New findings on why type 2 diabetes is an inflammatory disease

Inflammation does not do a body good.

In addition to contributing to a host of health conditions from arthritis to cancer, researchers are now gaining more evidence that inflammatory responses also contribute significantly to the onset of type 2 diabetes.

A study recently published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology revealed that, in mice, immune cells called macrophages disturb pancreatic tissue during the early stages of diabetes. These inflammation-causing cells then produce large amounts of cytokines, which are pro-inflammatory proteins. The end result? Insulin-producing cells are wiped out in the pancreas, which results in diabetes.

Insight for new therapies

The Denamrk research team suggests their findings might shed light on new diabetes therapies that target inflammatory responses within the body.

"The study may provide novel insights allowing development of tailor-made anti-inflammatory based therapies reducing the burden of type 2 patients," said researcher Alexander Rosendahl, from the Department of Diabetes Complication Biology at Novo Nordisk A/S in Denmark. "These novel treatments may prove to complement existing therapies such as insulin and GLP-1 analogues."


The team also noted that the growing body of research on obesity and type 2 diabetes holds that inflammation plays a key role in the development and severity of these health conditions.

"This study sheds light on how a key inflammatory cell is connected to disease and what might go wrong when someone has type 2 diabetes," John Wherry, Deputy Editor of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, said in a statement."The knowledge gained from such studies offers hope that new immune-based therapies could be developed to mitigate the severity of such diseases."

Source:
Medical News Today

Image courtesy of lamnee/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net


More Articles

With its slightly nutty flavor, chewy texture, and nutritional punch farro is an ancient whole grain worth a place in our pantry.

Farro...

Having diabetes is cause for concern, however it doesn’t mean that you need to eliminate all of your favorite foods from your diet completely....

With diabetes becoming more of an epidemic each and every day, being knowledgeable about the disease, its effects on the body as well as ways to...

If you’re a diabetic or live with one, it can be tough trying to figure out the best foods to eat because your priority is to control your blood...

In this post, I will show you the 10 best ice creams for diabetics.

When you think of sweetened foods that a diabetic shouldn’t consume,...

More Articles

If you’re living with diabetes, snacking is a necessity because going for more than 3-4 hours without eating can be detrimental to your health....

For diabetics, choosing healthy snacks can be a daunting task.

A good rule of thumb is to pick out snacks that are rich in protein, fiber,...

According to information available through the National Institutes of Health, there’s an estimated 462 million people in the world who are...

Eleven Clinical Studies

After eleven clinical studies and 300,000 participants, researcher Vasanti Malik and her team of researchers...

Diabetic women often have a harder time losing weight than non-diabetic women. A study funded by Jenny Craig proved that diabetic women have an...

Many recent studies have proved that magnesium levels are lower in patients with diabetes than in non-diabetics. This magnesium...

Fluid retention, also known as edema, is a problem that affects many diabetics, especially those with type 2 diabetes...

Some of us might be thrilled if we could manage our blood sugar by sitting in a hot tub or sauna, instead of working up a sweat biking, or using...

Cooking and baking with the ancient cereal grain sorghum has health benefits for people with diabetes, and those with weight control issues....

When it comes to certain foods, there are always questions as to whether or not a diabetic can have them without...

Matcha tea is a rich, creamy, full-bodied beverage with amazing nutritional properties that address several diabetes health concerns.

The...

Salads are good example of foods that type 2 diabetics can enjoy with relatively low guilt. With the right greens and other elements added, salad...

Remaining gainfully employed is important to many people. Those who live with any form of diabetes may find that some lines of work are more...

Learning that you have diabetes does mean making some lifestyle changes. One of the areas that needs attention is your diet. Most people find that...

One of the more challenging aspects of life as a type 2 diabetic is managing your diet. There’s often the temptation to avoid certain foods...