Diabetes

LONDON — New research on a rare genetic disorder in which the pancreas fails to grow could shed light on how the organ develops and lead to treatments for Type 1 diabetes.

In a study published in the journal Nature Genetics, an international team of researchers led by scientists at England's University of Exeter discovered a genetic mutation present in 15-in-27 people with a condition called pancreatic agenesis, finding a key role for the gene, GATA6, in the development of pacreatic cells.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The American Diabetes Association on Thursday announced that Walgreens will become a national strategic partner, and that the national drug store chain again is working with the association as one of its partner charities within "Walgreens Way to Well Commitment" — a four-year, $100 million health-and-wellness initiative.

INDIANAPOLIS — Drug maker Eli Lilly has expanded its Spanish-language portal, the company said Friday.

Subsidiary Lilly USA launched an expanded "En Español" section of the Lilly For Better Health website. The section features a 60-page interactive health album that provides tips on healthy eating, physical activity and managing health conditions, as well as health-and-wellness quizzes and risk assessments on weight management, diabetes and other topics.

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — According to a report published Wednesday on the site of MobiHealthNews, the Food and Drug Administration has approved an iPhone glucose meter called AgaMatrix Nugget from Sanofi. "Sanofi has long planned to sell the AgaMatrix Nugget (also called the iGBStar) in the United States. It began offering the device in Europe earlier this year," MobiHealthNews reported.

CHEVY CHASE, Md. — A recent study of obese and nonobese children found that low vitamin D levels are significantly more prevalent in obese children and are associated with risk factors for Type 2 diabetes. This study was accepted for publication in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — A combination of two insulins made by Novo Nordisk reduced abnormally low blood sugar in diabetes patients, according to study results presented at a medical conference.

INDIANAPOLIS — A drug currently under clinical development for Type 2 diabetes produced "meaningful" reductions in blood sugar, according to results of a late-stage clinical study.

Eli Lilly & Co. and Boehringer Ingelheim announced results of a 24-week, open-label arm of a phase-3 study of the investigational drug linagliptin combined with the generic drug metformin, presenting results at the International Diabetes Federation World Diabetes Conference in Dubai.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Obese diabetes patients could experience weight loss when taking Vivus' anti-obesity drug, according to an oral presentation at the International Diabetes Federation's World Diabetes Congress in Dubai.