New treatment for Type 2 Diabetes

Under normal circumstances a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) hormone is released into the intestines in response to food intake. The usefulness of this hormone in regulating blood levels of glucose (sugar) in the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes is under serious consideration.Type 2 diabetes is marked by poorly controlled blood glucose levels due to the body's inability to utilise the pancreatic hormone insulin which is the key natural blood-sugar regulator. The disease is often related to excessive body weight and is typically managed with diet, exercise, oral drugs and sometimes insulin therapy to control the blood sugar levels .Researchers at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark investigated the long-term effects of continuous administration of the peptide hormone in a 6-week pilot study. The study included 20 Type 2 diabetes patients half of whom were given GLP-1 infusions over 6 weeks.The infusions were given via a portable insulin pump, which provided patients with a continuous supply of the synthetic hormone. The other 10 patients were given infusions of saline for a comparative study. After 6 weeks the treated patients' blood glucose levels had on an average decreased and both their sensitivity to insulin and beta cell functioning had improved. Other studies have shown GLP-1 to slow down the emptying of food from the stomach and to curb the appetite. Both these effects were observed in the patients in this study. On average patients lost 1.9 kilograms or about 4 pounds during the course of treatment with GLP-1.According to the authors of this study, GLP-1 both lowered the patients' glucose levels and improved the functioning of the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. This treatment was observed to restore almost normal functioning of the beta cells in their response to glucose. However larger and long- term studies are yet to confirm these findings. Once this happens it is very possible that GLP-1 alone could prove to be the treatment of choice for Type 2 Diabetes. Research on animals has also shown GLP-1 to promote growth of beta cells. It remains to be seen whether the same applies to humans.