Diabetes

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — People ages 65 years and older reduced their volume of prescriptions, while those ages 19 to 25 years increased their use of prescription drugs as the healthcare-reform law allowed them to remain on their parents' insurance, according to a new report by IMS Health.

The report, "The Use of Medicines in the United States: Review of 2011," found that per capita spending on U.S. medicines grew by 0.5% as healthcare system spending reached $320 billion and new drug launches opened new treatment options for more than 20 million Americans.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — Drug maker Merck has introduced a new program that's designed to provide resources and information to help patients with Type 2 diabetes commit to living a diabetes-friendly lifestyle.

SAN DIEGO — Drug maker Amylin Pharmaceuticals has filed for regulatory approval of a drug to treat diabetes and elevated triglycerides in the bloodstream in children and adults with a rare disorder.

INDIANAPOLIS — Marsh Supermarkets on Tuesday recognized National Public Health Week with the introduction of a program to help people with diabetes better understand, manage and live with the disease — more than 9% of Indiana residents have been diagnosed with diabetes, the grocer noted.

NEW YORK — A diabetes treatment made by Novo Nordisk is safe for pregnant women, according to a recent decision by the Food and Drug Administration.

Novo Nordisk said Monday the FDA had approved Levemir (insulin detemir [rDNA origin]) for a pregnancy category B classification, meaning that when used by pregnant women, the insulin did not increase the risk of harm to fetuses. The agency's decision was based on results of a clinical trial involving 310 women that compared Levemir to another insulin product.

The insulin is used to treat Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

NEW YORK — A medication commonly prescribed for patients with Type 2 diabetes also may play a critical role in patients at risk of developing certain cancers.

In three separate studies published in Cancer Prevention Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, findings showed how metformin may protect against oral cancer and liver cancer, as well as slow the growth rate of prostate cancer among men prior to prostatectomy.

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Daiichi Sankyo and NGM Biopharmaceuticals said they signed a research and licensing agreement to develop treatments for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. The drugs would work by reviving beta cells, the decline of which contributes to the disease.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — In line with the 24th annual American Diabetes Association Alert Day, the American Diabetes Association debuted its new and improved diabetes risk test.