Diabetes

NEW YORK — Many children with Type 1 diabetes have other autoimmune disorders as well, according to published reports.

Citing findings in a recent study of nearly 500 children published in the journal Diabetes Care, Reuters reported that one-third of children with the disease — an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks the cells of the pancreas — also have such disorders as celiac disease, autoimmune thyroid disease and a disorder of the adrenal glands called Addison’s disease.

NEW YORK — An investigational antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory drug could help treat a common complication of diabetes.

Researchers at the University of California-San Diego School of Medicine, the National Institutes of Health and the Mayo Clinic found that pirfenidone potentially could treat diabetic nephropathy, a leading cause of end-stage kidney disease.

NEW DELHI — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a diabetes drug made by Lupin Pharmaceuticals, according to published reports.

The FDA approved Lupin’s metformin hydrochloride extended-release tablets, a generic version of Andrx Labs’ Fortamet.

Fortamet had sales of $83 million in 2010, according to IMS Health.

ITASCA, Ill. — Supervalu banner Jewel-Osco on Wednesday announced its "Eating Healthy with my Diabetes" in-store tour schedule for 2011. The free educational tours are designed to help customers learn to choose better-for-you foods and promote healthy eating, while incorporating foods they love into their meal plans.

CINCINNATI — Kroger is the latest retailer to join the Diabetes Prevention and Control Alliance as a partner.

The supermarket conglomerate will implement the DPCA's Diabetes Control Program, which is designed to help patients gain better control of their condition, at select store pharmacies, including stores in the Cincinnati, Columbus and Dayton, Ohio, markets. The retailer also will offer the program in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston and Las Vegas later this year.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — U.S. spending on drugs grew 2.3% to $307.4 billion in 2010, according to a new report by the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics, part of industry research firm IMS Health.

BOISE, Idaho — Albertson's LLC, which operates more than 200 stores across seven states under the Albertsons banner, announced it has joined the Diabetes Prevention and Control Alliance.

The retail grocery chain joins such companies as UnitedHealth Group, YMCA, Walgreens and Novo Nordisk as a DPCA partner. Albertson's LLC will participate in the DCPA's Diabetes Control Program, offering its customers community-based programs that help prevent and control diabetes.

JERSEY CITY, N.J. — The main trade group representing branded drug makers gave an award to two Merck scientists who helped discover an oral medication for Type 2 diabetes.