
Effect of Acute Psychological Stress on Glucose Concentrations in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes...
Type 2 DiabetesThe study is designed to evaluate the effects of acute psychological stress on blood glucose levels. We will study one group of patients in the fasting state on a control day and a stress test day, another group will undergo the same protocol in the postprandial state.

Effect of GLP-1 on Insulin Biosynthesis and Turnover Rates
Type 2 DiabetesThe gut hormone glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) has been shown to have important effects on maintaining the function and health of the insulin producing beta cells. This hormone is known to increase the production rate of new insulin as well as increase the release of insulin into the blood. We will measure the rate of new insulin production in subjects with Type 2 diabetes compared to non diabetic subjects. We hypothesize that subjects with Type 2 diabetes make less insulin in response to GLP-1 compared to non diabetic subjects.

A Clinical Study to Evaluate Renal Hemodynamic Responses to Aliskiren in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes...
Type 2 Diabetes MellitusThe study objective was to assess the effect of single and multiple doses of aliskiren on renal plasma flow, glomerular filtration rate and to compare the effects of single and multiple doses of aliskiren versus captopril or irbesartan on renal blood flow, glomerular filtration rate, and retinal blood flow in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The Effect of Ethanol on Overnight Glucose Regulation in Type 2
Type 2 DiabetesInsulin RequiringHypoglycemia is the principal barrier to the achievement of target glycemic goals in type 2 diabetes. Alcohol consumption is very prevalent in our society and a proven cause of hypoglycemia. Population studies suggest that elderly, insulin requiring type 2 diabetes patients are particularly vulnerable to severe hypoglycemia and that this problem accounts for an estimated $50 million or more in healthcare costs in the USA each year. We hypothesize that low dose ethanol significantly increases the vulnerability to overnight hypoglycemia and impairs the recovery of plasma glucose in elderly, insulin requiring patients with type 2 diabetes. Our preliminary studies suggest that low dose ethanol impairs recovery from day time insulin-induced hypoglycemia in type 2 diabetes patients but not in age matched healthy control subjects. The proposed studies will examine the effects of low dose ethanol on overnight glucose regulation in elderly, insulin requiring type 2 diabetes patients and will establish the mechanism of these impairments through a series of systematic evaluations. Specifically, these studies will document suppression of the dawn phenomenon by ethanol, and/or exacerbation of a deficient counterregulatory response to hypoglycemia during sleep, especially growth hormone. Specific mechanisms for the suppression of growth hormone to be examined include that evening ethanol (3) inhibits peak overnight ghrelin secretion and/or (4) reduces pituitary sensitivity to GHRH. Additionally, these studies will characterize (5) the dose response characteristics of ethanol on overnight glucose homeostasis and will (6) carefully evaluate the effect of the timing of ethanol administration in relation to meal ingestion on overnight hypoglycemic vulnerability. To address these aims, we will assess the effect of moderate doses of orally administered ethanol or placebo on overnight growth hormone release, ghrelin, total IGF-1, free IGF-1, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 1 (IGFBP-1) concentrations, glucose production and other parameters of glucose homeostasis among elderly control subjects versus elderly, insulin requiring subjects with type 2 diabetes. These important studies will provide a scientific basis for the prevention of overnight hypoglycemia (and the attendant cost savings) by providing mechanistic insights into the causes of nocturnal hypoglycemia.

Incretin Physiology Associated With Steroid Hormone Treatment
Type 2 Diabetes MellitusSteroidsThe purpose of this study is to evaluate whether the reduced incretin effect and the paradoxical glucagon responses during oral glucose ingestion and isoglycaemic iv glucose infusion observed in patients with type 2 diabetes are causes (non-inducible in lean healthy subjects without family history of diabetes) or consequences (inducible) of the diabetic state.

Effect of Internet Therapeutic Intervention on A1C Levels in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM)
Type 2 Diabetes MellitusManagement of diabetes is an evolving challenge to health care professionals. The fluctuations of glucose levels over the lifetime of patients with diabetes can lead to complications such as nephropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy and cardiovascular diseases. Although diabetes is a chronic disease, it can be controlled with use of medications (pills or insulin), and/or changes in life-style and diet. These interventions are aimed at keeping the blood glucose levels normal or in the range of acceptable levels. An important aspect of diabetes care is the monitoring of blood glucose levels in order to assess the effectiveness of treatment and to modify the treatment to achieve the desirable glucose levels. Patients with type 2 DM treated with insulin are recommended to perform testing for their blood glucose levels; however, it often requires intervention by health professionals in order to prevent the immediate and serious complications of hyper or hypoglycemia. The frequent self-monitoring of blood glucose and effective interventions by the health professionals may eventually allow tighter control of blood glucose levels and delay or prevent the complications associated with diabetes. In this study, the investigators wish to evaluate the effect of an Internet based remote monitoring system that allows for patients to upload their blood glucose readings online and for the health care professional to view and provide feedback or therapeutic intervention. The Internet based system has the features of presenting the blood glucose readings according to the time of day and automatically calculates the daily average plus the standard deviation. A visual graph of the glucose readings over a 24-hour period is also generated for view. In addition, the doctor can give feedback by sending messages through the system. The patient's personal information is kept secure as outlined by the privacy policy of the Internet based system and only the doctor and the patient can view the uploaded glucose readings. The investigators propose that the standardized encounters using the Internet will improve the outcome of treatment for patients with type 2 DM.

Evaluation of Antiplatelet Effects of Different Dosages of Aspirin in Type 2 Diabetic Patients
Type 2 Diabetes MellitusThe efficacy of low dose aspirin appears to be substantially lower in diabetic patients, compared to patients without diabetes. The aim of the investigators study is to test the laboratory response to different dosing of aspirin in type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. The investigators will compare the regular dose of 75mg once daily to 75 mg twice daily or to 320 mg once daily. The hypothesis of the study is that twice daily dosing of aspirin may improve the response to aspirin.

English Diabetes Self-Management Program
Diabetes MellitusType 2We propose a diabetes self-management program evaluation and dissemination project with three components. A six-month randomized trial to evaluate the effect of a community-based small group Diabetes Self Management Program (DSMP) on the health related quality of life, metabolic control and health care utilization of people with type 2 diabetes. A long-term (12 month) longitudinal evaluation of the same program. Two 5 day workshops to train others in California in how to lead and administer the program.

Do Group Insulin Education Visits Reduce Barriers to Insulin Initiation?
Diabetes MellitusType 2The purpose of this research is to determine if meeting in a group with other subjects with diabetes can reduce barriers to starting insulin.

Internet Diabetes Self-Management
Type 2 DiabetesDiabetes is a growing health problem causing personal suffering, comorbid conditions, premature death, and high costs to the individual, the health care system and society. Many of these problems can be prevented or delayed by controlling the disease. This in turn requires daily self-management by patients. We will evaluate an Internet based small group Diabetes Self-Management Program. This program will be adapted from the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program Online, already developed and currently being evaluated by the investigators. Participants with type 2 diabetes will be randomized to participate in the Internet Program or serve as controls continuing with usual care. Treatment subjects will participate in a structured 6 week interactive web-based online class with 20-24 other participants and 2 trained peer moderators. If successful, this project will result in a new and effective means of reaching the CDC objective and more importantly in improving the quality of life and health status of people with diabetes while reducing health care utilization and thus costs.