Study Shows Involvement of Nervous System in Diabetes

Researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada, in conjunction with the University of Calgary and the The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine, have discovered a link between the inflammation that destroys the pancreatic islet cells in Type 1 diabetes and the nervous system.

• What is Type 1 Diabetes

In the study, mice with Type 1 diabetes became diabetes free within 24 hours, after an injection of a neuropeptide substance that cleared the inflammation in the cells.

It worked by "turning off" the pain neurons in the pancreas. Scientists had been unaware before this time that the nervous system was involved in the disease process of diabetes. Until now, it was thought that Type 1 was caused purely by an autoimmune response that attacked and killed the islet cells.

The study also concluded that there are more similarities between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and that the nervous system is involved in both diseases, as well as other autoimmune diseases such as Crohn's disease and asthma.

Although the results have been dramatic in mice, researchers say that it will be several years before they know if the same results hold true for humans. They expect human trials to start within the next two years.

Sources:

"Discovery of a critical role for sensory nerves in diabetes opens door to new treatment strategies." SickKids News. 14 Dec 2006. The Hospital for Sick Children. 28 Dec 2006 .