Navigate Up
News Release Search
GO
UPMC/University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences
Amy Dugas Rose
Manager
Telephone: 412-586-9776
Patients and medical professionals may call 1-800-533-UPMC (8762) for more information.

Our Experts 

Bret H. Goodpaster
Biography

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Researchers Receive Grant to Study Diabetes and the Elderly​

PITTSBURGH, November 9, 2004 Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have received a grant from the American Diabetes Association to conduct a research study on the effects of exercise and weight loss in preventing the development of type 2 diabetes in the elderly.

This research study should provide valuable information on the cause and potential treatment of insulin resistance, the bodys lack of ability to use blood sugar in people who are at high risk for the development of type 2 diabetes, said Bret Goodpaster, Ph.D., assistant professor of medicine and director of the exercise laboratory in the Obesity Nutrition Research Center, division of endocrinology/metabolism at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and principal investigator of the study. We will assess how exercise and weight loss improve insulin sensitivity, that is, how the body responds to insulin and to the use of sugar, by looking at skeletal muscle and fat stores.

The study will recruit 90 people between the ages of 60 and 75 years of age who are slightly overweight, or who have higher than normal blood sugar.

Study participants will be randomly assigned to one of three interventions designed to improve insulin sensitivity and possibly prevent development of type 2 diabetes. Interventions include weight loss, exercise or a combination of both.

Those who are entered in the exercise programs will undergo 16 weeks of personalized exercise guided by exercise specialists. A nutritionist will work with participants to help them reach a weight loss goal of 8 to 10 percent of their starting body weight.

The goal of the Obesity Nutrition Research Center is to develop more effective interventions for the prevention and treatment of obesity and related diseases such as type 2 diabetes. To achieve this goal it brings together expertise from the university community in the areas of behavior, genetics, epidemiology, metabolism and eating disorders.

For more information and to find out if you qualify for the study, please call 412-692-2415.

©  UPMC | Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences
Supplemental content provided by A.D.A.M. Health Solutions. All rights reserved.

For help in finding a doctor or health service that suits your needs, call the UPMC Referral Service at 412-647-UPMC (8762) or 1-800-533-UPMC (8762). Select option 1.

UPMC is an equal opportunity employer. UPMC policy prohibits discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, sex, genetics, sexual orientation, marital status, familial status, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected group status. Further, UPMC will continue to support and promote equal employment opportunity, human dignity, and racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity. This policy applies to admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in UPMC programs and activities. This commitment is made by UPMC in accordance with federal, state, and/or local laws and regulations.

Medical information made available on UPMC.com is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should not rely entirely on this information for your health care needs. Ask your own doctor or health care provider any specific medical questions that you have. Further, UPMC.com is not a tool to be used in the case of an emergency. If an emergency arises, you should seek appropriate emergency medical services.

For UPMC Mercy Patients: As a Catholic hospital, UPMC Mercy abides by the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, as determined by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. As such, UPMC Mercy neither endorses nor provides medical practices and/or procedures that contradict the moral teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.

© UPMC
Pittsburgh, PA, USA UPMC.com