Brain important in therapy for diabetes

A new study has revealed the crucial role that the brain plays in insulin therapy. Carried out by researchers at the University of Washingto, American, the study conducted on rats has massive implications for the treatment of diabetes. The study will be published in the January issue of Cell Metabolism.
The study examined therapies that increased the brains own response to insulin. It is hoped that through similar therapy, diabetic human patients could learn how to improve their blood sugar whilst also lessening the amount of insulin required. Consequently, it is hoped that the unpleasant side-effects experienced by many insulin users could also be lessened.
Insulin is a key part of diabetes therapy, and without it many type 1 diabetics could not survive. Insulin is a naturally-occurring hormone in the pancreas, which allows human bodily tissues to absorb blood sugar. In diabetics, insulin production is either impaired (type 2) or non-existent (type 1). A rise of blood sugar in the body can lead to substantial complications, and diabetics are advised to manage their disease through a combination of insulin, diet and exercise. Recent scientific thinking indicates that the brain plays a crucial role in insulin production.
The brain sensitivity study could lead to a different future for many diabetic patients reliant on insulin.