Diabetes rates continue to increase with no end in sight. Diabetes prevention, however, is very possible through healthy lifestyle changes.
GLP-1 is a protein produced by “G cells” that are located later down in the small intestine. They are actually taste cells just like our tongues have. When properly stimulated, GLP-1 is released and does all kinds of good things to help our bodies manage blood glucose.
But it is broken down very quickly by the body (1-2 mins) and so has a short window of action. Luckily, the Better Living Through Chemistry (BLTC) folks have come up with an answer–the spit of the gila monster acts much like our body’s GLP-1 when injected and quickly became the new “wonder drug” for diabetes.
However, it’s use is really a pain in the gluts because it has to be refridgerated and used as an injection. Then, other BLTC folks came up with a drug to make our own GLP-1 last longer (DPP4 inhibitors).
These have always been used to manage diabetes that has already been diagnosed. Looking for a bigger profit margin, in this particular study, the BLTC folks are doing studies on rats to see if we can double the market and use in on people to prevent diabetes.
You can almost hear the “cha-ching” sounds as you read the article.
The drug companies have pretty much decided that YOU, the consumer, are not smart enough and dedicated enough to make the necessary lifestyle changes to avoid or eliminate diabetes yourself. Because of this, we NEED chemistry.
Forget the fact that all this drug use to drive beta cell function of the pancreas will undoubtedly lead to complete burnout of these cells and lord knows what other bad effects.
The good news is that if the drug companies can suppress the bad news on the negative side effects for as many years as possible, they can continue to make glorious profits.