Showing recent highlights
What's New
PubMed · December 31, 2026
Researchers found that when people with obesity and type 2 diabetes received a fecal microbiota transplant — a procedure where gut bacteria from a healthy donor are transferred to another person — changes in the gut's viral community (the collection of viruses naturally living in the digestive system) were just as good as changes in bacteria at predicting who responded well to treatment, particularly in terms of LDL (often called 'bad' cholesterol) levels. This suggests that the viruses living in the gut may play an important role alongside bacteria in how well the body responds to this kind of treatment, which could help explain why some people benefit more than others. 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.
What's New
PubMed · December 1, 2026
A study found that people with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure who lost weight through a dietary program — about 25 pounds on average over 12 months — were able to cut back on their high blood pressure medications, yet their blood pressure stayed just as well controlled as before. In fact, their heart rate and certain measures of blood pressure fluctuation during the night also improved. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · December 1, 2026
Researchers found that a balance-focused cardiac rehabilitation program — which combines posture and balance training with heart-healthy exercise — helped more people with coronary artery disease (a condition where the heart's arteries become narrowed) and type 2 diabetes improve their blood sugar level (A1C) and physical fitness compared to standard aerobic exercise alone. Specifically, about 48% of people in the balance-focused program showed meaningful improvements in blood sugar control, versus about 33% in the standard aerobic group — and fitness gains were also notably higher. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
ScienceDaily · November 2, 2026
Researchers have developed a small electronic implant that uses electricity to break down excess sugar in the blood, helping remove it from the body through urine rather than storing it as fat — which could improve blood sugar control and support weight loss in people with type 2 diabetes. So far, the device has only been tested in mice, but scientists are hopeful it could one day offer a drug-free way to manage the condition. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
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
A study found that people with type 2 diabetes and severe obesity who had weight-loss surgery were still experiencing diabetes remission — meaning their blood sugar returned to a healthy range without medication — up to 10 years later. One type of surgery called gastric bypass showed stronger results in the early years, but by the 10-year mark, the differences between surgery types had narrowed. Researchers also looked at which factors best predicted who would stay in remission long-term, which could help doctors and patients make better decisions about surgery. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that people with type 2 diabetes who took a diabetes medication like Jardiance or Invokana had higher blood levels of a substance called TMAO — a chemical that has previously been linked to serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes. The medications appeared to slow down how quickly the kidneys cleared TMAO from the body, which caused it to build up in the bloodstream. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
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 when doctors' offices used a built-in computer reminder in their electronic records system, far more people with type 2 diabetes were referred to diabetes self-management education — a type of structured support program that teaches people how to manage their condition day to day. Clinics using the reminder referred about 13 out of every 100 eligible patients, compared to only about 1 out of 100 in clinics that didn't use it. This matters because many people with type 2 diabetes never get connected to these education programs, even though they can be a helpful resource. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that non-drug approaches — such as lifestyle changes like diet and exercise — helped adults with type 2 diabetes meaningfully improve several key health measures, including blood sugar level (A1C), waist size, and blood pressure, across 42 studies involving nearly 10,000 people. These improvements are meaningful because keeping blood sugar and blood pressure in a healthier range can lower the risk of serious complications like serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes, as well as kidney and eye damage. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that a cholesterol-lowering drug called fenofibrate may help slow the progression of diabetic eye damage — a condition where high blood sugar gradually harms the tiny blood vessels in the eyes, sometimes leading to vision loss. Looking at data from several studies involving nearly 4,000 people, researchers found that people taking fenofibrate were about 23% less likely to see their eye damage get worse, which translated to roughly 45 fewer cases of worsening eye damage for every 1,000 people treated. However, the same research also flagged a potential concern: fenofibrate appeared to be linked to a higher risk of blood clots in the veins, so this is not a straightforward win. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether fenofibrate might help slow down diabetic retinopathy from getting worse, since the patient has type 2 diabetes.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that two once-weekly insulin options — efsitora and icodec — worked about equally well at improving blood sugar level (A1C) in people with type 2 diabetes who were already using insulin. However, one interesting finding stood out: people taking efsitora who were on a simpler insulin routine gained noticeably less weight and had fewer episodes of low blood sugar (a dangerous drop in blood sugar levels that can cause shakiness, confusion, or fainting) compared to those taking icodec. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that in people with type 2 diabetes and peripheral artery disease (PAD) — a condition where reduced blood flow causes pain or numbness in the legs and feet — a medication called sarpogrelate did not reduce blood thickness any better than aspirin over 24 weeks. However, both medications helped ease leg pain, and sarpogrelate also showed some improvement in cold sensations in the limbs, which is a common discomfort for people with PAD. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that shining a low-level laser light through the skin over a wrist artery — a technique called vascular photobiomodulation — helped lower blood sugar readings in people with type 2 diabetes who were already taking the diabetes medication metformin. Right after each laser session, blood sugar dropped noticeably, and fasting blood sugar (the level measured after not eating overnight) also fell over the six-week program. However, the longer-term blood sugar level (A1C) — a test that shows how blood sugar has been running over the past few months — didn't change significantly, so it's not yet clear how meaningful this approach might be over time. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
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.
Medications
PubMed · November 1, 2026
A study found that retatrutide — an experimental weight-loss medication not yet widely available — helped improve several markers linked to heart health in people with obesity, both with and without type 2 diabetes. Researchers found it significantly lowered unhealthy fats and cholesterol-related particles in the blood, which are things that can raise a person's risk of serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes. This appears to be a new and still-investigational option, as the findings come from early-phase trials testing how the drug works in the body.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that people with type 2 diabetes who consumed olive oil enriched with a natural plant compound called oleanolic acid — found in olives — showed slower loss of kidney function over 12 months compared to those who used regular olive oil. This was especially true for people whose kidneys were already showing mild signs of strain at the start of the study. The enriched oil also appeared to reduce a marker of kidney stress called albumin in the urine, which can be an early warning sign of kidney damage. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that combining two types of diabetes medications — a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza (semaglutide) with a diabetes medication like Jardiance or Invokana (luseogliflozin) — may do a better job of improving liver health in people with type 2 diabetes and a serious liver condition called MASH (where fat builds up in the liver and causes scarring) compared to using just one of those medications alone. In the study, more people on the combination showed reduced liver inflammation and damage after 52 weeks, along with improvements in body weight and blood sugar level (A1C). This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that people with type 2 diabetes who also had signs of a fattier liver may get better blood sugar control (A1C) from a diabetes medication like Jardiance or Invokana than from a diabetes medication like Januvia, when either was added to metformin over about a year. The 'fatty liver index' is a simple score based on things like waist size and blood tests that estimates how much fat may be stored in the liver — and in this study, people with a higher score seemed to respond more strongly to one type of medication over the other. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Lifestyle
PubMed · November 1, 2026
A study found that adults with type 2 diabetes and limited financial resources who received free weekly boxes of plant-based foods — along with cooking classes and nutrition support — picked up about 91% of their food boxes over three months and rated the program highly. The program was designed to make it easier for people to follow a Mediterranean-style diet, which focuses on vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains, when cost is a barrier. Researchers were exploring whether this kind of hands-on food support could help improve blood sugar control and overall well-being in people who might otherwise struggle to afford healthier eating.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
A study found that combining a paleo-style diet with regular exercise may help the body clear certain harmful fats — called ceramides and sphingomyelins — from the blood more quickly after physical activity in people with type 2 diabetes. These fats (naturally present in the blood) rise during exercise, but getting rid of them faster afterward may be a good sign for heart and metabolic health. The diet alone improved blood fat levels too, but adding exercise seemed to offer an extra benefit in how the body handles these substances during recovery. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that a diabetes medication like Jardiance or Invokana called tofogliflozin may affect the way gut bacteria process certain building blocks of protein — specifically an amino acid called phenylalanine — and that these changes in the gut appear to be linked to less scarring in the liver. This matters because many people with type 2 diabetes also develop a liver condition called MASLD (sometimes called 'fatty liver disease'), where fat and scar tissue build up in the liver over time, and finding ways to slow that damage is an active area of research. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that dapagliflozin, a diabetes medication like Jardiance or Invokana, did not interfere with how the body processes LDL ('bad') cholesterol in people with type 2 diabetes — which is reassuring, since some animal studies had raised concerns about this. The study also found that the medication shifted how the body handles another type of fat particle in the blood (called VLDL) in a way that looked healthier and closer to what you'd see in people without diabetes. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
A study found that people with type 2 diabetes who used a 'hybrid closed-loop' system — a device that automatically monitors blood sugar and adjusts insulin delivery around the clock — had notably better blood sugar control (A1C) compared to those giving themselves multiple daily injections. Researchers also found that these patients needed less insulin each day, though they did gain a small amount of weight on average. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that family members can have a powerful — but double-edged — effect on how well people with type 2 diabetes manage their condition. When families offer encouragement, companionship, and support for healthy habits, it tends to help; but when family dynamics involve conflict, controlling behavior, or financial stress, it can actually make self-care harder. This matters because it suggests that involving the whole family — not just the patient — in understanding diabetes could make a real difference in day-to-day health. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that certain diabetes medications like Jardiance or Invokana and diabetes medications like Ozempic or Victoza may help lower the risk of serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes, and may even reduce the chances of death from heart-related causes in people with type 2 diabetes or heart failure — with one medication, Jardiance (empagliflozin), also showing a possible early signal for reducing dangerous irregular heartbeats, though this finding needs more investigation. The medications like Jardiance or Invokana were also consistently linked to fewer hospital stays due to heart failure, which is when the heart struggles to pump blood effectively. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that people with type 2 diabetes who tried a new once-weekly insulin called efsitora — instead of taking insulin every day — reported that it felt more convenient, easier to stick with, and generally improved their quality of life. Healthcare professionals also felt positive about offering it as an option. This matters because many people who need insulin find daily injections hard to keep up with, and a once-a-week version could make that routine feel less overwhelming. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
A study found that people with type 2 diabetes who met monthly with a pharmacist for education sessions saw their blood sugar levels drop significantly — from an average of 253 down to 168 mg/dL over six months — while those who received standard pharmacy care saw almost no change. Researchers also found that people in the education group felt much more confident managing their diabetes on their own, a quality researchers call 'self-efficacy,' which simply means believing you can handle your condition day to day. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
For informational purposes only. Not medical advice. Always consult a physician before making any health decisions.