Type 2 Diabetes Treatment - New Drugs?

Researchers used genetically engineered mice whose livers turned like light bulbs at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. They did this to help them find out more about type 2 diabetes. They found that a protein called Torc2 acts as the key that links feeding, insulin and high blood sugar in the liver. These findings of Torc2 and of the enzyme called SIK can be useful for treating type 2 diabetes.

Drugs taken by mouth in order to treat diabetes are called oral hypoglycemic agents. This is really a wrong name as medications are not given to cause hypoglycemia. The purpose for taking them is to lower the blood glucose level to within normal target.

It is good to remember at this point that oral medications that lower the blood glucose level are not insulin. The ability of the oral medications to lower the sugar level has been known. The same is true with the sugar-lowering ability of some herbs and plants.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that one of three Americans born in 2000 will develop diabetes. It says further that it is not curable and that it can cause blindness, heart disease, kidney problems and other serious complications. That is why aforementioned studies like the above are most welcome.

There is a caveat here. Diabetic mothers should not take oral hypoglycemic drugs due to possible undesirable effects on the fetus. Dietary control, monitoring of the blood glucose level plus exercise as recommended by the physician will result in successful diabetic pregnancies with healthy babies.

Now the researchers in the aforementioned study found that a protein called Torc2 acts as the key that links feeding, insulin and high blood sugar in the liver. In this case, we may be able to see new drugs coming in to treat type 2 diabetes. And we will welcome this as it will add to our arsenal on how is diabetes treated.


To this, I will add. It is not going to happen if we stay vigilant in lifestyle modification. We will eat healthy, indulge in physical activity and follow the doctor's orders. If we are at risk for diabetes, we will request to be screened for it so that we can start the lifestyle modification to prevent it from coming.