A Relentless Spotlight on Diabetes

Relentless RoundUp - 13th Edition

It is extraordinary to reflect on the fact that 2021 marks the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin. Canadians Banting and Best first extracted insulin from the pancreas of one dog to give to another dog with severe diabetes. The extended life of the diabetic dog was the evidence needed to fuel development of more purified forms, the ultimate life-saving product used to this day by Type 1 diabetics and worthy of the first Nobel prize awarded to a Canadian.

While insulin has not been a cure. It has been a life saver.

Did You Know That November is Diabetes Awareness Month Across the Globe?

As we approach the end of November, let’s take a beat and ensure we understand more about diabetes. With approximately one in three North Americans living with diabetes or pre-diabetes, chances are very high a friend or loved one has some form of this chronic condition.

Type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease, once known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin. Insulin, discovered and purified by Banting and Best, is the hormone needed to allow sugar (glucose) to enter cells to produce energy.

To this day, the cause of type 1 diabetes is not known. And there is no cure. Known risk factors include genetics, ethnic background and onset being triggered by some viruses.

Roughly 90 per cent of people living with diabetes have type 2 diabetes, these are people who have insulin resistance. There are known risk factors for type 2 including obesity, ethnic background, and having a family history of the disease. An individual is more likely to develop type 2 diabetes if not physically active and they are overweight. The body still produces insulin, but it’s unable to use it effectively.

One way of understanding the difference between the two types of diabetes that someone unlocked for me is that type 1 is akin to missing the key, and type 2 is having the key, but it is broken.

Compounding your risk factors includes aging. Older adults are at risk for later onset of type 2 due to the combined effects of increasing insulin resistance and impaired pancreatic islet function that comes with aging.

Statistics from a Centers of Disease Control (“CDC”) diabetes report underscore the association between age and risk: among adults ages 18-44, 4% had diabetes; 45-64 years, 17%; 65 years and older, 25% had diabetes. That is 1 in 4 seniors.

Time to Get Moving!

Mobility is directly linked to risk management for type 2 diabetes. Why? Because the glucose that is burned for energy with the help of insulin is used to help fuel activity. When you exercise, your body’s muscles burn more glucose and use less insulin which helps manage (and dare I say reverse) insulin resistance. When inactive, muscles are not burning the glucose and instead are storing it, resulting in higher blood sugar levels.

As we head into the holiday season, please keep moving! Implement new rules. Suggestion – for every butter tart or shortbread cookie, go for a 30-minute walk before consuming the sweet. That is not a technical rule of thumb, but it might cause you to pause and embrace the grand outdoors before grabbing, and enjoying, a second.

Relentless “Diabetes” Portfolio Construction

The increasing prevalence of diabetes in aging populations, and the negative effects of COVID-19 on people with diabetes, have underscored the importance of continuing to invest in diabetes research, treatment, and prevention.

Since the launch of the Relentless Venture Fund, addressing the prevention of, and managing life with diabetes has been one of our core themes. And yes, promoting an activity-based lifestyle at every chance we get weaves into our disease prevention goals.

Diabetes Awareness Month presents a prime opportunity to share how our evolving Relentless portfolio construction includes a spectrum of diabetes care.

PREVENTION of Diabetes with Newtopia (TSXV:NEWU)

At the heart of Newtopia’s clinically proven, CDC accredited, data driven habit change platform is the management of metabolic syndrome. If you have metabolic syndrome, you have multiple risk factors associated with developing type 2 diabetes: high blood sugar, excess fat (especially around the waist), as well as high blood pressure and high triglyceride levels. You have a five times higher chance of developing type 2 diabetes if you are diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. Newtopia’s program addresses the risk factors.

During Newtopia’s Q3 earnings call last week, Jeff Ruby, CEO, shared that revenues are up 22% year-over-year signaling corporate customers return to work and a renewed commitment to employee health and wellbeing.

MANAGEMENT of Diabetes with Orpyx Medical

Orpyx Medical was featured in the November publication of “Podiatry Management”. 

The Orpyx SI® Sensory Insole System is a comprehensive solution which supports a paradigm shift from reactive to preventative care. The Orpyx smart insole provides a diabetic patient with the tools to prevent and manage the risk of developing diabetic foot ulcers.

Earlier this year, Orpyx was the gold medalist in ‘The Olympics of Wound Care’. The JWC (Journal of Wound Care) WUWHS (World Union of Wound Healing Societies) Awards celebrating the achievements over the previous four years declared the Orpyx SI Sensory Insoles as the “Most Innovated Dressing or Device”.

SOLVING Type 1 Diabetes with Aspect Biosystems

Not wanting to pick a favourite child, but when a portfolio company is on the cusp of delivering a solution to maintain normal levels of glucose for type 1 diabetic patients without the administration of insulin, well, come on. That is very exciting and worthy of the cover page in the family photo album.

In October, Aspect made a first public presentation of data from their visionary 3D printing of insulin-producing beta cells program. We hinted at their accomplishment in the last RoundUp. At the International Pancreas and Islet Transplant Association Congress 2021, Dr Sam Wadsworth, Chief Scientific Officer, summarized, “we have significantly advanced our development of a cell-based bio-printed pancreas therapeutic by using in vitro and in vivo studies to demonstrate long-term tissue function and efficacy in restoring blood glucose to completely normal levels in animal models of type 1 diabetes.” Bravo. Bravo. Very exciting.

That feels like a great achievement to bring our spotlight on Diabetes to a close.  It’s time to get moving. 

As we head into the season of excess, may I recommend overindulging an exquisite amount of soul nourishing with family and friends.