More on your views. If overflow (of glucose) in the cells is the reason for insulin unable to push fresh glucose from the blood into the cells, how does this overflow come about ? That becomes the primary cause of insulin resistance, the how part of it. Perhaps mitochondrial dysfunction, not efficiently converting glucose into energy. And what if this dysfunction itself is brought about by inflammation or oxidative distress or free radicals. This is where the borderline between cause and effect could merge. I mean the traditionally regarded effects like these three are the cause themselves. We have seen this in Covid, especially the second auto immune phase with an inflammation overdrive. Mitochondrial functional slump is also ascribed to the various presentations of long Covid or even long vax (PVS). And some of these symptoms, like tiredness etc, are also manifestations in some severe T2d cases. This clearly brings us to a premise I have been conveying in many comments - that diseases often share presentations, manifestations, often pathways in their progress and reign. And the need to look for repurposed drugs. Often they can boost the performance of supplements and dietary options.
Like in the case of cancer, where more people looking at as a metabolic disease rather than the age held model of being a cellular disease, thereby positively opening up the prospects of effective treatments with repurposed drugs, that can provide various sub mechanisms of metabolism, this essay is a good attempt to put, perhaps correctly so, the traditional thinking on T2d on its head. The newer generation of medicines just help continuing to hold the line longer, not bring it into long remission, permanent remission. I am not a doctor, but an organic chemist retired, with some reading interest in medicinal chemistry. I strongly feel there is considerable potential in repurposed medicines towards this end. It must start with better understanding ( with more research) of the mechanisms of the conduct of the disease in the body. Drugs should be indicated not for the disease, but for their fitness to mechanisms. We now know that even ostensibly unrelated diseases can share mechanistic pathways.
Is there anything that can be done for insulin resistance in type 1 diabetics?
My 29 yr old daughter has been type 1 since age 3 and had some insulin resistance already but since becoming pregnant 30 weeks ago it’s now at ridiculous levels that she is now at crazy amounts of something like 1 unit of insulin to every 2.5 grams of carbs. Obviously I’m guessing once she gives birth it will reduce again but even still she had resistance going on before the pregnancy. I think that is what she said the Metformin is for but again that’s another medication they’re giving her which isn’t great so would love to know if there’s other things she can try. Thank you.😊
Your work has been so influential to me. I plan to read every article you’ve written!
More on your views. If overflow (of glucose) in the cells is the reason for insulin unable to push fresh glucose from the blood into the cells, how does this overflow come about ? That becomes the primary cause of insulin resistance, the how part of it. Perhaps mitochondrial dysfunction, not efficiently converting glucose into energy. And what if this dysfunction itself is brought about by inflammation or oxidative distress or free radicals. This is where the borderline between cause and effect could merge. I mean the traditionally regarded effects like these three are the cause themselves. We have seen this in Covid, especially the second auto immune phase with an inflammation overdrive. Mitochondrial functional slump is also ascribed to the various presentations of long Covid or even long vax (PVS). And some of these symptoms, like tiredness etc, are also manifestations in some severe T2d cases. This clearly brings us to a premise I have been conveying in many comments - that diseases often share presentations, manifestations, often pathways in their progress and reign. And the need to look for repurposed drugs. Often they can boost the performance of supplements and dietary options.
Like in the case of cancer, where more people looking at as a metabolic disease rather than the age held model of being a cellular disease, thereby positively opening up the prospects of effective treatments with repurposed drugs, that can provide various sub mechanisms of metabolism, this essay is a good attempt to put, perhaps correctly so, the traditional thinking on T2d on its head. The newer generation of medicines just help continuing to hold the line longer, not bring it into long remission, permanent remission. I am not a doctor, but an organic chemist retired, with some reading interest in medicinal chemistry. I strongly feel there is considerable potential in repurposed medicines towards this end. It must start with better understanding ( with more research) of the mechanisms of the conduct of the disease in the body. Drugs should be indicated not for the disease, but for their fitness to mechanisms. We now know that even ostensibly unrelated diseases can share mechanistic pathways.
The article the world needed.
Great post, Dr. Fung.
Is there anything that can be done for insulin resistance in type 1 diabetics?
My 29 yr old daughter has been type 1 since age 3 and had some insulin resistance already but since becoming pregnant 30 weeks ago it’s now at ridiculous levels that she is now at crazy amounts of something like 1 unit of insulin to every 2.5 grams of carbs. Obviously I’m guessing once she gives birth it will reduce again but even still she had resistance going on before the pregnancy. I think that is what she said the Metformin is for but again that’s another medication they’re giving her which isn’t great so would love to know if there’s other things she can try. Thank you.😊