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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.
Lifestyle
PubMed · August 1, 2026
Researchers found that eating a low-carbohydrate diet built around plant foods — think vegetables, nuts, legumes, and whole grains, while cutting back heavily on bread, sugar, and starchy foods — helped people with obesity or related health conditions lose roughly 5 to 7 kilograms (about 11 to 15 pounds). The same approach also lowered harmful LDL cholesterol and improved blood sugar level (A1C), which measures how well the body has been managing blood sugar over the past few months. These results came from seven studies involving nearly 1,000 adults and lasted anywhere from about one month to one year.
Lifestyle
PubMed · July 31, 2026
In this study, people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes spent 7 days eating a very-low-calorie, high-fiber diet — think vegetables, legumes, and whole grains while significantly cutting overall calories — then continued a standard diabetes-friendly diet for 23 more days. People who followed this eating pattern early in their diagnosis saw meaningful drops in their blood sugar level (A1C) and fasting blood sugar (the reading taken first thing in the morning before eating), and those improvements lasted even months later. Researchers believe the diet worked partly by encouraging the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut, which help the body manage blood sugar more effectively.
Medications
ScienceDaily · July 24, 2026
A study found that diabetes medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro may slightly raise the risk of hair loss in people with type 2 diabetes, compared to some other diabetes drugs. The hair loss seen was mainly the kind that doesn't permanently damage hair follicles — meaning it could potentially grow back. Researchers noted that while the difference was noticeable, the overall chance of this happening was still fairly low.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the patient should be aware that Ozempic and Mounjaro might increase the risk of hair loss, and if so, whether that risk is something the patient should watch for.
What's New
PubMed · July 24, 2026
Researchers found that a diabetes medication like Jardiance or Invokana may lower blood levels of a substance called N4-acetylcytidine — a marker that appears to be linked to damage in blood vessels, including in the eyes (eye damage) and arteries. This matters because it offers a possible clue as to *why* these medications seem to protect the heart and kidneys, even beyond their effect on blood sugar control. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 21, 2026
Researchers found that a new once-weekly diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza, called GZR18, helped lower blood sugar levels (A1C) and body weight in Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes, with most side effects being mild stomach-related issues and no serious safety concerns. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Lifestyle
ScienceDaily · July 18, 2026
A study found that people with obesity who limited all their eating to an eight-hour window each day — for example, eating only between noon and 8 p.m. — kept more weight off even a full year after the 12-week program ended, compared to people who ate on their usual schedule. The benefit showed up whether people chose an earlier or later eight-hour window, though an earlier eating window seemed especially good at helping people hold on to fat loss specifically. Researchers found this approach helped people with obesity maintain their results over time, not just while they were actively following the program.
What's New
PubMed · July 16, 2026
Researchers found that smartphone and app-based tools that send people personalized nudges or tips at just the right moment — like when they're most likely to make a poor food choice — may help people eat healthier in their everyday lives. For someone managing obesity, this kind of real-time, tailored support could make it easier to build better habits without relying on memory or willpower alone. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 15, 2026
Researchers found that older adults with obesity who consistently ate more foods containing spermidine — a natural compound found in things like wheat germ, mushrooms, and aged cheese — showed improvements in liver health and blood sugar level (A1C) over one year, along with reductions in body weight and waist size. Spermidine is thought to help the body's cells clean and repair themselves, which may explain why higher intake was linked to better health markers in this group. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Lifestyle
PubMed · July 15, 2026
A study found that adults with type 2 diabetes who followed a personalized exercise program — combining aerobic activity (like brisk walking or cycling) and strength training, tailored to each person's fitness level — for 16 weeks lost an average of about 2.6 pounds of body fat and gained more muscle compared to those who kept their usual routine. The exercise group also saw improvements in blood sugar control and showed better memory, faster thinking, and sharper mental focus by the end of the program. Researchers used brain scans to confirm that the brains of people in the exercise group were working more efficiently after the 16 weeks.
What's New
JAMA · July 14, 2026
Researchers found that eating a lot of ultraprocessed foods — things like packaged snacks, fast food, and ready-made meals that are heavily manufactured and contain many added ingredients — may be linked to a higher risk of serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes, as well as a greater chance of death overall. For people with type 2 diabetes, who are already at higher risk for heart-related complications, this connection could be especially important to be aware of. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 14, 2026
A study found that in people with type 2 diabetes, managing both blood pressure and blood sugar control together led to better outcomes than managing either one alone — mainly by reducing the chances of dying from serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes, and lowering the risk of kidney damage. Researchers used a method that ranked outcomes by seriousness to get a clearer picture of which benefits mattered most, and found that combining both treatments gave a stronger overall benefit than either approach on its own. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 14, 2026
A study found that people who followed a Mediterranean diet — which includes plenty of vegetables, olive oil, fish, and whole grains — and also drank moderate amounts of wine (fewer than three glasses a day) had lower rates of serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes and lower rates of death compared to those who followed the diet less closely. However, drinking three or more glasses of wine per day did not show the same benefit, and when researchers accounted for certain statistical pitfalls, the wine-specific effect became less clear-cut, making it hard to say confidently that wine itself deserves the credit. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 13, 2026
Researchers found that a combination medication called IDegLira — which pairs a long-acting insulin with a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza — helped overweight or obese people with type 2 diabetes reach healthy blood sugar levels faster and with less insulin than those using a standard long-acting insulin alone, all within a short 7-day hospital treatment. People in the IDegLira group also spent more time with their blood sugar in a healthy range and had fewer dangerous highs, which could matter because keeping blood sugar steady reduces the risk of serious complications over time. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether IDegLira (a combination of insulin degludec and liraglutide) might work better than insulin glargine for helping the patient control blood sugar levels if the patient is overweight or obese.
What's New
PubMed · July 13, 2026
Researchers found that a text message-based phone program called Mobile Diabetes Detective helped low-income adults with type 2 diabetes improve their blood sugar level (A1C) — a measure of how well blood sugar has been managed over the past few months — over the course of a year, compared to people who received standard diabetes education alone. The program was designed to help people solve day-to-day challenges that make managing diabetes hard, like figuring out why blood sugar spikes after certain meals, and it did this automatically using personalized text messages. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed (Open Access Guidelines) · July 12, 2026
Researchers found that taking both a diabetes medication like Jardiance or Invokana and a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza together did not significantly reduce the risk of serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes, or serious kidney problems, compared to taking either medication on its own — at least based on the studies available so far. This involved nearly 100,000 people with type 2 diabetes across 12 studies, making it a fairly large analysis. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 11, 2026
Researchers found that orforglipron — a new daily pill that works similarly to a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza — was at least as effective as a diabetes medication like Jardiance or Invokana (called dapagliflozin) at lowering blood sugar levels (A1C) in people with type 2 diabetes who weren't getting enough benefit from metformin alone. This matters because orforglipron is a pill, whereas many medications in its class currently require injections, which could make it easier for people to stick with their treatment. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Lifestyle
ScienceDaily · July 10, 2026
A press release describes findings suggesting that eating a Mediterranean-style diet — one that is low in protein, particularly from animal sources like meat and dairy — may help reduce body fat and lower the chances of obesity and Type 2 diabetes. The diet also kept levels of a building block found in animal protein, called methionine, just low enough to appear beneficial. Researchers saw these effects in mice and also found a pattern in human data linking less animal protein to better outcomes.
What's New
PubMed · July 10, 2026
A study found that tirzepatide — a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza but with a dual action — significantly improved blood sugar level (A1C) and helped people lose weight in Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes who weren't yet on any medication, with all three doses tested working much better than a placebo (an inactive treatment) over 40 weeks. Participants lost up to nearly 10 kg (about 22 pounds) more than the placebo group, and no serious low blood sugar episodes occurred, though some people did experience stomach-related side effects like nausea. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Medications
ScienceDaily · July 9, 2026
A press release highlights a rise in accidental dosing mistakes involving Ozempic and Wegovy — medications used to help manage weight and blood sugar — leading to a surge in calls to poison control centers. These incidents appear to be unintentional errors, such as taking the wrong dose or dosing too often, rather than deliberate misuse. Experts suggest that clearer education about how to use these weekly medications correctly could help prevent many of these situations.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the patient needs clear written instructions about how often to inject Wegovy and how to increase the dose slowly to avoid accidental overdose mistakes.
What's New
PubMed · July 9, 2026
Researchers found that taking magnesium supplements by mouth did not significantly lower insulin resistance — a condition where the body struggles to use insulin properly — in people with diabetes or pre-diabetes overall, but people who started with low magnesium levels in their blood did seem to benefit more than those with normal levels. This suggests that magnesium supplements might matter most for people who are already running low on magnesium, which is something worth discussing with their doctor. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Medications
ScienceDaily · July 7, 2026
A new once-daily pill called orforglipron was tested against oral semaglutide — the pill version of the medication behind Ozempic — and helped people with type 2 diabetes lose more weight and improve their blood sugar control. Unlike Ozempic, which is an injection, orforglipron is a pill that doesn't need to be refrigerated or taken at a specific time around meals, making it potentially easier to use. It's also less expensive to produce, which could mean more people around the world might one day be able to access it.
What's New
PubMed · July 7, 2026
Researchers found that people who lost belly fat through diet and exercise kept some of those gains even years later — even after regaining the weight they had lost. Specifically, the fat stored deep in the abdomen (called visceral fat, which wraps around internal organs and is linked to heart and metabolic problems) stayed partially reduced for up to 10 years, which may help protect long-term heart health. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
JAMA · July 7, 2026
A study found that the rising cost of diabetes medications is making it harder for many people — especially American Indian/Alaska Native, Black, and Hispanic adults — to take their medications consistently, which can lead to more serious health problems over time. When people skip or ration their medications because of cost, they face worse blood sugar control and a higher risk of complications like kidney damage, nerve damage in hands or feet, and serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
JAMA · July 7, 2026
Researchers found that after a law called the Inflation Reduction Act capped what Medicare patients pay out-of-pocket for insulin at $35 per month, people who had previously been paying a lot for their insulin saw meaningful changes in both what they spent and how much insulin they used. This matters for people with type 2 diabetes on Medicare because high costs can sometimes lead people to use less insulin than they need, which makes blood sugar control harder. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 4, 2026
Researchers found that a once-weekly combination injection called CagriSema — which pairs two medications including one similar to a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza — helped improve blood sugar level (A1C) and reduce weight in people with type 2 diabetes who were already taking daily basal insulin (a long-acting background insulin). This matters because many people on basal insulin still struggle with blood sugar control and often gain weight over time, so finding an add-on option that addresses both issues could be meaningful. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Watch Out For
FDA MedWatch · July 2, 2026
Be aware that certain Omnipod insulin pump pods are being recalled because a small tear in the tubing inside the pod may cause insulin to leak out instead of entering the body, which could mean people aren't getting the insulin they need. People using an Omnipod should watch for signs that their blood sugar is higher than expected, such as increased thirst, frequent urination, or feeling unusually tired, as these can be signs that insulin isn't being delivered properly. Anyone using an Omnipod who is concerned should check with their doctor or the Insulet company to find out if their specific pods are affected.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the patient uses any of the Omnipod insulin pumps that were recalled for tubing tears that could cause insulin leaks.
What's New
PubMed (Open Access Guidelines) · July 1, 2026
Researchers found that people with type 2 diabetes tend to lose less weight on a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza compared to people who have obesity but not diabetes — but when factors like age, body weight, and other health conditions were accounted for, type 2 diabetes itself may not be the direct reason for that difference. This suggests the gap in weight loss might be explained by other characteristics common in people with type 2 diabetes, such as high blood pressure or differences in starting body weight, rather than diabetes acting as a barrier on its own. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 1, 2026
A study found that people with type 2 diabetes who used a specially designed educational app became significantly better at understanding and evaluating complementary therapies — things like herbal supplements or acupuncture used alongside regular medical care. Participants who used the app also reported a better quality of life compared to those who received standard education alone. 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.