In a new study, researchers found people who get migraines are less likely to develop type 2 diabetes, while some people who develop diabetes become less prone to migraines.
They examined the link between these conditions and found the peptides that cause migraine pain can influence the production of insulin, possibly by regulating the amount of secreted insulin or by increasing the number of pancreatic cells that produce it.
These findings could improve methods to prevent or treat diabetes.
Migraines happen in the brain, while diabetes is associated with the pancreas, and these organs are far from each other.
Researchers already knew that two peptides in the nervous system — calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) — play a major role in causing the pain of migraines.
These same peptides, along with the related peptide amylin, are also found in the pancreas. There, they influence the release of insulin from beta cells.
Insulin regulates blood sugar levels by helping other cells in the body absorb glucose and either store it or use it for energy.
In type 2 diabetes, those other cells become resistant to insulin and less capable of absorbing glucose, leading to high blood sugar levels.
The beta cells initially compensate by ramping up insulin production but eventually wear themselves out and die, exacerbating the issue.
Because of their role in migraine and diabetes, CGRP and PACAP offer targets for therapies that could treat either of these conditions.
Migraine drugs that interfere with CGRP and its cellular receptors recently went on the market, and other treatments are being studied.
Yet, more research is needed to clarify the peptides’ effects. Do is trying to clear up contradictory findings of their impact on insulin.
In the study, the team reported that CGRP lowered levels of mouse insulin 2, the analog of human insulin.
This may counter the insulin resistance that develops in type 2 diabetes.
The disease is also linked to the aggregation of amylin. These aggregates may contribute to the beta cell damage that helps cause type 2 diabetes.
Because amylin and insulin are co-secreted by beta cells, using CGRP to limit insulin production could also limit amylin production. That could protect the cells and help normalize their function.
PACAP, too, is thought to play a protective role against type 2 diabetes.
The team found preliminary evidence that PACAP regulates insulin in a glucose-dependent manner and promotes beta-cell proliferation, thus avoiding the risk of wearing out the existing cells.
Because CGRP and PACAP can seemingly protect against diabetes, the researchers worry that the anti-CGRP and anti-PACAP treatments under development or already on the market for migraines could have the unintended consequence of increasing the risk of diabetes.
In addition, these peptides are involved in numerous other beneficial functions in the body, such as blood vessel dilation.
If you care about type 2 diabetes, please read studies about the key to treating type 2 diabetes and findings of this surgery can be a cure for type 2 diabetes.
For more information about diabetes and your health, please see recent studies about new drug combo for type 2 diabetes remains effective after 2 years and results showing that this health problem can lead to the leading cause of death in type 2 diabetes.
The study was presented at ACS Fall 2021. One author of the study is Thanh Do, Ph.D.
Copyright © 2021 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
