enfuego02

Saturated fat can be toxic to the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, explaining why animal fat consumption can impair insulin secretion, not just insulin sensitivity.

This animation describes the role of the insulin receptor in type 2 diabetes. It focuses on the very recent discovery of how the hormone insulin actually binds to the receptor on the surface of cells, as determined by Professor Mike Lawrence's laboratory at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute. Insulin binds to the receptor protein on the cell surface and instructs the cell to take up glucose from the blood for use as an energy source. In type 2 diabetes, we believe that insulin binds to the receptor normally, but the signal is not sent into the cell, the cells do not take up glucose and the resulting high blood glucose levels cause organ damage over time. Understanding how insulin interacts with its receptor is fundamental to the development of novel insulin for the treatment of diabetes.

This animation describes the process of inflammation in type 2 diabetes via a unique structure called the inflammasome. Over time, this process damages the pancreas, eventually leading to decreased insulin secretion and inability to control blood glucose levels. Chronic inflammatory 'lifestyle diseases' such as T2D are rapidly increasing in the western world and will pose a huge health burden in future.

A explanation about the differences of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.