In 2015, 29 million people in the United States had type 2 diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. Type 2 diabetes is generally a result of a decline in beta cell function, however this indicator is rarely measured because of flaws in the current method of assessment that can lead to inaccurate results.
As such, definitively diagnosing this disease is difficult. Early intervention in those at risk for type 2 diabetes is crucial to the patient’s overall outlook for recovery or for successful disease management.
Diagnosis of this disease may have just gotten easier, thanks to a research team from the University of Glasgow. They recently conducted a study with the goal of identifying novel circulating biomarkers that indicate the health of beta cells (ß-cells) and their functions in order to more quickly and efficiently identify patients at an increased risk for developing dysfunctional ß-cells, and thus type 2 diabetes.
In an effort to identify associated biomarkers, the trial examined the proteins in the blood of patients three years before they developed type 2 diabetes. These proteins were then compared to protein samples from people of similar demographics who sustained normal blood sugar over the same 3-year period. Results of this study showed differentially expressed proteins and miRNAs, including some that have an already established link to type 2 diabetes, as well a significant group of new biomarkers and pathways like adiponectin, alpha-1 antitrypsin, endocan, miR-181a, miR-342, and miR-323. These newly identified biomarkers could make catching the disease early much easier.
Type 2 diabetes, like many metabolic diseases, can be prevented with intense interventional changes to eating habits and lifestyle if caught early enough. Because this disease is so prevalent in the United States and around the world, it is vital for those of us in the scientific community to develop more efficient ways to combat it. Using relevant biomarkers to accurately identify high-risk patients is an important part of this process, and can ultimately make a significant impact on public health.
To continue to solve issues like the one addressed in this study, deep expertise in specific disease states, as well as cutting-edge technology, will be required. As a company, BioAgilytix has decades of experience working with diabetes and other metabolic disease-related studies. In fact, our scientists have contributed to several diabetes drugs in late clinical trials and have performed over 200,000 determinations. We also have 30 validated biomarker assays for diabetes and obesity available for sample analysis both in single and multiplex formats, to help you conduct successful metabolic studies.
BioAgilytix works alongside our pharma and biotech customers supporting biomarker discovery and studies for metabolic drug development every day. We leverage our veteran insights, gained from decades of real-world experience, to help you efficiently navigate scientific and regulatory complexities at every step of development. You can learn more about our disease state expertise here.
