Insulin News and Research

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Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert glucose, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. Insulin allows cells to use glucose for fuel and is secreted by beta cells in the islets of Langerhans. The release of insulin from the pancreas is stimulated by increased blood glucose, vagal nerve stimulation, and other factors. Insulin is obtained from various animals and available in a variety of preparations. Commercial insulin preparations differ in a number of ways, including differences in the animal species from which they are obtained; their purity, concentration, and solubility; and the time of onset and duration of their biologic action. An oral hypoglycemic agent is not a form of insulin therapy.

Study: Oral verapamil improves the pancreas' insulin secretion in children with newly-diagnosed TID

Published in JAMA, a University of Minnesota led study shows that verapamil, a drug commonly used to treat high blood pressure and heart conditions, can have a beneficial effect on the pancreas in children with newly-diagnosed type 1 diabetes (T1D).

27 Feb 2023

Metabolic reactions upon activating Akt2 enzyme revealed

Takeaki Ozawa and his team from the University of Tokyo reveal the metabolic reactions upon activating an enzyme called Akt2.

22 Feb 2023

New insights into genetics of sexually dimorphic fat distribution in humans

Obesity causes many health problems and worsens several chronic illnesses, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, however, some obese people are more susceptible to complications than others.

17 Feb 2023

Effect of prune supplementation on the gut microbiome of postmenopausal women

New research published in the journal Food & Function indicates that daily prune consumption may improve the gut fecal microbiome of postmenopausal women. The fecal microbiome – the ecosystem of microorganisms found in one's fecal matter – reflects an individual's overall gut health. Results from the study showed notable enrichment in bacteria from the family Lachnospiraceae. This group of bacteria has been associated with an ability to decrease inflammatory markers in the body and help maintain the integrity of the gut barrier.

16 Feb 2023

Versatile molecular toolbox expands the scope of gene regulation

Rice University scientists have enlisted widely used cancer therapy systems to control gene expression in mammalian cells, a feat of synthetic biology that could change how diseases are treated.

15 Feb 2023

Pancreatic islet microexons play key role in islet function and glucose homeostasis

When cells copy DNA to produce RNA transcripts, they include only some chunks of genetic material known as exons and throw out the rest.

10 Feb 2023

The correlation between Type 2 diabetes and human microRNAs

Although it has long been believed that microRNA (miRNA) molecules in pancreatic islets play significant roles in Type 2 diabetes, no specific miRNAs have been definitively linked to the disease in humans.

10 Feb 2023

Macrophages as new therapeutic target to address obesity-related diseases

Macrophages are immune system cells that control inflammation and tissue function in addition to being crucial in the early response to microbial infection. Since it aids in the repair of damaged tissue, inflammation is a natural physiological response.

6 Feb 2023

Antibody that blocks VEGF-B could be a potential therapeutic option for fatty liver disease

There is currently no drug for treating non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which affects many people with type 2 diabetes and which can result in other serious liver diseases.

6 Feb 2023

Deletion of p16Ink4a cells does not negatively impact β-cell mass and proliferation in mice

A new research paper was published on the cover of Aging (listed as "Aging (Albany NY)" by Medline/PubMed and "Aging-US" by Web of Science) Volume 15, Issue 2, entitled, "Clearance of p16Ink4a-positive cells in a mouse transgenic model does not change β-cell mass and has limited effects on their proliferative capacity."

1 Feb 2023

Massive clinical study on type 1 diabetes patients

A massive clinical study on an approved psoriasis drug is now underway. The drug will be tested on people who have just been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. The drug, according to the theory, could preserve the patient’s remaining insulin production.

30 Jan 2023

Research reveals the genes that likely allowed whales to grow into giant sizes

New research reveals the genes that likely allowed whales to grow to giant sizes compared to their ancestors, reports a study published in Scientific Reports.

20 Jan 2023

What are the implications of microbiome-directed measures to treat type 2 diabetes?

According to preliminary findings from an ongoing, prospective study headed by Cedars-Sinai researchers, one type of bacteria seen in the gut might contribute to the development of Type 2 diabetes, while another might guard against the condition.

5 Jan 2023

Georgia Tech researchers develop a new biomaterial that could cure Type 1 diabetes

Insulin injections to treat Type 1 diabetes could become a thing of the past, but finding the cure faces many challenges.

4 Nov 2022

Bacterial warfare in the gut can have collateral beneficial effects

Nearly ten years ago, a graduate student at UO Jennifer Hampton Hill stumbled upon something fortunate: a peptide produced by gut bacteria that prompted the division of cells that make insulin.

17 Oct 2022

The complex link between pancreatic malformations and the “dark genome”

For the first time, scientists at the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) have discovered a DNA sequence that is essential for pancreatic development and function.

25 Aug 2022

BIDMC researchers develop a transformative approach to make more of beige adipose tissues

Once considered an inert tissue, fat – or adipose tissue – is now known to play an active role in the body's critical functions by secreting hormones that regulate hunger and body temperature.

18 Aug 2022

Extract from the roots of Rhodiola rosea may be effective for managing type 2 diabetes

A team of researchers led by the University of California, Irvine has discovered that treatment with an extract from the roots of the Rhodiola rosea plant might be effective for helping manage type 2 diabetes, showing promise as a safe and effective non-pharmaceutical alternative.

16 Aug 2022

Circadian clocks involve primarily in fat cell growth

According to two studies conducted by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine, the circadian clocks that keep the body and its cells synchronized to the 24-hour day-night cycle are severely disrupted.

9 Aug 2022

Giving attention to beta cells instead of the immune system could be a chance to prevent type 1 diabetes

Research studying the autoimmune response, in which the immune system kills the insulin-producing pancreatic islet beta cells, is a common topic of type 1 diabetes research.

1 Jul 2022