Obesity without consequences? NIH recruiting Type 2 diabetics for study in Dallas, elsewhere
March 2, 10:12 AMDallas Healthy Trends ExaminerKK Thornton
It would be nice if the only consequence of a steady diet of fast food, sugary soft drinks and rich desserts was getting fat. Obesity causes a slew of related health problems, including Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Now scientists think that it may not have to be that way. Recent studies indicate that it is not just being fat that is bad for your health- inflammation of the fat cells may be the real problem. A nationwide study taking place in Dallas and at 22 other centers throughout the US aims to find out.
Chances are, you know someone who is overweight or obese that has managed to remain in good health, free of the heart disease and Type 2 diabetes that usually go hand in hand with being fat. Scientists now think that it may have to do more with lack of inflammation in their fat cells than good luck.
Studies have shown that salsalate, an common NSAID currently sold as a generic and used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, can reduce blood glucose levels in Type 2 diabetics. Our bodies convert salsalate to salicylic acid, which is closely related to the active ingredient in aspirin and reduces inflammation without some of aspirin's adverse side effects. Other advantages of salsalate: it has been around for hundreds of years and it is cheap.
The implications are huge. Two thirds of Americans are overweight and obesity, including obesity in children, has become an epidemic across the US. Texas has the dubious honor of being ranked the 12th fattest state in the US: 26.3% of adult Texans are obese, 63.1% of Texans are just plain overweight and an astonishing 19.1% of Texas children between the ages of 10 and 17 are overweight.
Short term trials have shown that Type 2 diabetics taking salsalate in addition to their normal diabetes medications were able to lower their fasting blood sugars substantially: on average, from 150 down to 110. The National Institute of Health is now funding a nationwide long term trial in conjunction with Harvard's Joslin Diabetes Center to see if salsalate really is a cheap and effective treatment for Type 2 diabetes.
TINSAL-T2D is a multi-center study funded by the National Institute of Health taking place in Dallas, Texas and at other research centers across the United States. TINSAL-T2D is now recruiting people with Type 2 diabetes in the Dallas Metroplex and at 22 other locations for the phase of the study.
Important news for Type 2 diabetics in the Dallas Metroplex
The NIH is recruiting Dallas area residents with Type 2 diabetes for this important study. If you are an adult with Type 2 diabetes living in the Dallas area, or if you know a Type 2 diabetic who might be interested in the study, call Renee Smalley at 214-648-9470 or email her at Renee.smalley@utsouthwestern.edu. Click here for more information.
If you do not live in the Dallas Metroplex, you may still be able to participate in the study. To see if there is a study center near you, click here.
