More hope on the horizon for those with type 1 diabetes, too.
In the world of breakthroughs, a huge one has just landed in our laps: a potential cure for diabetes.
A groundbreaking study from the Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research sheds light on the surprising power of visual food cues on our bodies. Yes, just by seeing food before you ever take a bite, your liver gears up for action, getting itself ready to process nutrients.
"This is more than just your stomach rumbling," explainsDr. Jens Brning, who led the study. "Our study demonstrates a sophisticated communication system between the brain and the liver. The brain plays a crucial role in anticipating food intake and readying the body for optimal digestion."
Researchers isolated specific brain receptors involved in sensing food cues by studying genetically modified mice. When the mice were shown food, their livers exhibited clear signs of metabolic preparation. Conversely, the mice that lacked those brain receptors had no anticipatory response at all.
See me, feel me
The researchers say that the basics of their if this, then that discovery is that just the sight of food activates neurons within the brain. In turn, those neurons send signals directly to the liver, which prompts it to release glucose its stored up and adjust its metabolic processes.
"This fascinating discovery underscores just how interconnected our sensory systems are with our internal processes," says Brning. "It's a remarkable example of how our bodies continually optimize themselves for the environment around us."
Are there other diabetes breakthroughs?
In addition to Brnings team, other researchers are also making potential breakthroughs that have broad implications for people with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
The one that might be the most appealing, just because it could mean an improved quality of life is the closed-loop insulin delivery system. also known as artificial pancreas systems. These systems significantly lessen the burden of daily diabetes management by automating blood sugar monitoring and insulin delivery.
If it does what researchers think it can, it would reduce the need for constant finger pricks, insulin calculations and corrections, allowing diabeticsa lot more freedom and a far more normal life.
Closed-loop systems offer the advantage of better blood sugar control because they improve whats called time-in-range the amount of time spent within target blood sugar levels. That, in turn, could lead to better overall health and a reduced risk of long-term complications.
The only problem with closed-loop systems is that they work for children and adults with type 1 diabetes, but are not yet available for people with type 2 diabetes. However, researchers are getting the funding necessary to try and cover the type 2 angle.
Photo Credit: Consumer Affairs News Department Images
Posted: 2024-05-09 11:10:59
