New thesis about treatments and interventions in type 2 diabetes and prediabetes
Henrik Wagner, at the group Growth and Metabolism, will defend his thesis "Factors potentially influencing pathogenetic mechanisms and hyperglycemia in pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes : clinical studies in human" on November 11, 2016. Main supervisor is Associate Professor Michael Alvarsson.
What's the main focus of your thesis?
We have investigated the effects and mechanisms of some interesting treatments and interventions in type 2 diabetes and prediabetes.
Which are the most important results?
Combined treatment with physical exercise and acarbose, an α-glucosidase inhibitor, was superior than exercise alone in mild type 2 diabetes, regarding the effects on hyperglycemia and the total risk factor profile. Further, expression of the important angiogenetic factor VEGF in muscle could be important for the individual response to exercise, measured as insulin sensitivity and glycemic control. In individuals with insulin resistance, endothelin-1 receptor blockade resulted in an increased glucose uptake in muscle. In cultured muscle cells, endothelin-1 seemed to inhibit glucose uptake directly by a receptor dependent mechanism. Finally, we did not find any effect of high-dose vitamin D treatment on insulin secretion or insulin resistance, in subjects with prediabetes or diet treated type 2 diabetes.
How can this new knowledge contribute to the improvement of people's health?
The combined treatment with physical exercise and acarbose seem to be an interesting treatment option in mild type 2 diabetes. VEGF and endothelin-1 could constitute future 'drug-targets' with the possibility to affect insulin resistance. On the other hand, we found no support for vitamin D treatment in prediabetes or diet-treated type 2 diabetes.
What are your future ambitions?
I hope be able to continue with clinical research in the diabetes field, focusing on effects of interventions on insulin secretion and insulin resistance.
Dissertation
Friday November 11, 2016 at 09:00, lecture hall Eken S2:02, Norrbacka, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, more information in the calendar.
Thesis