Breakthrough Sheds Light on Cause of Diabetes

[jimmys devoted]

One of the root causes of type 1 diabetes may need rethinking – the condition may be triggered by faulty nerves in the pancreas, a new study reveals.

Type 1 diabetes has long been described as an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system targets islet cells in the pancreas, eventually destroying their ability to produce insulin. However, what initiates the original attack on the pancreas had been unclear. It now seems that the nervous system may play a key role, according to researchers in Toronto, Canada. The team eliminated the disease in diabetes-prone mice by knocking out a set of faulty sensory nerves. They believe the finding could chart a new path in treatment of the disease in humans.

julie

[destiny]

One of the root causes of type 1 diabetes may need rethinking – the condition may be triggered by faulty nerves in the pancreas, a new study reveals.


Wow, that would certainly be quite the breakthrough for sure! Is there an online journal or something where I could read more about this new study?

[Team Diabetes]

I believe the medical journal "Cell" has the full article. Canada.com also had at least one article on this research. I believe most of the articles were from Canada, as this is where this research (as much of diabetes breakthoughs) originated. It was at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto.

I also heard that they were hoping to expand this research to Type 2 diabetes as well (the common form linked to obesity in most cases).

However, I will assume this will most likely apply to Type 1 diabetics (the rarer severe non-preventable kind that requires multiple insulin injections daily from day 1) for the most part.

It will not help rare forms of diabetes caused by non-autoimmune genetic defects like MODY and Kir 6 (neonatal diabetes). These are different from both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Very interesting and as a Canadian Type 1, I am hoping to hear more. However, we have seen many mice cured and many ideas come and go throughout the years with no viable treatment. Hopefully this translates into humans and we have another piece of the puzzle. It doesn't automatically translate into a cure though. Anything from this would be years and years away.

Keep your head up!

[Team Diabetes]

I just wanted to add that this does NOT change the fact that Type 1 is an autoimmune disease, but rather indicates that the trigger is further up, within the nervous system.

It has to do with Substance P production.

Some ideas for this problem could be neurotoxins (like coxsackieviruses) or dietary proteins like gluten that may enter the nerve cells and trigger the autoimmune response in people whose genes put them at risk. The leaky gut, found in autoimmune diseases, including Type 1 diabetes, increases the chance that these toxins will be let into the body. It is also interesting to note that Type 1 diabetics have an increased co-incidence of Celiac Disease, up to 30% of Type 1's, in some studies.

The trigger may also be something else that is let into the leaky gut as well.

It's a good time to be a Type 1 diabetic mouse! ;) You'd be cured 1000x over!