Diabetes Research Shows Role of Bones, Brain

New hormones and body systems make the disease even more complex

By Lucas Laursen, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 16, 2007 12:23 PM CDT

(Newser) – The New York Times surveys what it calls an "explosion" of recent breakthroughs in diabetes research, painting a much more complex portrait of how the body balances sugar in the bloodstream, and offering radically different possibilities for treatment. One of the most surprising discoveries is that bones produce a hormone that influences blood sugar levels.

Until recently, the regulation of blood sugar had been seen as a "conversation" among the pancreas, liver, muscle tissue, and fat. Now researchers have isolated substances in the brain, small intestine, immune system, and bones which also send and receive signals. The hormone produced in the bones, osteocalcin, has already been used to control diabetes and obesity in mice. Drugs based on hormones from the small intestine, incretins, are in clinical trials.

Tools to deal with diabetes. (ShutterStock)

Needle ((c) Mel B.)

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Diabetes Research Shows Role of Bones, Brain

New hormones and body systems make the disease even more complex

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New hormones and body systems make the disease even more complex

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

diabetes • osteocalcin • blood sugar • metabolism • incretins

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Bone Hormone Could Help Treat Diabetes

Bones produce a hormone that controls blood sugar

Leukemia Drugs Cure Mouse Diabetes

Common cancer treatment sent disease into rapid remission

Early Drug Regimen Helps Diabetics Later: Study

Study shows long-term benefits for rigorous initial treatment

Diabetic Moms Linked to Birth Defects

40 types of abnormality more common in mothers with disease

Bypass Surgery Shows Promise as Diabetes Fix

Variation on obesity procedure has led to remission

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Newser By Users

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