http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/researchers_find_vitamin/

[[...Researchers at Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, have discovered that deficiency of thiamine – Vitamin B1 - may be key to a range of vascular problems for people with diabetes. They have also solved the mystery as to why thiamine deficiency in diabetes had remained hidden until now...]]

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/561885?src=mp

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6935482.stm

My comment:. I've been pushing this point :-) in this blog
blood sugar control involves B1, and B1 should be expected to be used up far more quickly with higher levels of blood sugar as found in diabetes, and in the metabolic syndrome as well!
Just processing the excess carbs eaten in many modern diets uses up higher B1

I have long suspected that the side effects of diabetes may be involved with low B1 as I have personally had a few which are at least partly relieved by B1.(documented here on this blog)
Long term B1 is needed (usually over a year) for significant healing to occur, and I'd expect it possible in early cases, at least.
For more info, just click on B1 links on RHS

and yes, B1 testing was always a bit difficult, as enzyme levels will vary starting out higher (increased levels )with early deficiency as the body struggles to maintain the needed levels from a lowered B1 level left in blood and reducing with longer term / more pronounced deficiency(as found in Asia with white rice diets) as the body realises it can't use all the enzyme it has put out due to lowered B1 and stops over producing.
With the western high carb diets , the higher enzyme levels of transketolase should be more common, indicating a increased need for B1 by the body.

http://tealady-health.blog.co.uk/2006/07/10/b1_and_diabetes~947428