Type 2 Diabetes: Is It An Autoimmune Disease?

For years, scientists and researchers thought that  type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease while type 2 is a metabolic disorder with genetic and environmental factors. However, a recent study indicates that type 2 diabetes may be an autoimmune disease which could lead to new immune-modulating treatments for type 2 diabetes. The senior author of this study said that their findings strongly suggest that immune modulation could be a potential therapy for type 2 diabetes but it would first require successful test therapies in clinical trials. He also cautioned that, for now, diet and exercise are still the best ways to prevent type-2 diabetes. 

Differences between Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is also referred to as juvenile diabetes because the condition is mostly found in children. In type 1 diabetes, the immune system attacks the cells which are responsible for producing insulin in the pancreas. This results in little to no insulin production which causes a rise in blood sugar levels. 

Type 2 diabetes occurs most often in people who are age 45 or older. Individuals who are overweight and those with a family history of diabetes are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas still produces insulin but the body is unable to use this insulin the way it should. This insulin resistance means that the cells in the body cannot absorb glucose from the blood which results in a rise in blood sugar levels. 

How redefining Type 2 Diabetes will affect treatment strategies 

The current treatment of type 2 diabetes is based on a healthy lifestyle, diet, and exercise plan along with prescription medication to increase the body’s ability to absorb insulin. In cases where medications fail, doctors recommend insulin injections instead. Most people who need to take insulin injections require at least 2 shots a day to control their blood sugar levels. However, if further research proves that type 2 diabetes is indeed an autoimmune disorder, it could mean a complete overhaul of the current treatment strategies. Doctors might prescribe immunosuppressant medications instead of insulin in order to treat type 2 diabetes in the same way that they would for any other autoimmune disease. For instance, rituximab is an immunosuppressant medication that is used to treat a variety of autoimmune disorders including rheumatoid arthritis, pemphigus diseases and systemic lupus erythematosus. This medication is designed to target and eliminate the immune system cells that are attacking healthy tissue which prevents disease progression. Similarly, immunosuppressant medications could be used to treat type 2 diabetes and restore blood sugar levels to normal. They could even be used to prevent the development of type 2 diabetes in individuals prone to develop this disease. 

Conclusion

This study is likely to have a long-lasting impact on the treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, it will take many years, if not decades of research and clinical trials to develop a potential human therapy. Unfortunately, this also means that for now, we will have to rely on current treatment methods to prevent and treat diabetes. 

References Link:

1. https://www.healthline.com/health/type-2-diabetes/is-type-2-diabetes-an-autoimmune-diease#takeaway
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6620611/
3. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/222766#1