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Type 2 diabetes drug may protect against low blood sugar

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Washington: A group of drugs called DPP-4 used for treating type 2 diabetes are also found to be effective against low blood sugar levels by stimulating insulin production in the body, new research shows.

Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) can occur in people with diabetes when they have eaten too little or after strenuous physical activity, as well as when they have taken too much insulin.

“If these inhibitors also prove effective in humans against low blood sugar, then this supports the idea that the area of application of these drugs could be broadened to include persons with diabetes that is difficult to control and suffer from frequent hypoglycaemias,” said Siri Malmgren, researcher at the Lund University, Sweden.

Normally, the body’s own defence against hypoglycaemia is the hormone glucagon, which stimulates the liver to produce sugar and thus raise blood sugar levels.

For those with diabetes, this regulation process does not work, leading to an increased risk of developing hypoglycaemia.

During the study, the mice treated with DPP-4 inhibitors were seen to have much better protection against hypoglycaemia than mice that were not given DPP-4 inhibitors.

DPP-4 inhibitors stimulate the body’s own insulin production – which lowers blood sugar.

The drug works by raising the levels of another hormone – GIP – that is secreted in the intestines when we eat.

Giving mice high doses of this hormone also protected them against hypoglycaemia and increased their glucagon levels.

“Our findings could lead to new areas of application for existing drugs. We don’t know all there is to know about the medicines we have, and once we have full insight into their mechanisms of action we can use them more effectively,” Malmgren concluded.

The study appeared in the journal Diabetologia.

Corona

Covid toll in Karnataka is a worrying sign for state government

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Even though Karnataka recorded the lowest number of Covid deaths in April since the virus struck first in 2020, the state is recording a rise in the positivity rate (1.50 per cent). Five people died from the Covid infections in April as per the statistics released by the state health department. In March, the positivity rate stood around 0.53 per cent. In the first week of April it came down to 0.38 per cent, second week registered 0.56 per cent, third week it rose to 0.79 per cent and by end of April the Covid positivity rate touched 1.19 per cent.

on an average 500 persons used to succumb everyday in the peak of Covid infection, as per the data. Health experts said that the mutated Coronavirus is losing its fierce characteristics as vaccination, better treatment facilities and awareness among the people have contributed to the lesser number of Covid deaths.

During the 4th and 6th of April two deaths were reported in Bengaluru, one in Gadag district on April 8, two deaths were reported from Belagavi and Vijayapura on April 30. The first Covid case was reported in the state in March 2020 and three Covid deaths were recorded in the month. In the following month 21 people became victims to the deadly virus, and May 2020 recorded 22 deaths. The death toll recorded everyday after May crossed three digits. However, the third wave, which started in January 2

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