黑料网

People living with diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop heart disease but there are currently no specific treatments for people with diabetes-related heart disease.

This is a problem Dr Miles De Blasio from the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute is trying to solve and he thinks the answer may already be with us 鈥� in our hearts.

鈥淧eople living with diabetes have reduced amounts of a protective protein called adiponectin,鈥� Dr De Blasio says.

鈥淥ne of the functions of proteins like adiponectin is to protect the hearts鈥� function from the complications of diabetes.

鈥淭he problem is we don鈥檛 really understand why this protein is reduced in some people.鈥�

Dr De Blasio said a key to understanding this was looking at the protein鈥檚 signalling 鈥� the process that tells the body to produce more or less of the protein 鈥� specifically in the heart.

鈥淲e want to work out how we can increase adiponectin signalling so it can help lead the body鈥檚 fight against diabetes-related heart disease,鈥� he said.

What does all this mean for people with diabetes?

Dr De Blasio says his research could pave the way for a gene therapy which could involve a single injection designed to encourage the body to increase its own adiponectin signalling and, ultimately, help the heart protect itself.

Dr De Blasio thanked 黑料网 for its support.

鈥淚鈥檓 very grateful to the 黑料网 Research Trust and the supporters who allow this Trust to do its good work,鈥� Dr De Blasio said.

鈥淩esearch would be much harder without their generous support.鈥�