Newly Discovered Hormone Could Become Wonder Drug Against Diabetes

Science World Report ^ | April 29, 2013 | Mark Hoffman

[2ndDivisionVet]

A major research breakthrough was achieved in the field of diabetes by scientists at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) who discovered a hormone that could soon enable a dramatically more effective treatment of type 2 diabetes.

A hormone called betatrophin was surprisingly found to cause mice producing insulin-secreting pancreatic beta cells at up to 30 times the normal rate. The new beta cells only produce insulin when called for by the body, offering the potential for the natural regulation of insulin and a great reduction in the complications associated with diabetes.

The astonishing results of HSCI co-director Doug Melton and postdoctoral fellow Peng Yi, published in the journal Cell and supported in large part by a federal research grant, already attracted the attention of drug manufacturers which could lead to speedy clinical trials.

"If this could be used in people," said Melton, a Harvard professor and co-chair of the University's Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, "it could eventually mean that instead of taking insulin injections three times a day, you might take an injection of this hormone once a week or once a month, or in the best case maybe even once a year."

Type 2 diabetes is a disease where patients slowly lose beta cells and the ability to produce adequate insulin due to a combination of overweight and lack of exercise. One recent study has estimated that diabetes treatment and complications -- just one element of the national obesity epidemy -- cost the United States $218 billion annually, or about 10 percent of the nation's entire health bill....

[null and void]

Yes. There’s more going on than gluttony. There’s also apparently a connection to some varieties of intestinal flora.

And gestational diabetes? BANG! Gone at the moment of childbirth.

[Cyman]

Let’s see, cells duplicating at a rate 30x normal? I think they have a group of cells that do that.

Cancer.

[Utah Binger]

Started with this a couple of years ago. Blood sugars are totally leveled out. Been taking 32 units of insulin for over forty years. May be cutting back on that.

Works for me....

[The_Sword_of_Groo]

"It's a natural substance; it can't be patented"

Looks like we'll find out in June.
Justices at Odds Over Patents for Human Genes

[null and void]

Good point.

[PA Engineer]

Not to be picky, but this statement at best misleading and some would argue inaccurate. The are several forms of Type II diabetes- or Adult onset diabetes.

I agree and not just misleading, but wrong. Type I is insufficient to non-insulin production and Type II is characterized as an insulin resistance disorder that may lead to Type 1.

This is why they should never have named Type I and Type II. There should be Diabetes (Type I) and Metabolic Syndrome (Type II).