New study discovers protein that might reverse type 2 diabetes

Diabetes affects around 1.7 million Australians, but researchers have now revealed they’re one step closer to curing the type 2 condition.

A recent study, published in the journal EBioMedicine, found targeting a specific protein in the fat cells of mice could prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. That protein, called CD248, was found to be higher in the fat cells of people with diabetes.

For the study, researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) used genetically modified mice that lacked this protein in the fat cells.

In these experiments, they found that the lack of CD248 in those cells protected the mice from developing insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

“It’s early days but modifying the amount or function of CD248 in fat cells seems to be a promising new treatment strategy, an approach that may be eventually used by itself or with other drugs,” Co-senior author Dr. Edward Conway said in a statement.

“The number of people with Type 2 diabetes is staggering, and as the incidence of obesity increases, more effective treatments for type 2 diabetes are urgently needed.”

Around 1.7 million Australians have diabetes. This includes all types of diagnosed diabetes (1.2 million known and registered) as well as silent, undiagnosed type 2 diabetes (up to 500,000 estimated)

Read more: How to tell the difference between type 1 and 2 diabetes

Diabetes occurs when our bodies fail to convert glucose into energy. Without the conversion, our blood is flooded with glucose, which leads to high blood glucose levels.

The hormone insulin is vital for the conversion process and when the body fails to produce any or enough insulin, diabetes can develop.

Meanwhile, it comes after recent study published in the Molecular Nutrition and Food Research Journal by researchers at the University of Eastern Finland found eating an egg a day could be associated with a blood metabolite profile that is related to the lower risk of type 2 diabetes.

While high intake of eggs has been associated with high cholesterol content in the past, the latest study found they’re also a rich source of bioactive compounds that can have positive impacts on health. This includes lowering the risk of type 2 diabetes.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you know someone who has been impacted by diabetes?