Irish scientists are a smart bunch. Last week they were in the news for developing a method that may be able to predict the onset of a stroke. Now an Irish scientist may have found a way to cure diabetes.
The Irish Independent reports that a US medical ?dream team? which is currently being led by an Irish scientist has made a huge step forward in their attempts to discover a cure for Type 2 diabetes. Amazing, right?
The research, which is currently being undertaken at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio in the US has revealed that weight loss surgery can actually reduce, or even eliminate, a diabetic?s dependence on insulin and other medication used to treat the condition.
However, Professor John Kirwan also made another discovery. The research undertaken by his team revealed that there is a mystery protein present in cases of diabetes. If this protein can be harnessed, the treatment of the condition could be radically revolutionized.
Professor Kirwan, originally from Tullow in County Carlow, has been working on this research since 2007.
?It took us a long time. We knew going in that we had something of great clinical significance,? he said, speaking to the Irish Independent.
Type 2 diabetes, or adult-onset diabetes, is the most common form of the condition. It occurs when there is a high level of sugar in the blood. If left untreated, diabetes can cause heart disease, stroke and even kidney failure. In short, it is a serious, life-threatening illness.
The medical trial undertaken by Professor Kirwan and his team involved 150 patients. The patients were divided up into three separate groups ? one group received intense medical treatment for their diabetes, the other two groups received medical treatment and weight-loss surgery (either a gastric bypass or sleeve surgery).
After a year, patients who had underwent weight-loss surgery had achieved a normal blood sugar level. Patients who had only received medical treatment still had a relatively high level of blood sugar. This experiment showed that there is a direct connection between weight-loss procedures and improving the overall condition of diabetes.
?We knew anecdotally that it can work but there were never head-to-head comparisons between surgery and more aggressive medical therapy with drugs that are on the market,? said Professor Kirwan.
?Diabetics very often face surgery one way or other down the road in terms of amputations and loss of limbs. The question is, is it better to have surgery earlier and for a better quality of life and to avoid medication?? he asked.
Professor Kirwan and his team believe that a new mystery protein, that is triggered during weight-loss surgery, could be the key to discovering a cure for diabetes for once and for all.
?If we knew what that was we could harness it and turn it on and, in theory, you could reverse the diabetes without surgery,? he said.
This would give hope to millions of diabetes sufferers across the globe, but further research is needed to see if Professor Kirwan and the other scientists can discover just what this ?mystery protein? is exactly.
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