Type 2 and pre-diabetes missing link

A missing link between type 2 diabetes and the pre-diabetic condition has been uncovered. The findings will be presented at the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists annual meeting in Seattle.
Pre-diabetes is an enormous and growing problem throughout the world, with the number of pre-diabetics higher than the number of diabetics in most countries. Impaired Fasting Glucose and Impaired Glucose Tolerance are two of the central indicators of pre-diabetes, and both can quickly lead to type 2 diabetes .
The new study concerns hepatic glucose production and fasting plasma glucose – HGP and FPG respectively. The author of the study, Rucha Jani, reportedly commented: “During the fasting state, the decrease in glucose clearance results in an increase in FPG concentration which stimulates basal insulin secretion. The rise in fasting plasma insulin concentration, in turn, inhibits HGP, thus attenuating the rise in FPG. The high fasting blood glucose in these subjects can thus be explained by the decrease in glucose clearance. This is an important observation as it provides insight into the pathogenic mechanisms that characterize the ‘pre-diabetic’ stage.”
Dr. Jani concluded: “Pinpointing the missing link is quite important. It allows us to identify potential future targets in order to develop effective therapies to prevent the progression from pre-diabetes to type 2 diabetes.”