Type 2 Diabetes And Immune System Are Linked
It seems that type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance may be linked to an ineffective immune system, according to new research. As per the study’s co-author Dr. Daniel Winer, an endocrine pathologist at Toronto General Hospital in Canada, “The main point of this study is trying to shift the emphasis on thinking of type 2 diabetes as a purely metabolic disease; instead, emphasize the role of the immune system in diabetes type 2”.
Research has revealed that those who are obese have immune system antibodies, which are not present in those who are not obese. According to Winer, excessive consumption of foods leads to inflammation that causes the body to react.
While, type 2 diabetes is caused by leading a sedentary lifestyle and excessive consumption of food, type 1 diabetes is mostly hereditary. However, while it has been suggested throughout the years that obesity is a risk factor when it comes to developing diabetes, not all people who have type 2 diabetes are overweight. Winer explained that abdominal fat runs out of room as it expands. The fat cells get inflamed and die. The immune system sends macrophages to clean the mess.
Cells known as T-cells and B-cells respond to the situation by creating antibodies leading to immunity. In this case, antibodies are created against the fat cells. The latter then become insulin resistant thereby, stopping their ability to process fatty acids. This war against fat cells is associated with high cholesterol, liver disease and high blood pressure.
Dr. David Kendall, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer for the American Diabetes Association claims, “This doesn’t change our current approach to type 2 diabetes therapies but, it’s important to understand that type 2 has multiple contributors to its onset. For some people, it may be an immune component, and if it is, we should be able to develop some better therapies.
People with type 2 diabetes are often blamed for bringing the disease on, but it’s a combination of genetic and physiological factors exposed to a certain environment. And, this study points out what may be another important biological factor.”
Tags:diabetes immune system, insulin resistance, type 1 diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes And Immune System