American Diabetes Association Alert Day

Posted on 2022-03-22

It is estimated that currently 415 million people are living with diabetes in the world, or 1 in 11 of the world's adult population. An estimated 46% of people with diabetes are undiagnosed.

Diabetes mellitus is also the primary causative agent of more than nine other serious health complications, including blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke and lower limb amputation.

Through inexpensive testing of blood sugar, patients can receive an earlier diagnosis. Treatment of diabetes usually involves diet and physical activity, and lowering of blood glucose and the levels of other known risk factors that damage blood vessels.

Abbexa offers a number of antibodies to aid research into Diabetes. 

Insulin (INS) is a peptide that forms dimers and hexamers in serum, and regulates the metabolism of various macronutrients. It is best known for its ability to decrease blood sugar concentrations by triggering the uptake of glucose by adipose, liver, and muscle tissue. It mediates its effects via insulin receptor, which is a tyrosine kinase.

Ablation of the insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells by an autoimmune reaction occurs in type I diabetes mellitus, and mutations in the gene can cause a similar phenotype.

INSR (Insulin Receptor) is a Protein Coding gene. Diseases associated with INSR include Insulin-Resistant Diabetes Mellitus.

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Glucagon (GCG) is a Protein Coding gene. Diseases associated with GCG include Hyperglycemia and Hypoglycemia.

Glucagon is best known for its role in glucose metabolism and homeostasis. It regulates blood glucose by increasing gluconeogenesis and decreasing glycolysis.

Glucagon also plays an important role in controlling blood glucose levels. Defects in this gene are a cause of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).

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Arginine Vasopressin (AVP, also known as Antidiuretic Hormone, gene name ADH) is a peptide hormone that controls water levels in the body. It is released in response to high osmolarity in tissue fluid; it stimulates water retention in the kidney by stimulating the insertion of aquaporin 2 (AQP2) into the apical membrane, and it constricts arterioles to increase blood pressure.

ADH deficiency can lead to diabetes insipidus; symptoms include polyuria and high blood sodium content.

Aquaporin 2 (AQP2) is a member of a family of proteins that allow water to enter and exit the cell more easily than they would do so if relying on osmosis alone through hydrophobic lipid bilayers. AQP2 is found on the collecting ducts of the kidneys, where it reabsorbs water from urine. Some cases of diabetes insipidus can be caused by low levels of AQP2, either through genetically-induced deficiency, or from downregulation resulting from the intake of lithium salts.

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Beta-Cross Laps (bCTx) measures C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen and has thus been proposed as a reliable serum marker for bone resorption.

Osteocalcin (also known as bone gamma-carboxyglutamic acid-containing protein, BGLAP) is a protein hormone produced by osteoblasts used to regulate bone growth.

It contains multiple vitamin K-dependent gamma-carboxyglutamic (GLA) domains that bind calcium, potentially explaining why calcium and vitamin K2 deficiencies often result in osteoporosis. The uncarboxylated isoform of BGLAP appears to have different functions relating to insulin production.

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Further Reading:

You can find out more details on American Diabetes Association Alert Day and the history surrounding Diabetes in America here. 

You can find out more information on how Diabetes affects us worldwide, including prevention, diagnosis and potential treatments here.