Iloprost/Aurlumyn, a newly FDA-approved for treatment of frostbite, increases peripheral circulation and protects frozen fingers and toes from amputation. Circulation in fingers and toes is a problem for diabetics in the process that leads to peripheral neuropathy. The next stage is tingling or even serious pain, followed eventually by numbness and complete loss of sensation. As we have seen, there has been a lot of progress on understanding these processes, and there are several candidate treatments in clinical trials.
FDA Approves First Medication to Treat Severe Frostbite
Iloprost, an analogue of prostacyclin, is often utilised in subjects with diabetes mellitus complicated by macroangiopathy.
NIH: Iloprost infusion prevents the insulin-induced reduction in skeletal muscle microvascular blood volume but does not enhance peripheral glucose uptake in type 2 diabetic patients
In type 2 diabetes impaired insulin-induced muscle perfusion is thought to contribute to reduced whole-body glucose uptake. In this study, we examined the effects of iloprost, a stable prostacyclin analogue, on insulin-induced muscle capillary recruitment and whole-body glucose uptake.
NIH: Low-dose iloprost infusion improves insulin action in aged healthy subjects and NIDDM patients
Iloprost infusion improved insulin-stimulated whole-body glucose uptake and oxidative and nonoxidative glucose metabolism in both study groups.
Author’s Notes
I was on a timeout all last week for quoting a passage containing a banned word. I’m sorry I couldn’t warn you that I would have no diabetes post on Wednesday.
I continue to have hypoglycemic incidents. Wikipedia has better information on it than the usual medical sites. I’ll tell you about the diagnosis of possible causes next week. Until then, my first line of defense is going to be trying to eat at regular times, instead of waiting until I get hungry. I have plenty of glucose tablets, candy, and high-carb food at the ready, and I am learning more about how long it takes for them to take effect.