Why Some May Avoid Type 1 Diabetes Complications
Researchers Say More Than Just Blood Sugar Control May Be at Work for Some Patients
But the blood sugar levels did not correlate with the lower complication rates.
To find another explanation, the researchers also evaluated a family of proteins known as advanced glycation end products (AGEs). These are increased by high blood sugar levels.
Those who had high levels of two specific AGEs were more than seven times as likely to have a complication.
Then came a surprise, King says. People with other combinations of some of the AGEs measured were actually protected from eye complications.
It suggests some AGE combinations may not be as toxic as believed, King says, and may actually be protective.
''Some AGEs may be processed differently in different people, and those differences may account for the protection," he says.
Those with diabetes who are free or mostly free of complications ''are leading a charmed life," says Aaron Vinik, MD, PhD, director of research and neuroendocrine unit at Eastern Virginia Medical School's Strelitz Diabetes Center.
He speculates that those who escape complications may have developed good defensive mechanisms against these AGEs over the years, among other explanations. These defense mechanisms somehow make their AGEs less toxic.
The diabetes veterans in the study, Vinik says, "really took care of themselves." Less was known about diabetes care when they were diagnosed, he says. Doctors were not even talking about tight control of blood sugar then.
Learning more about those with diabetes who escape the complications, King says, may eventually help researchers intervene in those prone to complications.
For now, those with diabetes hoping to avoid complications can take a page from the medalists' book, King says.
''Most do fairly rigorous exercise at least three times a week, 45 minutes or more," he says.
Their attitude is positive, King tells WebMD. They're not in denial about their disease and the need to control it.
Why Some May Avoid Type 1 Diabetes Complications
Researchers Say More Than Just Blood Sugar Control May Be at Work for Some Patients
Role of Proteins continued...
But the blood sugar levels did not correlate with the lower complication rates.
To find another explanation, the researchers also evaluated a family of proteins known as advanced glycation end products (AGEs). These are increased by high blood sugar levels.
Those who had high levels of two specific AGEs were more than seven times as likely to have a complication.
Then came a surprise, King says. People with other combinations of some of the AGEs measured were actually protected from eye complications.
It suggests some AGE combinations may not be as toxic as believed, King says, and may actually be protective.
''Some AGEs may be processed differently in different people, and those differences may account for the protection," he says.
Second Opinion
Those with diabetes who are free or mostly free of complications ''are leading a charmed life," says Aaron Vinik, MD, PhD, director of research and neuroendocrine unit at Eastern Virginia Medical School's Strelitz Diabetes Center.
He speculates that those who escape complications may have developed good defensive mechanisms against these AGEs over the years, among other explanations. These defense mechanisms somehow make their AGEs less toxic.
The diabetes veterans in the study, Vinik says, "really took care of themselves." Less was known about diabetes care when they were diagnosed, he says. Doctors were not even talking about tight control of blood sugar then.
Learning more about those with diabetes who escape the complications, King says, may eventually help researchers intervene in those prone to complications.
For now, those with diabetes hoping to avoid complications can take a page from the medalists' book, King says.
''Most do fairly rigorous exercise at least three times a week, 45 minutes or more," he says.
Their attitude is positive, King tells WebMD. They're not in denial about their disease and the need to control it.
Source...