A new study from Deakin University, and supported by the Diabetes Australia Research Trust, has found that taking 500mg of vitamin C twice daily can help those with type 2 diabetes by lowering elevated blood sugar levels across the day and minimising spikes in blood sugar after meals.

The randomised cross-over study, recently published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, also found vitamin C lowered blood pressure in people with type 2 diabetes, suggesting benefits for heart health too.

Insulin resistance is the process where the body stops responding to insulin like it should. It can lead to type 2 diabetes. Researchers hope that a better understanding of the process of insulin resistance could pave the way for new treatments to help prevent the condition.

With the support of a grant from the Diabetes Australia Research Trust, Dr Andrew Sutherland from St Vincent’s Institute Medical Research is studying a new way of potentially preventing and treating type 1 diabetes.

“There are a class of immune cells, Th17, that can play a role in the development of type 1 diabetes so we want to identify the molecules these cells produce. This could pave the way for the development of new therapies,” Dr Sutherland said.

Diabetes Australia today announced the appointment of Mr Barry O’Farrell, former Premier of New South Wales, as its new President and Board Chair.

Retiring President, Hon Judi Moylan AO, said Diabetes Australia was delighted to have attracted a very strong field of candidates and she welcomed Mr O’Farrell who took over the role from 1 January 2019.

Diabetes is a complex condition that can cause damage to a range of essential organs. That’s why Diabetes Australia is committed to funding important research projects examining every facet of the condition and its impact on people’s health.

For instance we’ve provided funding, through the Diabetes Australia Research Trust, to support Associate Professor Elif Ekinci from the University of Melbourne and her research into kidney disease which could lead to earlier detection.

Rod was a typical outdoorsy bloke who loved getting in the 4WD on the weekend and heading up the Western Australian coast to throw a line in at Wedge Island.

Unfortunately, a delayed diagnosis of type 2 diabetes which lead to several diabetes-related amputations has made it much harder for him to get around.