Diabetes breakthrough Toronto scientists cure disease in mice
Tom Blackwell, National Post Published: Friday, December 15, 2006 In a discovery that has stunned even those behind it, scientists at a Toronto hospital say they have proof the body's nervous system helps trigger diabetes, opening the door to a potential near-cure of the disease that affects millions of Canadians. Diabetic mice became healthy virtually overnight after researchers injected a substance to counteract the effect of malfunctioning pain neurons in the pancreas. "I couldn't believe it," said Dr. Michael Salter, a pain expert at the Hospital for Sick Children and one of the scientists. "Mice with diabetes suddenly didn't have diabetes any more." The researchers caution they have yet to confirm their findings in people, but say they expect results from human studies within a year or so. Any treatment that may emerge to help at least some patients would likely be years away from hitting the market. But the excitement of the team from Sick Kids, whose work is being published today in the journal Cell, is almost palpable. "I've never seen anything like it," said Dr. Hans Michael Dosch, an immunologist at the hospital and a leader of the studies. "In my career, this is unique." Their conclusions upset conventional wisdom that Type 1 diabetes, the most serious form of the illness that typically first appears in childhood, was solely caused by auto-immune responses -- the body's immune system turning on itself. They also conclude that there are far more similarities than previously thought between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, and that nerves likely play a role in other chronic inflammatory conditions, such as asthma and Crohn's disease. The "paradigm-changing" study opens "a novel, exciting door to address one of the diseases with large societal impact," said Dr. Christian Stohler, a leading U.S. pain specialist and dean of dentistry at the University of Maryland, who has reviewed the work. "The treatment and diagnosis of neuropathic diseases is poised to take a dramatic leap forward because of the impressive research." About two million Canadians suffer from diabetes, 10% of them with Type 1, contributing to 41,000 deaths a year. Insulin replacement therapy is the only treatment of Type 1, and cannot prevent many of the side effects, from heart attacks to kidney failure. In Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to shift glucose into the cells that need it. In Type 2 diabetes, the insulin that is produced is not used effectively -- something called insulin resistance -- also resulting in poor absorption of glucose. The problems stem partly from inflammation -- and eventual death -- of insulin-producing islet cells in the pancreas. Dr. Dosch had concluded in a 1999 paper that there were surprising similarities between diabetes and multiple sclerosis, a central nervous system disease. His interest was also piqued by the presence around the insulin-producing islets of an "enormous" number of nerves, pain neurons primarily used to signal the brain that tissue has been damaged. Suspecting a link between the nerves and diabetes, he and Dr. Salter used an old experimental trick -- injecting capsaicin, the active ingredient in hot chili peppers, to kill the pancreatic sensory nerves in mice that had an equivalent of Type 1 diabetes. Tools Page 2 Tom Blackwell, National Post Published: Friday, December 15, 2006 "Then we had the biggest shock of our lives," Dr. Dosch said. Almost immediately, the islets began producing insulin normally "It was a shock ? really out of left field, because nothing in the literature was saying anything about this." It turns out the nerves secrete neuropeptides that are instrumental in the proper functioning of the islets. Further study by the team, which also involved the University of Calgary and the Jackson Laboratory in Maine, found that the nerves in diabetic mice were releasing too little of the neuropeptides, resulting in a "vicious cycle" of stress on the islets. So next they injected the neuropeptide "substance P" in the pancreases of diabetic mice, a demanding task given the tiny size of the rodent organs. The results were dramatic. The islet inflammation cleared up and the diabetes was gone. Some have remained in that state for as long as four months, with just one injection. They also discovered that their treatments curbed the insulin resistance that is the hallmark of Type 2 diabetes, and that insulin resistance is a major factor in Type 1 diabetes, suggesting the two illnesses are quite similar. While pain scientists have been receptive to the research, immunologists have voiced skepticism at the idea of the nervous system playing such a major role in the disease. Editors of Cell put the Toronto researchers through vigorous review to prove the validity of their conclusions, though an editorial in the publication gives a positive review of the work. "It will no doubt cause a great deal of consternation," said Dr. Salter about his paper. The researchers are now setting out to confirm that the connection between sensory nerves and diabetes holds true in humans. If it does, they will see if their treatments have the same effects on people as they did on mice. Nothing is for sure, but "there is a great deal of promise," Dr. Salter said. C National Post 2006
Posted by Sojourner (Member # 9424) on :
quote: While pain scientists have been receptive to the research, immunologists have voiced skepticism at the idea of the nervous system playing such a major role in the disease. Editors of Cell put the Toronto researchers through vigorous review to prove the validity of their conclusions, though an editorial in the publication gives a positive review of the work.
What? a heretofore autoimmune disease might not actually be autoimmune----"BLASPHEMY," they'll say. I can here the immunologists in the back room trying to come up with ways to discredit these researchers already. And a cure for a supossed chronic disease--I'm sure big pharma would be in the room, too.
Thanks for posting this---a paradigm shift! Oh, happy day.
Posted by Vermont_Lymie (Member # 9780) on :
Also, our dietary exposures to chlorinated organic pollutants, such as PCBs and dioxins, have been linked to increased insulin resistance;
See this story today on National public radio, you can listen to it online or download the mp3:
A recent study suggests that high body levels of persistent organic pollutants, also known as POPs, may be linked to increased risk of diabetes. Host Bruce Gellerman talks to POPs expert Dr. David Carpenter of the State University of New York at Albany about the findings.
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) may be a big factor in diabetes.
Posted by break the chains (Member # 5668) on :
you can completely reverse diabetes that is so bad that you will need amputation by going on a raw vegan organic diet for one month. here is a 8 minute video of some people who did just that. my friend has fixed her serious diabetes by going vegan.
This is an amazing article, thank you for posting it.
I can't wait to print this out and show my Mom. She had severe arthritics for 15 years, she was in so much pain, she could barely do anything.
When she was diagnosed with Diabetes, her arthritis symptoms disappeared. The LLMD here in MI told her, the pain nerves died.
We now know she has had lyme for a very long time and also Babesia. She is now in treatment.
Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :
I suspect that research will eventually find that Lyme bacteria causes autoimmune problems.
If so, then it's possible that Lyme causes diabetes.
Carol
Posted by luvs2ride (Member # 8090) on :
This is very interesting for me since my Lyme has gone into Rhuem. Arthritis.
I'm particularly interested in the capsaicin connection as there are currently some arthritis creams with capsaicin being the active ingredient. Think I'll buy some.
I'm also very interested in the Vegan Diet results of Break the Chain's friend. When I first learned I had RA, I researched and found a website promoting a vegan diet for RA sufferers. I tried it and within 2 weeks had about 50% improvement. That took me from housebound to walking 2 hrs before having to quit. (My first 2 hr walk was touring an aircraft carrier up and down ladders)
This is VERY EXCITING FOR ALL OF US WITH AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS! I never have believed my immune system flipped out and began attacking me. I'm currently treating my RA with antibiotic therapy, nutritional counseling, heavy metal, yeast and parasite detox.
Luvs
Posted by Marnie (Member # 773) on :
It is NOT the amt. of the neurotransmitters...including substance P (which is ALREADY being overproduced = BIG ouch), but the number of WORKING RECEPTORS that makes a difference.
Too much (ongoing) of any of the neurotransmitters = receptors "poop out" i.e. become resistant.
Once again...you are ALREADY overproducing substance P in an attempt to halt glycolysis..to INactivate both PFK 1 and PFK 2 - liver)!
OUCH.
The vegan or Halleluiah or Mediterranean diet are already "electromagnetically" balanced. You are thus providing "instant" hydrogen which goes right into the cells to counter the oxidative stress. Too many free radicals.
Raise the pH. Get alkaline. Hydrogen INactivates PFK.
Use every combination possible. In "between" the vegan meals, consider Gluco Reg (chromium + acids) by Solaray or AlkaMax by Trimedica to maintain the "right" pH level. Timing is very important. Run these supps. by your doctor (esp. AlkaMax since is contains K)!!!
When Bb is destroyed it is possible that Mn and Zn levels will reach toxic triggering levels. Be prepared to counter. Mn locks onto SOD (again Solaray) and Zn locks onto vitamin C...we need a little more often 'cause vitamin C is "water soluable"...only stays in our system about 2 hours. And then there is Hg...mercury. Binds to choline. Think: lecithin.
Vitamin E works with selenium. Get the "right" vitamin E...natural, and from what I have read, take with meals...along with CoQ10 made with soybean oil.
A new oil out contains soybean, olive and canola. It is called Smart Balance Omega (3s)..yea! Toss your Crisco oil.
Buy pasteurized eggs that are high in Omega 3s.
Chorella is wonderful. NDF is even better - same thing only "crushed" ( a LOT). Smaller particles are easier to absorb.
Pure Life water by Nestle. NOT the flavored kind with the toxic sugar substitute! Wally Mart carries it. Look closely at the nutrients added back in.
Someone's catching on. YEA!
The above are some things I would do. Do your OWN research to see if it makes SENSE to you.
Nerves dying or myelin sheath destoyed? The sheath (insulation) IS cholesterol. This IS reversible once the infection is under control. We CAN make more nerves (form new connections), more blood vessels (collateral circulation), more neurotransmitters IF we have the nutrients to do so. The body, given "help" CAN repair a LOT of the damage.
P.S. Your immune system is not "attacking you", IMO, it is trying to REACH the infection...which is now deep in the connective tissue. BTW...into a search engine, type in the words "Magnesium deficiency diabetes"...and you will have over 2000 websites to read to figure out the connection. Chromium will help out...to a degree. So will cinnamon.