Scientists at the University of Kentucky have discovered something surprising about type 2 diabetes.
For many years, doctors believed that high blood sugar was the main reason people with diabetes suffer from chronic inflammation. But this new study shows that the real problem may be something else entirely.
The researchers found that changes in the mitochondria—the part of the cell that produces energy—along with the effects of certain fats, are actually the main reasons for long-lasting inflammation in people with type 2 diabetes.
This is a big deal because inflammation plays a major role in many of the serious health problems linked to diabetes, like heart disease, kidney failure, and nerve damage. Until now, most treatments have focused on controlling blood sugar levels.
But even people who manage their blood sugar well can still have these complications. This study might explain why.
At first, the scientists thought that immune cells in people with type 2 diabetes were using too much glucose for energy, causing inflammation. But their tests showed that glucose wasn’t the problem. Instead, the inflammation came from problems in how mitochondria work and from a buildup of certain fatty substances in the body.
This changes how we think about treating type 2 diabetes. Instead of focusing only on lowering blood sugar, doctors might need to start paying attention to how mitochondria function and how fat is processed in the body. Fixing these issues could help reduce inflammation and slow down or even stop the disease from getting worse.
The study was led by Barbara Nikolajczyk and published in the journal Cell Metabolism. It gives new hope for better treatments that could improve the lives of millions of people with type 2 diabetes.
In conclusion, this research shows that treating diabetes may require more than just managing sugar. By also targeting mitochondria and certain fats, doctors may be able to fight the root causes of inflammation and offer better health outcomes for patients.
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