Diabetes

NEW YORK — A nutritional supplement may help ward off gestational diabetes in pregnant women, according to a new study.

The study, conducted by researchers at Italy's University of Messina and published in the journal Diabetes Care, found that pregnant women with family histories of Type 2 diabetes who received myo-inositol saw a significant reduction in the incidence of gestational diabetes, a condition that causes high blood sugar in some pregnant women.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved three new drugs for Type 2 diabetes made by Takeda, the agency said Friday.

The FDA announced the approval of Nesina (alogliptin), Kazano (alogliptin and metformin) and Oseni (alogliptin and pioglitazone) tablets.

Alogliptin is a new active ingredient, while metformin and pioglitazone are drugs already on the market.

NEW YORK — During its annual business review Tuesday, Johnson & Johnson announced that the recent introduction of the OneTouch Verio Glucose testing platform represented one of the first diabetes care devices to alert and display high/low patterns that deliver more meaningful and actionable insights to help patients better understand and manage their diabetes.

RARITAN, N.J. -- A panel of Food and Drug Administration experts has recommended approval for an experimental Type 2 diabetes drug made by Johnson & Johnson, the drug maker said.

J&J said the FDA's Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee had recommended approval for canagliflozin, which the company plans to market under the name brand Invokana. The FDA is not required to follow the votes of advisory committees when deciding whether or not to approve a drug, but usually does.

LAS VEGAS — iHealth Labs on Monday unveiled two new additions to its suite of devices — the iHealth Wireless Smart Gluco-Monitoring System and iHealth Pulse Oximeter — at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show here. 

PRINCETON, N.J. — Novo Nordisk has appointed Curtis Oltmans as its corporate VP and general counsel for legal and quality affairs, the company said Friday.

In the new role, for which he will also join the company's U.S. executive team, Oltmans will be handle issues like law, quality, intellectual property, grants and philanthropy for the Danish drug maker's North American business.

NEW YORK — Target has launched new products and a co-pay assistance program for customers with diabetes, the mass merchandise retailer said.

Target announced the release of new blood glucose meters and test strips. The retailer also offers products like alternative site lancets, alcohol prep pads and diabetic nutritional shakes.

The company also announced the launch of a $4 co-pay assistance program, as well as a free private-label blood glucose meter for customers who qualify for the program.

CINCINNATI — Diabetes patients at Kroger pharmacies who have private insurance can pay $4 for blood-glucose test strips, the supermarket operator said.

Kroger said insured patients could pay a $4 co-pay for Kroger Premium test strips. People with diabetes can spend as much as $1,000 per year out of pocket on test strips alone, Kroger said.