Researchers discover link between diabetes, muscle abnormalities in new study

DUBLIN, Ireland A study published in the journal Diabetes Care has found abnormalities in the muscle cells and information that may benefit adults ages 18 to 25 years with diabetes.

Scientists at Trinity College Dublin and the Institute for Research in Biomedicine in Barcelona, Spain, said they found abnormalities in the mitochondria of cells that may explain severe insulin resistance and a reduced response to aerobic exercise in young, obese patients with Type 2 diabetes.

“In this study, we have shown that obese young patients with Type 2 diabetes, in contrast to equally obese young people without diabetes, have abnormal function of key mitochondrial genes and proteins,” Trinity College clinical medicine professor and lead study author John Nolan said. “Mitochondria are the energy centers in cells, and these abnormalities contribute to insulin resistance and a severely blunted response to physical exercise.”

Nolan said the research could go toward developing treatments targeted at young and obese people with the disease.