High-Tech Capsule Could One Day Replace Insulin Injections

THURSDAY, Feb. 7, 2019 -- For people with type 2 diabetes, could the days of having to jab themselves with a needle whenever they need insulin be over?

It's now a distinct possibility, say researchers who have developed a capsule that can deliver insulin once it reaches the stomach. The new device has only been tested in animals so far, and such findings don't always pan out in humans, but the scientists say the results look promising.

Weight-Loss Surgery Typically Pushes Type 2 Diabetes Into Remission

THURSDAY, Feb. 7, 2019 -- As many as 7 out of 10 people with type 2 diabetes can achieve long-term disease remission by having weight-loss surgery called gastric bypass, according to a new Danish study.

The surgery isn't necessarily a cure for type 2 diabetes. Some people who go into remission and appear to no longer have the disease can relapse and start having symptoms again. In this study, 27 percent of people who were in remission relapsed during the five-year follow-up.

Experimental Drug Could Be New Option for Type 2 Diabetes

THURSDAY, Jan. 17, 2019 -- An experimental drug may help people with type 2 diabetes curb their blood sugar without causing it to drop to dangerously low levels.

Researchers found that the compound -- dubbed TTP399 for now -- improved patients' blood sugar control when it was added to the standard medication metformin for six months.

Some Diabetes Drugs Linked to Higher Heart Risks

FRIDAY, Dec. 21, 2018 -- Two common classes of type 2 diabetes drugs may lower blood sugar levels, but new research suggests those same drugs might boost the risk of heart attack, stroke and heart failure.

The drug classes in question are sulfonylureas and basal insulin. Sulfonylureas cause the body to release more insulin. They're taken orally and have been used since the 1950s. Basal insulin is given as an injection, and it's engineered to be released slowly throughout the day.

Do Your Gut Bacteria Affect Your Diabetes Meds?

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 26, 2018 -- The bacteria living in your digestive system might determine how your body processes diabetes medications, a new review suggests.

Researchers combed through more than 100 published studies conducted in people or in rodents to see how the gut microbiome -- bacteria living in the digestive system -- could impair or enhance the way diabetes drugs work.

Study Eases Concern That Common Diabetes Med Might Harm Bones

THURSDAY, Jan. 3, 2019 -- If you have type 2 diabetes and you're taking canagliflozin to help control your blood sugar, a new study has some good news for you: The drug doesn't appear to raise the risk of bone fractures.

Previously, research had suggested this might be the case.