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| Harvard Stem Cell Institute co-director Doug Melton (r) and postdoc Peng Yi examine images related to their discovery of betatrophin, a new hormone that is a potential treatment for type 2 diabetes. Credit: B. D. Colen/Harvard University |
In twenty years, diabetes is projected to affect 550 million people all over the world. Currently, it is the number one cause for foot amputations and non-genetic vision impairments.
There are two type of diabetes, Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes. Although both types are caused by lack of insulin, they differ in how this is caused. Type 1 diabetes is mostly genetic and invoves the immune system attacking beta cells which are responsible for producing insulin. Type 2 diabetes is caused by the body rejecting its own insulin or that there is not enough insulin produced by the body. Of the two, 95% of diabetes cases are Type 2 diabetes and the leading cause of Type 2 diabetes is obesity.
Insulin is needed by the body to regulate the blood sugar (glucose) levels of the body. Insulin helps in moving glucose from the blood to cells where it is stored for future use as energy. Without insulin or when there is not enough insulin, glucose remains in the bloodstream. At high levels of glucose, blood vessels start to harden and other complications such as kidney failure, heart disease, and other organ malfunctions arise.
There is no cure for diabetes. The disease can only be managed through glucose monitoring, insulin injections and other medications that help regulate glucose levels.
