Type 2 Diabetes

Dark Chocolate Reduces Risk of Diabetes? Don’t Count on It

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 21:12:38 +0000

This article was first published in The Montreal Gazette.

Valentine’s Day is rolling around and we can expect a flood of articles about chocolate. Some will trot out the tired old trope about phenylethylamine in chocolate stimulating amorous adventures by enhancing the release of dopamine, the “feel good chemical” in the brain. Don’t bank on it! While chocolate does contain phenylethylamine, it is metabolized before it can reach the brain.

We know about Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, but what is ‘Type 3 diabetes’?

Patricia Brubaker, Ph.D., F.R.S.C. — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 13:25:03 +0000

The incidence of diabetes mellitus has reached epidemic levels in recent years, affecting one in every 10 adults globally in 2021. Ninety percent of these individuals have Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) which is characterized by two defects, namely resistance to the metabolic actions of insulin in combination with an inability of the pancreatic islet beta-cells to secrete enough insulin to overcome this resistance. T2D is also often associated with overweight or obesity, which plays a role in the development of the insulin resistance.

What is next in the evolution of GLP-1-based therapies for diabetes and obesity?

Patricia Brubaker, Ph.D., F.R.S.C. — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 20:17:14 +0000

The first glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)-based therapeutic was approved by Health Canada in 2011 for the treatment of hyperglycemia in patients with Type 2 diabetes. Little was it suspected at that time that this class of drugs would go on to become a global success not only for Type 2 diabetes but, now, also for people living with overweight/obesity. Since that time, numerous variants of GLP-1 have been developed, with at least 7 different forms in trials or available today.

Type 2 Diabetes – What, Why and How

Patricia Brubaker, Ph.D., F.R.S.C. — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 15:22:11 +0000

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. It therefore timely to consider what diabetes actually is, why we should care, and how it can be treated. Diabetes, or more technically, diabetes mellitus, now affects 10% of Canadians, with the numbers increasing annually, not only in Canada but worldwide.