New pathway connected to type 2 diabetes
Wednesday, March 19, 2014 - 12:30
in Health & Medicine
A cellular pathway that is responsible for keeping blood sugar levels low, has been found, and may prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. Following a meal, beta cells found in islets of the pancreas secrete insulin that helps to store food energy for future use. The inability of islet beta cells to produce enough insulin leads to diabetes. Unlike other research that has focused on how to replicate beta cells, this study focused on how to make pre-existing beta cells more functional, or better at secreting insulin.