Past studies have suggested that impaired biosynthesis could be the result of diverse mutations that hinder the foldability of proinsulin.

New York: The evolution of insulin in vertebrates — including humans — has encountered a roadblock, limiting its ability to adapt to obesity and thereby rendering most people vulnerable to Type 2 diabetes, a significant research has claimed.

Scientists from Indiana University (IU), University of Michigan and Case Western Reserve University determined that the sequence of insulin has become entrenched at the edge of impaired production — an intrinsic vulnerability unmasked by rare mutations in the insulin gene causing diabetes in childhood.

Insulin is produced by a series of highly specific processes that occur in specialised cells called beta cells.

A key step is the folding of a biosynthetic precursor, called proinsulin, to achieve the hormone’s functional three-dimensional structure.

Past studies have suggested that impaired biosynthesis could be the result of diverse mutations that hinder the foldability of proinsulin.

“Biological processes ordinarily evolve to be robust, and this protects us in the majority of cases from birth defects and diseases. Yet, diabetes seems to be an exception,” said Michael Weiss, Distinguished Professor at IU School of Medicine.

The group discovered that even the slightest variation of the insulin-sequencing process not only impairs insulin folding (and eventual insulin secretion) but also induces cellular stress that leads to beta cell dysfunction and eventually permanent damage.

The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, highlights the importance of folding efficiency as a critical but hidden factor in the evolution of insulin over the past 540 million years.

Humans have evolved to be vulnerable to diverse mutations in the insulin gene and that this vulnerability underlies a rare monogenic form of diabetes and provides an evolutionary backdrop to the present obesity-related diabetes pandemic.

“The authors highlight the fact that the insulin gene has been susceptible throughout evolution to mutations that impair insulin’s function or stress beta cells,” said Barbara Kahn from Harvard Medical School.

“As we approach the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin, these elegant observations might lead to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of Type 2 diabetes”.

The group will work to fully define the sequence determinants that make proinsulin foldable in beta cells.

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Research led by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has uncovered a new process that may help explain how Type 2 diabetes develops. In tests on live mice and human cells in the lab, the team found a new mechanism besides insulin resistance and high glucose levels that triggers pancreatic cells to begin overproducing insulin.

Type 2 diabetes is the form of the disease that’s usually a result of lifestyle choices, such as poor diet and not enough exercise. It involves a kind of vicious cycle of insulin – beta cells in the pancreas produce too much insulin, which causes the body to become resistant to it. That in turn means the beta cells could produce even more to compensate.

It was long thought that high glucose levels – most commonly caused by eating too much sugary and fatty foods – was the trigger for the beta cells to begin overproducing insulin. But it’s also been shown in the past that even beta cells isolated in a lab dish can over-secrete insulin, without glucose playing a part.

So the team on the new study investigated what else could be causing beta cells to overproduce insulin. In tests on obese, pre-diabetic mice, the researchers discovered a new, separate molecular pathway that can induce insulin secretion without glucose. Instead, the trigger appears to be fatty acids.

When levels of these fatty acids rose too high in the mice, a protein called Cyclophilin D (CypD) caused protons to “leak” into the mitochondria of the beta cells. This triggers them to boost production of insulin.

To check the mechanism, the team then engineered mice without the gene that codes for CypD, and found that their insulin stayed at regular levels.

The researchers also investigated whether the same mechanism could be occurring in humans, by testing human pancreas cells isolated in the lab. When exposed to high levels of fatty acids – levels found in obese humans – the cells began to produce more insulin. Again, there was no glucose present.

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Avocados known to be a delicious and satisfying food can according to researchers also help in delaying or preventing diabetes. For the first time, researchers, led by Professor Paul Spagnuolo, have shown how a compound found only in avocados can inhibit cellular processes that normally lead to diabetes.

In safety testing in humans, the team also found that the substance was absorbed into the blood with no adverse effects in the kidney, liver or muscle. The study was recently published in the journal, Molecular Nutrition and Food Research.

About one in four persons is obese, a chronic condition that is a leading cause of Type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistance in diabetic patients means their bodies are unable to properly remove glucose from the blood. Those complications can arise when mitochondria, or the energy powerhouses in the body’s cells, are unable to burn fatty acids completely. Normally, fatty acid oxidation allows the body to burn fats. Obesity or diabetes hinders that process, leading to incomplete oxidation.

The researchers discovered that avocatin B (AvoB), a fat molecule found only in avocados, counters incomplete oxidation in skeletal muscle and the pancreas to reduce insulin resistance. In their study, the team fed mice high-fat diets for eight weeks to induce obesity and insulin resistance.For the next five weeks, they added AvoB to the high-fat diets of half of the mice. The treated mice weighed significantly less than those in the control group, showing slower weight gain. More important, said Spagnuolo, the treated mice showed greater insulin sensitivity, meaning that their bodies were able to absorb and burn blood glucose and improve their response to insulin. In a human clinical study, AvoB given as a dietary supplements to participants eating a typical western diet was absorbed safely into their blood without affecting the kidney, liver or skeletal muscle.

Having demonstrated its safety in humans, they plan to conduct clinical trials to test AvoB’s efficacy in treating metabolic ailments in people.

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If findings of a new study are to be believed, drinking kale juice may also help check blood sugar fluctuations in Type-2 diabetes. Type-2 diabetes is a condition where the body is unable to respond to insulin properly.

Kale has become a global nutritional showstopper of sorts. After broccoli, this leafy vegetable has become a staple in healthy salads and juices. According to the book, ‘Healing Foods’ by DK Publishing House, “It is an exceptional source of chlorophyll, and its calcium and iron content are highly bioavailable (easily absorbed). It helps balance hormones and lower cholesterol, and its antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids give kale strong anti-inflammatory properties.” Kale is an excellent source of beta-carotene that may do wonders for your eye health and also contains Vitamin C, which helps bolster your immunity. If a new small scale study is to be believed, drinking kale juice may also help check blood sugar fluctuations in Type-2 diabetes.

Type-2 diabetes is a condition where the body is unable to respond to insulin properly. If left untreated, diabetes could take a toll on your kidneys, heart and also lead to weight gain. One can also suffer from chronic complications related to eyes, feet and nerves. Diabetics are often advised to keep a check on their diet. Your diet plays an important role in managing diabetes. In fact, your diet and lifestyle are important aspects of diabetes management and treatment. The food you eat on a day-to-day basis has a direct impact on your blood sugar levels.

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Diabetes Management: If left untreated, diabetes could take a toll on your kidneys, heart and also lead to weight gain.
The study, published in the journal Nutrition Research And Practice, suggests that the supplementation of kale juice affected blood pressure, lipid profiles, and blood glucose in subclinical hypertensive patients.

(Also Read: Kale Nutrition: Amazing Kale Nutrition Facts And Health Benefits)

Here Are Some Reasons Kale Could Be An Ideal Addition To Your Diabetes Diet:

1. Kale Has Low GI Value: Glycemic index or GI is a relative ranking given to carbohydrates present in the food depending upon how they affect blood sugar levels. Foods with low GI tend to metabolise slowly and enable slow release of sugar in the bloodstream.
2. Kale Is Non-Starchy In Nature: The carbohydrates present in the veggie are good carbs, which do not cause rapid surge in blood sugar levels.
3. Rich In Antioxidants: Kale has many antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, which help manage many chronic inflammatory conditions that are often tied to diabetes.

(Also Read: Diabetes Diet: 5 Whole Grain Desi Flat Bread Recipes For Diabetics)

1. Kale Juice Is Low In Calories: It is an excellent alternative to high-calorie beverages and sodas that are known to topple blood sugar levels.
2. Kale Is High In Fibre: Though you lose a good amount of fibre when you juice the veggie, we would suggest you to mix your kale juice with other veggies to make it thick, and steeped in nutritive goodness.

Other Health Benefits Of Kale:
Rich In Anti-oxidant: Kale has two prominent antioxidant carotenoids. Dietary carotenoids are proven to provide protection against certain cancers and degenerative eye problems. Carotenoids protect plants against photo oxidative processes; in the human body they are a part of the antioxidant system.

Fights Inflammation: Inflammation is your immune system’s reaction to irritation, injury, or infection. It’s a normal response but when it becomes chronic, it leads to a number of health problems.

Omega 3 present in good quantities in kale. Omega 3 poly unsaturated fats are well researched for their anti-inflammatory properties and have been found to be beneficial for arthritis, asthma and autoimmune disorders.

Vitamin K is another potent anti-inflammatory agent present in most green leafy vegetables. This vitamin has been found to be an effective anti-inflammatory agent in several studies. It is known to supress the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Vitamin C helps the body get rid of free radicals that damage cells and tissues leading to inflammatory responses. Vitamin C may also be effective in lowering C-proteins.

So try adding kale juice to your diabetes diet and let us know how you are enjoying its benefits. It is advisable that you ask your doctor first before making any major alteration to your diet.

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