Hope for Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Aug 31: Researchers have found the role of glucose sensing neuron in Type 2 diabetes. It has been found that these neurons get excited by glucose and then respond and subsequently bring blood glucose level to normal.

The pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons are known to regulate body weight both in human and in mice. Electrophysiology experiment in mice demonstrates that POMC neurons become electrically excited by a rise in glucose level after meal. Researchers confirmed that after disrupting glucose sensing abilities in POMC neurons, these neurons play an important role in regulating blood glucose level. It was found that in Mice with Type 2 diabetes, the POMC neurons were defective.

This research was led by scientist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre and Oregon Health &Science University, and it will be a remarkable clue to reach the basic of this disease.

"These new findings add to our understanding of Type 2 diabetes at a critically important time," said Bradford Lowell who is an investigator in the Division of Endocrinology Bradford Lowell, MD, PhD, an investigator in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at BIDMC and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School (HMS)”. “The incidence of the disease has risen to epidemic proportions, and obesity is a big risk factor for the disease. The discovery that defects in glucose-sensing by the brain may also be contributing to Type 2 diabetes could help lead to new therapeutic strategies for this widespread problem,” adds Lowell.

Type 2 diabetes is non insulin dependent and is a metabolic disorder. It is marked by insulin resistance and hyperglycemia. When insulin produced by pancreas cannot get inside fat and muscle cell to produce energy as a result the blood sugar level increases. This is found to inheritable from one generation to the next. This Type of diabetes may result in renal failure, blindness, hypertension and obesity. About 55% of people suffering from type 2 diabetes are obese and fat interfere with the body’s ability to use insulin.

Also in an accidental finding by team of doctors from France, Brazil and Italy, published in British weekly NEW SCIENTIST, observed that surgery to reduce weight in obese patient has cured the Type 2 diabetes in almost 98% of patient undergone such surgery. This is called Duodenal exclusion in which the duodenal is removed as a result stomach directly feed to mid –small intestine. Because of this less time is consumed to absorb calories from food. This surgery in Type 2 Diabetic patient has shown reduced level in blood glucose level.

The findings are yet to be established, but doctors are still in favour of regular exercises and healthy dietary habit.