A recent discovery made by scientists has the potential to improve diabetes treatments.

Scientists from the University of Washington found that a protein administered into the brains of rodents with type 2 diabetes, clears the animals from the disease for several months.

Fibroblast Growth Factor 1

Scientists from the University of Washington found that a protein administered into the brains of rodents with type 2 diabetes, clears the animals from the disease for several months. They studied the antidiabetic efficacy of Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 (FGF1), a protein known to reduce blood sugar levels in mice. Even though the FGF1 was previously shown to restore blood glucose levels for a couple of days, the same hormone injected into the brains extended the remission to 17 weeks. The researchers called it “sustained remission”.

The scientists chose this route because the receptors of FGF1 are highest in the brain. They think that diabetes is a dysfunction of the neural circuits in the brain, and FGF1 is working with these circuits to improve the dysfunction. They were expecting the results to 48 to 72 hours but were very surprised to find that FGH1 cleared diabetes for several months.

When the mice were injected, the scientists observed an increase in protective proteins in the brain as well as stronger connections in the hypothalamus, which helps regulate appetite. This led to normalized blood sugar levels.

This is not quite a cure for type 2 diabetes, but it is definitely an improvement on research with FGF1 and a step forward in diabetes treatment.