Video

Cholesterol Drugs

Babies in the Womb May Already Be Learning Language

Some Doctors Prescribe Antibiotics Because Parents Want Them

What Kids Wear Could Determine How Much Exercise They Get

Few College Students Have Received the H1N1 Vaccine

Night Lights Could Lead to Depression

Cervarix Has Been Approved by the FDA

The FDA Is Studying the Effects of Lasik Surgery

Painkillers Can Dull the Effects of Childhood Vaccines

Childbirth May Becoming More Complicated

Botox Sponges Might Help Nose Allergies

The FDA Advises on How to Properly Dispose of Medicine

A French Study Shows Cell Phones Do Not Affect Humans

MRIs May Lead to More Back Surgery

Your More Likely to Wash Your Hands If Someone's Watching

Body Clock, Blood Sugar Control Seem Linked

Posted on 10/09/2009, 14:00
By -- Robert Preidt

Findings could lead to better diabetes treatments, researchers predict

FRIDAY, Oct. 9 (HealthDay News) -- A strong link exists between the body's biological clock and blood sugar control, say U.S. researchers who conducted lab experiments on mouse and human stem cells, as well as genetically engineered mice.

"The most surprising part of our findings is that our internal biologic rhythms are embedded directly into another pathway, one that is essential to regulate metabolism," senior author Dr. Brian Feldman, an assistant professor of pediatric endocrinology at the Stanford University School of Medicine, said in a university news release.

The researchers found that daily fluctuations in hormones called glucocorticoids synchronize the biological clock as part of the mechanism for regulating blood sugar levels. The finding may help lead to new ways to control diabetics' blood sugar levels and may improve understanding of why night-shift workers are at risk for obesity and diabetes.

The research may also help find ways to reduce the disabling side effects of glucocorticoid drugs such as prednisone, an immune system-suppressing medication used to treat severe asthma, cancer and other conditions. Side effects include weight gain, poor blood sugar regulation and diabetes.

"Some very simple modifications in how we use glucocorticoids may change whether these drugs cause diabetes," Feldman said. For example, giving these drugs in a pattern that matches the body's daily rhythms (which peak early in the morning) might help reduce the risk of diabetes.

The study appeared online in this week's issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

More information

For more on the body's circadian, or daily, rhythms, see the U.S. National Institute of General Medical Sciences.

SOURCE: Stanford University Medical Center, news release, Oct. 5, 2009

More news in Diabetes...

BigHealthTree.com Disclaimer

Bighealthtree.com Does Not Provide Medical Advice. This site, including the above information, is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or health advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified health or medical professional before starting any new treatment, changing existing treatment, or altering your current exercise and/or diet program. If you think you are having a medical emergency, call 911 (or the emergency services in your area) or your doctor immediately.

Rating: 3.0 / 5 (122 votes)