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What's New
PubMed · December 31, 2026
Researchers found that taking a pasteurized probiotic supplement (called Akkermansia muciniphila) for 3 months showed some promising results for people with prediabetes — a condition where blood sugar is higher than normal but not yet at diabetes levels. In particular, people who naturally had low levels of this beneficial gut bacteria to begin with seemed to benefit the most, showing improvements in how well their body responds to insulin (the hormone that manages blood sugar), as well as reductions in body weight and trunk fat. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Lifestyle
PubMed (Open Access Guidelines) · December 1, 2026
Researchers found that migrant women from lower-income countries living in wealthier countries have a higher chance of developing diabetes during pregnancy or type 2 diabetes overall. A collection of studies looked at programs designed specifically for these women — including nutrition guidance in their own language, culturally familiar food choices, and community-based physical activity — lasting anywhere from 6 weeks to 12 months. These tailored programs were linked to improvements in eating habits, physical activity levels, and blood sugar control (A1C) among the women who took part.
Guidelines
PubMed · November 2, 2026
According to guidelines from five Spanish primary care organizations — SEMERGEN, RedGDPS, semFYC, SEMG, and FAECAP — continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), a small wearable device that tracks blood sugar levels throughout the day and night, should be integrated into routine diabetes care at the primary care level. The guidelines emphasize that decisions about using CGM should be made together by patients and their doctors, covering everything from when to start using one to how to follow up and, if needed, when to stop. Proper training for healthcare professionals and clear education for patients are highlighted as essential to getting the most benefit from this technology.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether using a continuous glucose monitor might help the patient better understand how their blood sugar changes throughout the day and if it could improve their diabetes management.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that eating vegetables before carbohydrates — rather than all together — may help keep blood sugar from spiking as sharply right after a meal in people with type 2 diabetes. One longer study also found that people with type 2 diabetes who followed this eating pattern saw their blood sugar level (A1C) drop noticeably over two years. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
A study found that taking a daily supplement made from whole feijoa fruit (a small green fruit rich in natural plant compounds) did not improve fasting blood sugar — the level of sugar in the blood after not eating overnight — or weight loss beyond what a low-calorie diet alone achieved in people at risk for type 2 diabetes. Both groups in the study did see improvements in blood sugar and body weight, but those taking the feijoa powder did not do better than those taking a placebo, suggesting the diet itself was doing the heavy lifting. For someone with prediabetes, this matters because it hints that feijoa supplements may not add extra benefit on top of a healthy eating plan, though the full picture of results was not yet reported. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that people with prediabetes who combined the medication metformin with lifestyle changes — like healthier eating and more movement — were more likely to see their blood sugar return to a normal range compared to those who made lifestyle changes alone (about 32% versus 25% over two years). This matters because prediabetes, where blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not yet in the diabetes range, affects a large number of people and raises the risk of serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the patient might benefit from taking metformin along with lifestyle changes like diet and exercise to help reverse their prediabetes, or if lifestyle changes alone might be enough.
Lifestyle
PubMed · November 1, 2026
A study found that young women at high risk for type 2 diabetes had better blood sugar control after meals when they ate their vegetables first, then protein, and then carbohydrates — compared to eating carbohydrates first or mixing everything together. Researchers tracked blood sugar levels continuously over three days and found that starting with vegetables led to lower blood sugar spikes and more stable levels overall. This eating order worked even when there was no time limit on the meal.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that people taking a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza may lose more body fat compared to other treatments, but the findings were mixed and inconsistent across studies. Interestingly, questions remain about whether these medications also affect muscle — both how much muscle people have and how well it functions — which matters because losing muscle along with fat can affect strength and overall health. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed (Open Access Guidelines) · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that taking short activity breaks — especially brief walks — during long periods of sitting helped lower blood sugar levels after meals in adults, particularly those with type 2 diabetes. Breaking up sitting time every 15 to 20 minutes seemed to produce the biggest improvements in blood sugar control, meaning the body didn't have to work as hard to manage sugar in the bloodstream after eating. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Lifestyle
PubMed · November 1, 2026
A study found that women with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes who did Pilates exercises twice a week combined with personalized physical activity coaching — where a counselor helped them set movement goals and check in over 12 weeks — walked more steps each day and were more physically active overall compared to women who received only standard care. Both the Pilates-plus-coaching group and the coaching-only group also got better at everyday physical tasks, like getting up from a chair or maintaining their balance, which can help reduce the risk of falls. However, researchers found no significant differences in blood sugar levels or body composition, such as body fat percentage, between the groups after 12 weeks.
What's New
ScienceDaily · October 18, 2026
A study of nearly 90,000 adults found that people who ate the most of a little-known natural sugar found in red meat had a 63% higher chance of developing type 2 diabetes. Researchers think this sugar may cause ongoing inflammation in the body — meaning long-term irritation at the cellular level — which could help explain why red meat seems to raise diabetes risk in ways that have nothing to do with weight. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · October 16, 2026
Researchers found that physical exercise may boost the body's natural production of tiny proteins made inside cells — called mitochondrial-derived peptides — that help the body manage energy and respond to stress. In people with type 2 diabetes, higher levels of these proteins were linked to better blood sugar control and improved sensitivity to insulin, meaning the body may use insulin more effectively. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · October 15, 2026
Researchers found that AI-powered tools — like apps or digital coaches that use artificial intelligence to guide healthy habits — may help lower the risk of developing diabetes in people who already have prediabetes (blood sugar levels that are higher than normal but not yet in the diabetes range). Across 11 studies reviewed, these tools showed promise for improving blood sugar control and encouraging healthier behaviors, though the results varied depending on the type of AI used and who was using it. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Lifestyle
ScienceDaily · October 11, 2026
Researchers found that giving mice olive oil before eating carbohydrates — foods like bread, rice, or pasta — slowed down digestion and triggered a mix of hormones and nerve signals that helped keep blood sugar control steady, even in mice that had type 2 diabetes. The key behavior was the order of eating: olive oil first, then the carb-heavy food. It's worth noting this research was done in mice, so it's not yet known whether the same effect would happen in people.
What's New
PubMed · October 6, 2026
A study found that when people with obesity and early metabolic problems (like prediabetes or excess fat in the liver) lost about 10% of their body weight, the type of diet they used made a difference in some health outcomes. People who followed a very-low-carbohydrate (ketogenic) diet saw greater improvements in liver health and blood sugar control compared to those who followed a Mediterranean or very-low-fat plant-based diet — even though all three groups lost the same amount of weight. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Lifestyle
PubMed · October 1, 2026
Researchers found that adults over 55 who received monthly one-on-one nutrition counseling over three months lost about 4–6 centimeters (roughly 2 inches) from their waist size and also saw improvements in body weight and blood sugar control. People who also used a digital app and wearable devices moved more each week — about 55 extra MET-minutes, which is roughly equivalent to adding 10–15 minutes of brisk walking daily — compared to those who only had counseling. The nutrition counseling alone drove most of the health improvements, while the digital tools helped people with obesity get more physically active but didn't add extra metabolic benefits on top of that in just three months.
What's New
PubMed · October 1, 2026
Researchers found that tirzepatide (sold as Zepbound or Mounjaro) helped people with obesity lose about 4 more pounds and a greater percentage of body weight compared to semaglutide — a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza — also used for weight loss. Tirzepatide was also better at improving blood sugar level (A1C), and more people taking it reached meaningful weight-loss milestones like losing 10%, 15%, or 20% of their body weight. However, serious side effects were reported more often with tirzepatide, so anyone considering these medications should talk through the risks and benefits with their doctor. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether tirzepatide might help the patient lose more weight than semaglutide, based on recent research comparing the two medications.
What's New
PubMed · October 1, 2026
Researchers found that a diabetes medication like Jardiance or Invokana may help lower a marker called the triglyceride-glucose index — a simple measurement that signals how well the body responds to insulin, the hormone that controls blood sugar. When the body struggles to respond to insulin properly, it raises the risk of heart and metabolic problems, so finding that this medication may improve that marker could be meaningful for people with type 2 diabetes. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · October 1, 2026
Researchers found that adults with high blood pressure who received diet counseling combined with a digital health platform and wearable devices (like fitness trackers) saw greater improvements in physical activity levels and a larger drop in a key blood pressure measure compared to those who received diet counseling alone. In other words, adding technology to traditional healthy lifestyle support appeared to give people an extra boost in managing their high blood pressure. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 30, 2026
Researchers found that eating a lot of sugar is consistently linked to a higher risk of 18 different health problems, with the strongest evidence connecting sugar intake to type 2 diabetes, obesity, serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes, and early death. For people with type 2 diabetes especially, this matters because sugar consumption may worsen blood sugar control and raise the chances of complications beyond diabetes alone. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
ScienceDaily · September 28, 2026
A press release covers an interesting finding about blood sugar management in people with type 2 diabetes — specifically, that staying very strictly within a target blood sugar range every single day may come with hidden trade-offs in everyday life and well-being. People in the research reported feeling better on days when their blood sugar stayed mostly in a healthy range, even if it varied a little more than usual, suggesting that chasing perfect, unwavering blood sugar control might sometimes make daily life harder without adding much benefit. This is worth knowing because it hints that flexibility in blood sugar management may matter just as much as hitting exact numbers.
Medications
ScienceDaily · September 24, 2026
A press release highlights new findings suggesting that children taking a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza for weight loss or blood sugar concerns may be at risk of not getting enough key nutrients. Researchers found that nearly 1 in 6 young patients developed a nutritional deficiency — such as low vitamin D — within a year of starting the medication. This appears to be a safety concern that hasn't received much attention yet, and families may want to be aware of it.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the patient should get blood tests to check for vitamin D or other nutritional deficiencies if the patient starts taking a GLP-1 medication like Ozempic or Saxenda.
What's New
PubMed · September 22, 2026
Researchers found that people who eat more ultra-processed foods — think packaged snacks, fast food, and ready-made meals with long ingredient lists — were more likely to develop serious health problems, including serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes, diabetes, and certain cancers, compared to people who ate less of these foods. For every additional 100 grams of ultra-processed food eaten per day (roughly a small bag of chips or a couple of processed snack bars), the risk of diabetes or metabolic problems — a cluster of conditions that raise the chances of heart disease and diabetes — crept up a little more. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Medications
ScienceDaily · September 18, 2026
A press release discusses Ozempic and similar medications, highlighting that while these drugs are well known for helping with blood sugar control, weight, and reducing serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes in people with type 2 diabetes, researchers found little evidence that they also improve mental health, employment, relationships, or overall sense of well-being. This suggests that the broader life benefits of these medications may be more limited than their physical health effects.
What's New
ScienceDaily · September 17, 2026
Scientists found that black and green Japanese rice contain special types of fats not commonly found in regular white rice, and that these colorful varieties may be broken down more slowly during digestion — which could help keep blood sugar levels steadier after a meal. For people with type 2 diabetes, steadier blood sugar after eating is an important part of managing the condition. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 11, 2026
Researchers found that Coptidis Rhizoma — a traditional herbal remedy derived from a plant root — may help improve blood sugar level (A1C), body weight, and LDL cholesterol (the 'bad' kind that can clog arteries) in people with type 2 diabetes, obesity, or high cholesterol, based on a combined analysis of 19 smaller studies involving over 1,700 patients. The herb appeared to work best when used alongside standard treatments, not as a replacement for them. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 9, 2026
A study found that women with prediabetes — a stage where blood sugar is higher than normal but not yet at diabetes levels — who drank a small daily serving of chokeberry juice alongside a Mediterranean-style diet showed greater improvements in blood sugar level (A1C) and lower signs of oxidative stress (a kind of internal wear-and-tear on cells) compared to women who only followed the Mediterranean diet. These results suggest that adding a polyphenol-rich juice — meaning juice packed with natural plant compounds thought to be protective — to a healthy diet might offer extra benefits for people trying to keep prediabetes from progressing to type 2 diabetes. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 2, 2026
A study found that people with prediabetes who used an AI-powered smartphone app more often were more likely to lose enough weight and increase their physical activity to lower their risk of developing diabetes. Interestingly, older adults and those with a lower starting body weight tended to use the app most consistently, which researchers found surprising since younger people are often assumed to be more comfortable with technology. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 2, 2026
Researchers found that a probiotic supplement called Wilac D001 (WIKIM51) may help reduce belly fat and improve blood sugar control in overweight adults over 12 weeks, compared to a placebo (a dummy pill with no active ingredient). The supplement appeared to work partly by boosting levels of a natural gut hormone — the same type of hormone that medications like Ozempic or Victoza are designed to mimic — which helps the body manage blood sugar and appetite. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
Researchers found that taking zinc supplements may help improve blood sugar control and reduce insulin resistance — meaning the body may respond better to insulin — in people with diabetes or prediabetes. The analysis of 18 studies also found reductions in inflammation markers, which is the body's internal stress response that can worsen diabetes over time, though one finding showed a small rise in LDL ('bad') cholesterol whose real-world importance is still unclear. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the patient should take zinc supplements to help with blood sugar control and reduce inflammation, since studies suggest zinc supplementation might improve these things in people with type 2 diabetes.
For informational purposes only. Not medical advice. Always consult a physician before making any health decisions.