Key cause of type 2 diabetes uncovered

In diabetes, the pancreatic beta-cells do not release enough of the hormone insulin, which lowers blood glucose levels. Around 90% of cases are type 2 diabetes (T2D), which is characterised by the failure of pancreatic beta-cells to produce insulin, resulting in chronically elevated blood glucose. Insulin, released from pancreatic beta-cells when blood glucose levels rise, is the only hormone that can lower the blood glucose concentration and diabetes (high blood glucose) results if insulin secretion is insufficient. High blood glucose levels cause an increased rate of glucose metabolism in the beta-cell which leads to a metabolic bottleneck and the pooling of upstream metabolites. Professor Ashcroft said: ‘This is potentially a useful way to try to prevent beta-cell decline in diabetes.