For some considerable time, unhealthy diet and a lack of exercise have been recognised as factors that can significantly contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes, a condition that claims thousands of lives each year. Some recent research carried out by scientists in the US and published in a journal entitled, 'Nature Medicine' leads towards confirmation that this is true.
The body regulates the amount of glucose in the blood stream through beta cells, which are produced by the pancreas. If glucose levels become too high, the pancreatic beta cells release a hormone know as 'insulin'. Insulin tells the body that it needs to bring sugar levels back down to safe levels. The enzyme that allows cells to absorb glucose and determine what levels are present is called GnT-4a.
Without this important enzyme, the body cannot determine how much glucose is actually present in the blood stream meaning that levels can become dangerously high, with huge consequences that con prove fatal in the most extreme circumstances. The findings of the research suggest that when production of GnT-4a is slowed down, the body is more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.
The experiments that lead towards the findings were carried out on mice and human tissue by scientists at the University of California, in conjunction with the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute. The findings revealed that excessive fatty acids (common in people with typically high fat diets) will interfere with the two proteins that produce GnT-4a. These proteins are known as FOXA2 and HNF1A and if they are interfered with, the body could have insufficient amounts of GnT-4A.
The research reinforces the theory that without Gnt-4a, the body will become effectively blind as to the levels of glucose in the blood. Treatments such as beta cell gene therapy and drugs that promote the natural functionality of these beta cells, could significantly reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes The recent findings provide solid grounds for the continued research into type 2 diabetes.
The body regulates the amount of glucose in the blood stream through beta cells, which are produced by the pancreas. If glucose levels become too high, the pancreatic beta cells release a hormone know as 'insulin'. Insulin tells the body that it needs to bring sugar levels back down to safe levels. The enzyme that allows cells to absorb glucose and determine what levels are present is called GnT-4a.
Without this important enzyme, the body cannot determine how much glucose is actually present in the blood stream meaning that levels can become dangerously high, with huge consequences that con prove fatal in the most extreme circumstances. The findings of the research suggest that when production of GnT-4a is slowed down, the body is more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.
The experiments that lead towards the findings were carried out on mice and human tissue by scientists at the University of California, in conjunction with the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute. The findings revealed that excessive fatty acids (common in people with typically high fat diets) will interfere with the two proteins that produce GnT-4a. These proteins are known as FOXA2 and HNF1A and if they are interfered with, the body could have insufficient amounts of GnT-4A.
The research reinforces the theory that without Gnt-4a, the body will become effectively blind as to the levels of glucose in the blood. Treatments such as beta cell gene therapy and drugs that promote the natural functionality of these beta cells, could significantly reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes The recent findings provide solid grounds for the continued research into type 2 diabetes.
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