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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.
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.
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
The Lancet · June 8, 2026
Researchers found that pill-form versions of a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza — which were previously only available as injections — could open up new options for treating both type 2 diabetes and obesity, since weight loss is now seen as an important part of managing type 2 diabetes. This matters because a daily pill might be easier for some people to take than a weekly injection. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
The Lancet · June 8, 2026
Researchers found that a new daily pill called elecoglipron — which works similarly to diabetes medications like Ozempic or Victoza, but is taken by mouth instead of injected — helped lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. This is significant because most medications in this class currently require injections, so a pill version could make treatment easier for many people. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
The Lancet · June 8, 2026
Researchers found that two types of diabetes medications — a diabetes medication like Jardiance or Invokana, and a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza — each offer important protections beyond just managing blood sugar. Specifically, researchers found that medications like Jardiance or Invokana appear especially helpful for protecting the heart from heart failure and protecting the kidneys, while medications like Ozempic or Victoza may help prevent serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes caused by plaque buildup in arteries. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
The Lancet · June 8, 2026
Researchers found that a pill version of a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza (called orforglipron) did a better job at improving blood sugar control (A1C) compared to a diabetes medication like Jardiance or Invokana (called dapagliflozin) in people with type 2 diabetes who weren't getting enough benefit from metformin alone. This matters because most medications in the Ozempic family currently require an injection, so having an effective pill option could be meaningful for people who prefer not to use a needle — though more people did stop taking orforglipron due to side effects like nausea. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Medications
ScienceDaily · June 8, 2026
A medical press release highlights new findings about a drug called finerenone, which may help protect the kidneys and heart in a much larger group of people with chronic kidney disease than doctors previously realized — including people whose kidney disease is not related to diabetes, who often have very few treatment options. Three major studies found that finerenone significantly slowed the worsening of kidney disease and lowered the chances of kidney failure, heart failure, and death. This appears to be an emerging new option, though readers should speak with their doctor to understand whether it might be relevant to their situation.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether finerenone might be something the patient should consider taking to help protect their kidneys and heart.
What's New
The Lancet · June 7, 2026
Researchers found that many people with type 2 diabetes who take long-acting (basal) insulin still struggle to keep their blood sugar level (A1C) in a healthy range, even after their treatment has been adjusted multiple times. This matters because poor blood sugar control over time can lead to serious complications, including kidney problems, eye damage, and nerve damage in the hands or feet. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
The Lancet · June 7, 2026
Researchers found that a combination medication called CagriSema — which pairs a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza with another drug called cagrilintide — helped lower blood sugar levels (A1C) in people with type 2 diabetes who were already taking daily insulin, while also reducing body weight without increasing the risk of low blood sugar (a dangerous drop in blood sugar levels that can cause dizziness or fainting). This could matter for people with type 2 diabetes whose blood sugar isn't well controlled on insulin alone, since finding a combination that also helps with weight without added safety concerns is meaningful. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
The Lancet · June 6, 2026
Researchers found that tirzepatide, a newer diabetes medication that works on two hormone pathways at once, did a better job of lowering blood sugar level (A1C) and helping people lose weight compared to semaglutide — a well-known diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza — in people with type 2 diabetes. The idea behind this research is that targeting more than one hormone signal in the body might work better than targeting just one, which could matter a lot for people trying to manage both their blood sugar and their weight. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
The Lancet · June 6, 2026
Researchers found that a new medication called retatrutide helped people with type 2 diabetes improve their blood sugar control (A1C) and lose a meaningful amount of body weight, even when used on its own without other diabetes medications. This could matter because it works on three different biological pathways at once — which is a broader approach than medications like Ozempic or Victoza, which target fewer pathways — potentially making it a more powerful option for managing the condition. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
ScienceDaily · June 5, 2026
Scientists have discovered that some people carry certain genetic traits that may make a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza work less well for them — meaning their blood sugar control may not improve as much as it does for others. This appears to affect roughly 1 in 10 people. Researchers are hopeful this finding could eventually help doctors choose the most effective treatment for each person with type 2 diabetes.
Lifestyle
PubMed · June 5, 2026
Researchers found that for South Asian migrants living with type 2 diabetes, everyday cultural habits — like traditional foods tied to family gatherings and religious practices such as fasting during holy periods — can make it harder to manage blood sugar control. The review, which pulled together findings from 22 studies, also found that strong family and community support helped people stay on top of their diabetes care, while some turned to traditional or spiritual remedies alongside their doctor's advice. Understanding these cultural and religious influences could help doctors offer care that fits more naturally into patients' real lives.
Watch Out For
FDA MedWatch · June 4, 2026
Be aware that certain Omnipod insulin pump pods may have a small tear in the tubing inside the device, which can cause insulin to leak out rather than being delivered into the body — meaning people using these pods might not be getting the insulin they need. This could lead to higher-than-expected blood sugar levels, which might show up as increased thirst, frequent urination, or feeling unusually tired or unwell. Anyone using an Omnipod pod who notices unexpectedly high blood sugar readings or these kinds of symptoms should contact their doctor promptly.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the patient uses an Omnipod insulin pump and, if so, whether the patient should check for any recalls related to tubing tears that could cause insulin leaks.
What's New
ScienceDaily · June 3, 2026
A press release describes an experimental pill being developed for type 2 diabetes and obesity that works differently from a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza — instead of reducing appetite, it targets the muscles to help the body burn fat and manage blood sugar control, while keeping muscle mass intact. Early results suggest it appears to be safe and well tolerated by patients. Because this is a press release about early-stage research and not yet a published study, it's worth watching but hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
ScienceDaily · June 3, 2026
A study found that eating french fries three times a week was linked to a 20% higher chance of developing type 2 diabetes, while potatoes prepared other ways — like baked, boiled, or mashed — didn't show the same risk. The researchers also found that swapping potatoes for whole grains (like brown rice or oats) was linked to lower diabetes risk, but swapping them for white rice had the opposite effect. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Lifestyle
JAMA · June 2, 2026
A study explored how exercise fits into weight loss plans, especially for people taking a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza, and found that getting patients to stick with regular exercise is a real challenge for doctors. Researchers looked at strategies that could help people stay consistent with physical activity, whether or not they're on these medications. This matters because exercise likely plays an important supporting role in weight management, and patients might want to ask their doctor what realistic, personalized movement goals could look like for them.
Medications
PubMed · June 2, 2026
A study found that semaglutide — sold under brand names like Ozempic — helped protect the kidneys and reduce the risk of death in people with type 2 diabetes who also had chronic kidney disease, meaning long-term damage that reduces how well the kidneys filter the blood. Researchers found these benefits held up across different groups of patients, including those who already had heart disease and those who had heart failure (when the heart can't pump blood as well as it should). This appears to be a new finding about how this medication may help beyond just blood sugar control.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether semaglutide (Ozempic or Wegovy) might help protect the patient's kidneys and reduce the risk of kidney disease getting worse, especially if the patient also has heart disease or is at high risk for it.
Lifestyle
AHA Guidelines · June 1, 2026
A study found that regularly moving your body — through activities like walking, cycling, or other exercise done on a consistent basis — improves several health measures in people with overweight or obesity, including blood pressure, how well the body responds to insulin (which helps manage blood sugar), cholesterol levels, and heart and lung fitness. Importantly, researchers found these benefits happen regardless of whether a person loses weight. This means that getting active regularly can improve how the body works on the inside, even when the number on the scale doesn't change.
Lifestyle
AHA Guidelines · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that adults with obesity who exercise regularly — meaning consistent physical activity as a habit, not just occasional movement — can improve their high blood pressure, cholesterol, and how well their body handles blood sugar, even if the number on the scale doesn't change. The benefits came from the activity itself, not from losing weight. This suggests that staying active has real health value for people with obesity beyond just burning calories.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers looked at three newer versions of a diabetes medication like Jardiance or Invokana — called bexagliflozin, ertugliflozin, and sotagliflozin — and found that all three appeared to lower the chances of dying from heart problems or being hospitalized for heart failure in people with type 2 diabetes, with two of them (bexagliflozin and sotagliflozin) also showing a possible extra benefit in reducing heart attacks. This could matter someday because it suggests these newer options might offer similar heart-protecting benefits as the better-known medications in this family, though researchers couldn't find a clear winner among the three. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether medications like bexagliflozin, ertugliflozin, or sotagliflozin might help protect the patient's heart in addition to managing the patient's blood sugar.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers looked at 61 studies from 32 countries and found that people with type 2 diabetes frequently feel judged, stereotyped, or shamed by healthcare workers — and that this stigma can make them less likely to seek care and can harm their relationship with their doctor. The stigma often seemed to stem from oversimplified ideas about diabetes and poor communication from healthcare professionals. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that adding a diabetes medication like Januvia (specifically one called anagliptin) to two other common diabetes drugs — metformin and a diabetes medication like Jardiance or Invokana — helped lower blood sugar levels (A1C) noticeably more than a dummy pill did, and it also seemed to support the health of the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas (called beta cells, which help regulate blood sugar). This could matter someday for people with type 2 diabetes whose blood sugar isn't well enough controlled on two medications alone, since it hints that a three-drug combination might be a safe option worth exploring. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers looked at whether wearing a small sensor that checks blood sugar continuously throughout the day — called continuous glucose monitoring, or CGM — works better than the traditional finger-prick method for people with type 2 diabetes who are already on insulin and certain other diabetes medications like Jardiance or Invokana, or a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza. They found that the continuous sensor approach appeared to help people keep their blood sugar level (A1C) lower compared to finger-prick testing alone, which is exciting because better blood sugar control over time is linked to fewer serious complications like kidney damage or eye damage. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether using a continuous glucose monitor like Freestyle Libre or Dexcom could help the patient better manage the patient's blood sugar compared to checking it myself with finger sticks.
Lifestyle
PubMed · June 1, 2026
This research combined data from 23 studies and found that people with type 2 diabetes — and adults generally — who closely followed the Planetary Health Diet (an eating pattern built around vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes like beans and lentils, and nuts, with little red meat or processed food) had about 17–18% lower chances of death or serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes. The benefit wasn't all-or-nothing: meaningful risk reductions appeared once people reached a moderate-to-high level of the diet, suggesting that gradually eating more plants and less processed meat — even starting with one meal today — may matter. The researchers note these studies show a strong link but can't yet prove the diet directly causes these better outcomes, so this is promising but not the final word.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that people with peripheral artery disease — a condition where narrowed blood vessels reduce blood flow to the limbs — who took a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza had notably lower rates of serious limb complications, serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes, and death compared to those who didn't take these medications, based on data from over 240,000 patients across six real-world studies. The reduction in stroke risk appeared especially consistent across the studies, and the benefits were most reliable in people who also had diabetes. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the patient should ask about taking a GLP-1 medication like semaglutide or tirzepatide, since recent research suggests these drugs might lower the risk of serious leg problems in people with peripheral artery disease.
What's New
PubMed (Open Access Guidelines) · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that people with type 2 diabetes who had higher blood sugar levels (A1C) when they started taking a diabetes medication like Jardiance or Invokana may have a greater chance of developing a serious complication called diabetic ketoacidosis — a dangerous buildup of acids in the blood that requires urgent medical care. The connection was especially clear in real-world patient data, where those with already-high blood sugar levels showed a notably higher risk compared to those whose blood sugar was closer to target. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the patient's current blood sugar level (HbA1c) affects the safety of starting an SGLT-2 inhibitor medication like empagliflozin or dapagliflozin, or whether there are any special concerns the doctor should watch for.
What's New
PubMed (Open Access Guidelines) · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza may do more than manage blood sugar — it might also help reduce anxiety. In animal studies, the medication consistently calmed anxiety-like behaviors, and in human studies, people taking it showed some signs of lower anxiety and reduced risk of suicidal thoughts, though the human results were mixed. 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.