Medical Bulletin 24/January/2026 - Video

Here are the top medical news for today:

Insulin Anxiety, Workplace Barriers Hamper Effective Gestational Diabetes Care

Managing gestational diabetes is not just about monitoring numbers—it often requires rapid, life-changing adjustments during an already demanding phase of life. A new study published in the journal Pregnancy sheds light on why self-management of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), especially insulin use, can be so challenging, and what helps women successfully stick to their treatment plans.

Gestational diabetes affects nearly 14% of pregnancies worldwide, impacting around 18 million babies. Its prevalence has steadily increased over the past three decades. GDM raises the risk of complications such as pre-eclampsia and Caesarean delivery for mothers, while babies face higher chances of low blood sugar and other health problems at birth. Over time, mothers with GDM are also more likely to develop type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Because of these risks, strict self-management—often including insulin therapy—is crucial.

To better understand real-world challenges, researchers conducted a qualitative study alongside the Gestational Diabetes and Pharmacotherapy (GAP) randomized controlled trial. They interviewed 20 pregnant participants after 34 weeks of gestation, ensuring diversity in background and treatment experience. About half were using insulin, while others were preparing to start. All had received standard education on diet, exercise, glucose monitoring, and medication.

Using in-depth interviews and thematic analysis, the researchers identified several key barriers. Fear was the most common—fear of injections, of hypoglycemia, and of harming the baby. Many women also struggled with the mental load of learning complex routines in a short time, alongside feelings of shock, guilt, or self-blame following diagnosis. Practical challenges, especially in workplaces, made it difficult to test blood sugar or inject insulin at prescribed times.

At the same time, clear promoters of success emerged. Hands-on education from healthcare teams—such as practicing with insulin pens—significantly reduced anxiety and built confidence. Support from family and friends helped women stay on track, while concern for the baby was the strongest motivator of all, driving rapid and sustained behavior change. The study highlights that supporting GDM self-management requires more than prescriptions.

REFERENCE: Akinola, I., Flynn, K. E., Yee, L. M., et al. (2025). Barriers and facilitators to insulin management in pregnant people with gestational diabetes mellitus: A qualitative study. Obstetrics & Gynecology. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/pmf2.70232. https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pmf2.70232

Study Suggests Statins Could Extend Life in Most Type 2 Diabetes Patients

For years, statins have been seen as a must-have only for people with diabetes who face an obvious and immediate threat of heart disease. But new research suggests this view may be too narrow. A large long-term study now shows that statins can reduce deaths and serious heart problems in people with type 2 diabetes—even in those once considered “low risk.”

This new evidence, published in Annals of Internal Medicine, suggests that statins may provide meaningful protection far beyond the highest-risk group.

Statins are medications designed to lower LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol, which plays a major role in clogging arteries and triggering heart attacks and strokes. People with type 2 diabetes already have a higher lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease, yet doctors have long debated whether statins are necessary for patients whose short-term (10-year) heart risk appears low.

To investigate, researchers from the University of Hong Kong analyzed real-world health records from the IQVIA Medical Research Data (IMRD)-UK database. The study included adults aged 25 to 84 in the UK who had type 2 diabetes but no prior history of major cardiovascular disease at the start of the study. Participants were followed for up to 10 years, allowing researchers to track long-term outcomes.

The team compared individuals who started statin therapy with those who did not. Participants were grouped based on their predicted 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease—a tool commonly used in clinics to decide whether statins should be prescribed. The researchers then examined outcomes such as death from any cause and major cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes.

The findings were clear and consistent. Across every risk category, people taking statins had lower rates of death and fewer serious cardiovascular events. Crucially, this benefit was seen even among individuals labeled as low risk, challenging the assumption that statins only help those with high predicted short-term risk.

Safety was also carefully assessed. The study found only a very small increase in muscle-related side effects in one risk group, and no increased risk of liver problems—two common concerns surrounding statin use.

REFERENCE: Vincent Ka Chun Yan, Joseph Edgar Blais, John-Michael Gamble, Esther Wai Yin Chan, Ian Chi Kei Wong, Eric Yuk Fai Wan. Effectiveness and Safety of Statins in Type 2 Diabetes According to Baseline Cardiovascular Risk. Annals of Internal Medicine, 2025; DOI: 10.7326/ANNALS-25-00662

New Stanford Research Shows Cartilage Regeneration Could Stop Arthritis

A treatment that helps worn-out joints grow new cartilage may sound like science fiction, but new research from Stanford Medicine suggests it could soon be a reality. In a groundbreaking study published in Science, researchers showed that blocking a key aging-related protein can reverse age-related cartilage loss and even prevent arthritis after knee injuries—at least in mice. Early tests in human cartilage also showed promising signs of regeneration.

Osteoarthritis affects about one in five adults and is driven by the gradual breakdown of articular (hyaline) cartilage, the smooth tissue that allows joints to move without friction. Once damaged, this cartilage has very limited ability to heal, leaving pain management or joint replacement as the main treatment options. No approved drug currently targets the root cause of cartilage loss.

The new approach focuses on an enzyme called 15-PGDH, known as a “gerozyme” because its levels rise with age and contribute to tissue decline. Researchers found that this enzyme roughly doubles in aging knee cartilage. When older mice were given a small-molecule inhibitor that blocks 15-PGDH—either systemically or directly into the knee—their thinning cartilage thickened and regained healthy structure.

The treatment also worked in mice with knee injuries similar to ACL tears, which often lead to osteoarthritis in humans. Treated animals were far less likely to develop arthritis and showed improved movement compared to untreated mice.

Importantly, the team tested human cartilage samples taken from knee replacement surgeries. After one week of treatment, the tissue showed reduced cartilage-degrading activity and early signs of new, functional cartilage formation.

Unlike many regenerative therapies, this process did not rely on stem cells. Instead, existing cartilage cells were reprogrammed into a more youthful, repair-focused state.

With oral versions of the drug already in early clinical trials for muscle aging, researchers hope similar trials for cartilage regeneration could follow—raising the possibility of treating arthritis without surgery in the future.

REFERENCE: Mamta Singla, Yu Xin Wang, Elena Monti, Yudhishtar Bedi, Pranay Agarwal, Shiqi Su, Sara Ancel, Maiko Hermsmeier, Nitya Devisetti, Akshay Pandey, Mohsen Afshar Bakooshli, Adelaida R. Palla, Stuart Goodman, Helen M Blau, Nidhi Bhutani. Inhibition of 15-hydroxy prostaglandin dehydrogenase promotes cartilage regeneration. Science, 2025; DOI: 10.1126/science.adx6649