"In Beta-Cell Regeneration, Insulinomas Hold ‘Gold Mine’ Of Key Genomic Data" - Regina Schaffer
Residual beta cells can be regenerated in people with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and the genomic abnormalities found in human insulinomas hold the clues for novel drug targets to potentially reverse disease, according to a speaker at the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists annual meeting. “It turns out that all types of diabetes result in an inadequate number of insulin-producing beta cells,” said Andrew Stewart, MD, director of the diabetes, obesity and metabolism institute and professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, during his plenary presentation at the meeting. “That’s a paradigm change. Everyone thought it was insulin resistance in type 2 and absolute beta cell deficiency in type 1. But most people with diabetes, whether it’s type 1 or type 2, do have residual beta cells.” Dr. Stewart said that, “these are exciting times. Progress is happening rapidly on all of these fronts.”
- Andrew Stewart, MD, Director of the Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism Institute, Professor, Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai