It appears that scientists have discovered a new way of treating type II diabetes.
The treatments which are used for obesity seem to also have a positive effect on this disease, which only makes sense since the two are connected.
Molecular Metabolism had recently published a study in which it explains how this therapeutic effect is achieved in our brains.
University of Aberdeen’s Rowett Institute’s scientists, together with teams from Michigan and Cambridge’s universities, have come upon an interesting discovery.
It would seem that a medication called Lorcaserin plays a role in the brain by improving type II diabetes.
It does this through modifying the neurons’ activity, which helps in regulating blood glucose levels.
They prescribe this medication to patients in order to help them lose weight. This is because it can regulate our levels of hunger.
But according to recent studies, other than being useful for such a thing, Lorcaserin can also lower the glucose levels in one’s body. Not to mention it increases one’s cells’ sensitivity towards insulin.
We all know how crucial this is. If one’s body fails in producing enough insulin or the cells don’t react to insulin, the result is type II diabetes.
In which case, glucose, instead of being used as energy like it’s meant to be, stays in the blood. The leader of the Aberdeen scientific team, Professor Lora Heisler, had explained this.
She also went on to say that, while other diabetes drugs work to improve the symptoms, this specific drug, Lorcaserin, works on improving type II diabetes itself.
It does this by targeting the brain’s most important hormones, called POMC (pro-opiomelanocortin) peptides.
They are responsible for the regulation of one’s appetite. In other words, they send us messages telling us to stop eating since we are full – the result being weight loss.
But also, these POMC hormones help maintain our blood glucose levels in check by activating a different circuit in our brains.
Such a discovery is of the utmost importance. This especially since type II diabetes is becoming more and more prevalent in the 21st century.
So, naturally, new and improved treatment methods are always welcome.
New Hope for The Future
Dr. Mark Evans, the leader of the Cambridge scientific team, also added that much more research is needed.
But he also mentioned that this is all very promising. And that such findings offer an entirely new direction of treating type II diabetes.
Of course, this also brings much-needed hope for the individuals already struggling with this disease on a daily basis.
We shall have to see what the future brings for this new potential drug.
Source: ABDN | Express | Evening Express | NCBI
