Fat Cells Can Protect Body Against Diabetes Says Study

A recent report from the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) states that fat cells may help protect the body from diabetes. The effects have to do with the fat cells role in the body as manager of blood sugar.

The team of researchers discovered that a single gene inside a fat cell responds powerfully to sugar. Fat cells need sugar to work properly, however obesity sometimes reduces the amount of sugar going to the fat cells. This results in insulin resistance, according to the report.

According to senior author Barbara Kahn MD “If we change that one gene, that makes the animal more prone to or more protected from diabetes. Many foods get converted into sugar, so there is no need to eat more sugar.” Khan is the George R. Minot Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Vice Chair of the Department of Medicine at BIDMC.

These findings may eventually lead to alternate treatments for diabetes and several other types of metabolic diseases.

Source: Science Daily

Eating Disorder Self Test. Take the EAT-26 self test to see if you might have eating disorder symptoms that might require professional evaluation. All answers are confidential.

Find a Treatment Facility Near You

Click on a state below to find eating disorder treatment options that could be right for you.

Where do calls go?

Calls to numbers on a specific treatment center listing will be routed to that treatment center. Calls to any general helpline will be answered or returned by one of the treatment providers listed, each of which is a paid advertiser: ARK Behavioral Health, Recovery Helpline, Alli Addiction Services.

By calling the helpline you agree to the terms of use. We do not receive any commission or fee that is dependent upon which treatment provider a caller chooses. There is no obligation to enter treatment.

CALL NOW FOR IMMEDIATE HELPCALL NOW FOR IMMEDIATE HELP800-776-3990Response time about 1 min | Response rate 100%
Who Answers?