Until now, it was believed that the occurrence of type 2 diabetes is caused by insulin resistance and an increase in blood glucose levels.. But scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the Heidelberg University Hospital (HUH) have shown that these disorders are the result, not the cause, of diabetes, according to Pannochka, an online publication for girls and women aged 14 to 35.. net It would seem that the symptoms of the disease really depend on the level of glucose in the blood. And if you reduce the concentration of glucose with the help of numerous drugs, this simultaneously reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke, and also alleviates blood flow problems..

" – In recent years, clinical trials have shown that even when blood glucose levels were lowered below the threshold for diabetes, many patients still developed nerve and kidney problems. This suggests that type 2 diabetes may have molecular causes independent of insulin and glucose.”.

Navrot and his colleagues knew that patients with type 2 diabetes had high levels of the glucose metabolite methylglyoxal.. Doctors thought this effect was due to elevated blood glucose levels.. And since methylglyoxal has a negative effect on protein, it was believed that it was this substance that caused the detrimental effects.. But now scientists have doubted that the disease develops in this sequence..

In previous work, when methylglyoxal was fed to rats, they showed typical signs of diabetes, including insulin resistance.. Now scientists decided to check how long-term increase in the concentration of this substance affects the body.. And as an object for research, they chose the fruit fly Drosophila.

Using genetic engineering, the researchers turned off the insects' production of an enzyme that breaks down methylglyoxal, resulting in a persistent accumulation of the glucose metabolite.. As a result, the flies first acquired insulin resistance, and then became obese.. In addition, at an advanced age by the standards of a fly, their glucose levels were also disturbed..

“Of course, flies and people are not very closely related.. However, since energy metabolism evolved very early in evolution, our results can be translated to mammals and humans,” says study co-author Aurelio Teleman..

aspect. net.