated to raising funds and awareness for JDRF. A diverse and dynamic group of men and women ages 21-40, the YLC attends networking and social events all year as they focus attention on funding the research to treat, cure and ultimately prevent diabetes. For more information, contact YLCJDRF@gmail.com.

Our one year agreement launched on August 1st and is based on the Trista Sutter clothing line. Visit www.myvintagebaby.com for more information.

The Gateway Voice of Midlife and Older Women (OWL) is pleased to announce that Marie Davis, Executive Director of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Metro Saint Louis/Greater Missouri Chapter will be honored as a Woman of Worth at the WOW Awards dinner, Missouri Athletic Club on Thursday, October 14, 2010. If you are interested in attending the dinner (tickets are $69.00), please contact Patrick in the JDRF office at 314-729-1846 or metrostlouis@jdrf.org. All of St. Louis will soon know what we’ve known ALL along…Marie Davis is a WOW!