Researchers have discovered a certain hormone may be able to treat diabetes in the future, according to USA Today.
This hormone has already been able to boost the amount of cells that produce insulin in mice. Researchers believe the discovery is promising for those struggling with the disease.
Humans already have their own form of the hormone. USA Today reprts inserting more of the hormone into a man or woman with diabetes can help them forego insulin shots.
According to Douglas Melton of Harvard Medical School and senior author of the report, the procedure would allow individuals to have better control of their blood sugar levels.
While some researchers believe the suggestions in this new study are promising, others—not connected to the study—say that past procedures done on mice have had similar effects but have not been successful with humans.
On the other hand, Melton said this hormone treatment is different because the effect it has is highly potent and only targets insulin-making cells.
Approximately 371 million people across the globe have diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association the definition is:
Diabetes mellitus (MEL-ih-tus), or simply, diabetes, is a group of diseases characterized by high blood glucose levels that result from defects in the body's ability to produce and/or use insulin.
Heart disease, stroke, and kidney, eyes, and nervous system damage, can all be results of high blood sugar.
At least 90 percent of diabetes is diagnosed at “Type 2.” “In type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin,” says the ADA website.
If the new procedure is successful, Type 2 diabetes is the diagnosis it will likely treat.
However, Melton called the possibility for the procedure to treat “Type 1” diabetes a “long shot.” In “Type 1” diabetes the body does not produce any insulin.
Melton says research still has to be done to determine how the hormones exactly work. Researchers will be able determine a greater amount of success if the hormone works in diabetic mice. Then trials for humans follow.
The report was published Thursday in the jounal Cell.
