Diabetes Could Be in The Bones

The bones appear to have a role in regulating blood sugar and could be the underlying cause of diabetes.

“Skeleton”

The skeleton has a role in regulating blood glucose and may be the underlying cause of diabetes, show two studies conducted in the United States.

Both studies discovered the role of a hormone derived from the bones called osteocalcin, and its link with insulin.

One study, conducted in mice, found that the breakdown of old bone, which occurs to allow new bone growth also helps maintain a healthy level of blood glucose.

And the link, say scientists at the Medical Center of Columbia University, is osteocalcin.

The researchers, who published the study in the journal Cell, believe the finding could lead to better treatments to control the global epidemic of type 2 diabetes.

Dr. Gerard Karsenty and his team had already shown in previous studies that osteocalcin may regulate glucose levels.

This hormone can “turn” the production of insulin in the pancreas, which in turn improves the ability of other cells to absorb glucose from the blood.