JERUSALEM, May 5 (Xinhua) -- New research is overturning the long-held belief that Type 2 diabetes is caused simply by cells wearing out, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem said in a statement on Tuesday.
Instead, a study in Nature Metabolism reveals that our insulin-producing cells are "heroic" adapters that eventually push themselves to a breaking point.
By mapping the human pancreas from birth to old age, scientists found that cells naturally "turn up the volume" on insulin production to cope with aging. In people with diabetes, however, the cells try to "sprint" even faster.
Researchers said the cells are not simply failing, but are instead attempting to maintain blood sugar control under sustained stress, eventually overwhelming their internal function.
This discovery shifts the focus for future treatments from replacing dead cells to "resetting" overworked ones, potentially stopping the disease before it becomes permanent.
