New Research Uncovered Early Diagnostic Tool That Can Potentially Slow And Reverse Diabetes In At-Risk Patients
According to the CDC, about one in ten Americans have diabetes. This adds up to 37.3 million people who suffer from the chronic disease in the U.S. alone.
And of these tens of millions, about one in five people do not even know they have diabetes.
The disease is a long-lasting health condition that essentially impacts how the human body metabolizes food into energy.
Genetic history can already predispose people to develop diabetes; however, environmental characteristics– such as a sedentary lifestyle, high cholesterol, and obesity– are also high-risk factors.
And when diabetes is not well controlled, whether that be pre or post-diagnosis, the disease can damage many crucial body parts– including the heart, kidneys, eyes, feet, and nerves. It can also result in high blood pressure and artery hardening.
However, if diabetes is caught quickly enough, patients have a chance to slow and even reverse the progression of these life-threatening symptoms.
In turn, a team of researchers from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) in Switzerland recently conducted a new study to uncover early diabetes diagnostic tools that can help curb the advancement of the disease.
And the study, which has since been published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology, found that low levels of the sugar 1.5-anhydroglucitol are an early indicator of function loss in beta cells.
In turn, this molecule level– which can be detected using standard blood tests– is a solid early indicator of diabetes development in at-risk patients.
Krakenimages.com – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purpose only, not the actual person
Sign up for Chip Chick’s newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox.
The research team made this discovery by first analyzing thousands of molecules using machine learning. And through this analysis, they found that 1.5-anhydroglucitol is the strongest indicator of beta cell loss.
Then, equipped with this finding, the team tested their theory on mice before moving on to humans.
Once in the human stage of research, the scientists compared 1.5-anhydroglucitol levels in diabetic patients against the levels of non-diabetics.
“We were able to observe a decrease in this sugar in diabetics,” explained Cecilia Jiménez-Sanchez, the study’s lead author.
“And this was very motivating, especially as this decline was observable regardless of their symptoms and even before the onset of diabetes.”
Now, Jiménez-Sanchez and her research team believe the discovery paves the way for new diabetes prevention procedures– especially for high-risk patients.
By simply collecting a blood sample and testing for 1.5-anhydroglucitol, a relatively inexpensive examination, medical professionals could empower potentially tens of millions of patients around the globe to take preventative action before it is too late.
To read the study’s complete findings, visit the link here.
If true crime defines your free time, this is for you: join Chip Chick’s True Crime Tribe.
He Served Deer At A Dinner Party Without Telling His Guests, And One Woman Totally Freaked Out
Meet Patrick, A Beer-Drinking Pony Who Also Happens To Be A Mayor In England
More About:Human Interest
Read This Next
