Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Diabetes: Hereditary or Lifestyle?






The disease, diabetes, has been around for millions of years and has recently become an epidemic. Researchers began to wonder how the disease developed whether it was in our genetic makeup or if a particular diet was the cause. They found that obesity was the main issue because it alters the production of proteins which control the metabolism and the secretion of insulin which helps to control blood sugar levels. Hopkins scientists preformed a study on mice that had identical genetics to each other and placed them on separate diets. Mice that were placed onto a high fat diet grew to become obese and diabetic while mice that were on a regular diet ended up being lean and healthy. The researchers discovered that the obese mice showed changes in their epigenome that the healthy mice had that prevents genes from making proteins.

As they further continued their research they discovered that as obese people were undergoing gastric bypass surgery to lose the weight had their epigenomes that were the same as in lean people. Around 75% of these patients saw reversal of the disease. In August of 2014, a study done on grizzly bears proved that they become diabetic before they hibernate due to the increase of fat in preparation for winter. When the bear is in hibernation, the insulin will stop working which allows resistance and the bear breaks down the fat storage for energy. Their diabetic state goes away once hibernation is over. Diet has been found to be the biggest contributor to the development of diabetes in individuals. 

This article is extremely interesting because most people have no idea how much they could be at risk for developing Type II diabetes. It is important to be aware and to take action before it becomes an issue because once present it takes hard work to keep controlled and manage. 

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