New measure of insulin-making cells could gauge diabetes progression, treatment

[Northerner]

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have developed a new measurement for the volume and activity of beta cells, the source of the sugar-regulating hormone insulin.

In a study published in the August edition of the journal Diabetes, Weibo Cai and colleagues used a PET scanner to detect minute levels of a radioactive chemical in the mouse pancreas. Cai, the senior author of the study and an associate professor of radiology, says that unlike previous methods for measuring the quantity of beta cells, the new test also measures how actively these cells are making insulin.

PET scanning, or positron emission tomography, is used to detect minute quantities of tracers, commonly for finding cancer and metastases. This area is a specialty of Cai. Cai says the test may be used to evaluate treatments or cell transplants intended to slow or reverse diabetes.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170810141724.htm

 

[mikeyB]

And how do they intend to monitor poor people with diabetes?

Still, it's only the poor bloody rodents that get first class evaluation at the moment.

 

[mikeyB]

Apart from the political, I don't see benefit - you don't need to know how many beta cells are left, because you just use the amount of insulin you need in treatment.