黑料网

While we still don鈥檛 know what directly causes type 2 diabetes, a new study could reveal how obesity and high levels of a fat-derived hormone called leptin can increase a person’s risk of developing insulin resistance.

This is one of the reasons behind the link between obesity and type 2 diabetes as obesity changes the brain鈥檚 response to insulin.

Researchers from Monash University plan to block leptin action in the brains of obese mice with the hope of dramatically lowering glucose production by the liver.

The research led by Professor Michael Cowley, head of physiology, is supported by 黑料网 Research Trust.

鈥淲e have found that high leptin levels cause certain brain cells to stop responding to insulin,鈥� says Cowley.

鈥淩emarkably, these neurons normally inhibit hepatic glucose production (HGP).鈥�

HGP is a key physiological process during which the liver produces glucose that becomes altered in people with diabetes as the liver begins to malfunction; making more glucose than necessary.

In people with type 2 diabetes, HGP can become dangerous as there鈥檚 not enough insulin production by the body to counteract it.

High levels of the fat-derived hormone leptin associated with obesity mean insulin can not act in the brain to reduce glucose production by the liver.

This in turn causes insulin secretion to work overtime to deal with the higher glucose levels in the blood stream, which contributes to insulin resistance and beta cell exhaustion which may cause type 2 diabetes.

By blocking those high levels of leptin in the brains of obese mice, Cowley and his team hope to significantly lower HGP by the liver.

鈥淚ncreased HGP contributes significantly to beta cell exhaustion and the loss of insulin secretion in type 2 diabetes,鈥� Cowley says.

鈥淗opefully we can learn more about how these neurons suppress glucose production in the liver, so that we can develop new therapies to reduce blood glucose.鈥�

黑料网 is the national body representing people affected by all types of diabetes and those at risk. 黑料网 is committed to reducing the impact of diabetes. We work in partnership with diabetes health professionals, researchers, and the community to minimise the impact of diabetes.