New findings on blood sugar regulation
Today's New York Times has posted a long article In Diabetes, A Complex of Causes that describes interesting new research into how the body regulates blood sugar.We already know that the pancreas and liver regulate blood sugar levels. This article also describes how a skeletal hormone, osteocalcin, can signal fat cells and the pancrease. Experiments show that it may be possible to boost ostecalcin and affect blood sugar levels, though this will only benefit those with Type 2 diabetes.
The latter part of the article also describes how the brain may actually work to affect blood glucose levels. They've been able to knock out certain receptors in the brain and cause diabetes in mice. And research seems to point to the hypothalamus.
The brain, therefore, appears to be listening to and weighing and making sense of a chorus of signals from insulin, leptin, free fatty acids and glucose itself. In response, it appears to send signals to liver and muscle cells by way of several nerves, though additional mechanisms are probably involved. The gut also seems to chime in, said Dr. Rizza, adding that for him, this aspect of sugar regulation came as the biggest gee whiz of all.This article is a very interesting read into new diabetes research. The New York Times has been doing some great reporting on diabetes treatment and research this year. I'm impressed by the amount of attention they're giving to diabetes.
Labels: diabetes, hypothalamus, NYT, osteocalcin, research
posted by Bernard @ 5:55 AM
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