> But in people with diabetes, this sensing system is dysfunctional, and the liver releases glucose even when blood levels are already high, causing a host of health problems.
I am pretty sure, that the dysfunctional glucose sensing and inappropriate liver glucose release are consequences and complications of diabetes, not the primary causes. Diabetes (Type 2) is primarily caused by insulin resistance combined with progressive beta cell dysfunction.
Therefore, treating the liver to treat diabetes seems .... weird?
snarf21 · 5m ago
There is a lot of research pointing to the duodenum being damaged and not playing it role correctly. It is essentially the signaler to the pancreas and gall bladder and liver to release All The Things! There have even been some studies around a new approach that resurfaces the duodenum with a hot water balloon that brings back proper function, known as Duodenal Mucosal Resurfacing (DMR).
codingdave · 1h ago
As an analogy, when my driveway is covered in snow and ice, the root cause is precipitation. But my immediate need is to get my car out, so I shovel the drive.
Yes, treating symptoms is not the ideal, but if you can fix the immediate need of getting blood sugar down, that is still helpful.
layer8 · 4h ago
I understand the treatment to address those secondary consequences and complications, not the primary causes of diabetes.
M0r13n · 3h ago
You're right. But they explicitly wrote "we examined the potential of FUS as a treatment for diabetes". So they are discussing a treatment, not just symptom relief
literalAardvark · 1h ago
"Medical treatment" definitely doesn't always mean dealing with the root cause. As you've learned.
Splinting a leg is treatment, but it has nothing to do with not drinking before driving.
m3kw9 · 1h ago
You are talking about more like reversing the disease
elric · 1h ago
> One day, an AI system might be able to guide at-home users as they place a wearable device on their body and trigger the stimulation.
How would that work? Do we even have a reliable way of detecting localized places of internal inflammation? The article mentions ultrasound imaging, but this is beginning to sound a lot like a "if all you've got is a hammer" type thing.
What about other localized inflammatory conditions, such as asthma?
jollyllama · 1h ago
How does the frequency and amplitude of something used for this approach compare to that used for routine fetal imaging?
AStonesThrow · 1h ago
In Soviet Russia, Nervous System with Ultrasound hacks Doctors ! -- (((Яков Смирнов)))
I am pretty sure, that the dysfunctional glucose sensing and inappropriate liver glucose release are consequences and complications of diabetes, not the primary causes. Diabetes (Type 2) is primarily caused by insulin resistance combined with progressive beta cell dysfunction.
Therefore, treating the liver to treat diabetes seems .... weird?
Yes, treating symptoms is not the ideal, but if you can fix the immediate need of getting blood sugar down, that is still helpful.
Splinting a leg is treatment, but it has nothing to do with not drinking before driving.
How would that work? Do we even have a reliable way of detecting localized places of internal inflammation? The article mentions ultrasound imaging, but this is beginning to sound a lot like a "if all you've got is a hammer" type thing.
What about other localized inflammatory conditions, such as asthma?