As a systemic condition, If cardiovascular disease affects one vascular territory, others are sure to follow suit. Diabetics are at a much greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease and are at a greater risk for experiencing CV events, such as MI or stroke. While the link between diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD) has been well studied, the connection between diabetes and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) has been less studied. What do we know about the relationship between diabetes and PAD? We know that diabetics are at higher risk for PAD, and diabetics with PAD are much more likely to have an MI or stroke than those who only have PAD. Data from the Framingham Heart Study revealed that 20 percent of symptomatic patients with PAD had diabetes. Experts believe this number does not reflect the incidence of combined PAD and diabetes in the general population because many people (up to 50 percent) with PAD are asymptomatic.

Liraglutide once daily is substantially better at controlling blood glucose in type 2 diabetes than is twice-daily exenatide (Byetta from Eli Lilly), according to the LEAD-6 study reported online June 8 in Lancet, and simultaneously presented at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) annual meeting in New Orleans.

Screening adults for diabetes could result in significant cost-savings for healthcare systems compared to the costs of not screening individuals at all, based on the findings of a diabetes screening cost analysis presented Sunday at the annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) in New Orleans.

A new treatment for type 2 diabetes using aleglitazar could be safe and effective and thus will be entered into phase III trials, according to the phase II SYNCHRONY study published June 8 in Lancet, and simultaneously presented at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) meeting in New Orleans.

Medtronic has purchased substantially all glucose monitoring assets from PreciSense, a Horsholm, Denmark-based development company focused on continuous glucose monitoring technology. Terms of theacquisition were not disclosed.

Vascular Solutions has launched its new Muskie line of 0.014-inch guidewires, which offer a range of distal tip stiffness that allows physicians to select an appropriate guidewire for crossing stenosed lesions.

WRF Capital, the venture investment arm of the nonprofit Washington Research Foundation (WRF), has invested $1.5 million as part of Pathway Medical Technologies' Series D round of financing. The foundations investment brings the total series D round to $42.5 million.

Eli Lilly and Medtronic have formed a strategic marketing collaboration to bolster each company to help people with diabetes manage their blood sugar using insulin therapy.