Browse: Home / Diabetes / Beta cells are not working themselves to death – they’re being killed by amylin

Menu

Skip to content
  • About
  • Better Body Chemistry School
  • Book a health conversation
  • Speaking query
  • The “Big” Spoons
Header image

BBC

Small things can make a big difference to your health

advertisement

Menu

Skip to content
  • Home
  • Free Resources
    • 31 days to Better Body Chemistry
    • Willpower Report
    • Weight loss e-course
    • Better Body Chemistry for Expecting Moms
    • The ups and downs of insulin resistance
    • Candy Floss Boards
    • Weight tracker
  • Library
  • Shop
  • Lucky dip
  • Sound bites
  • Buy me a coffee
  • Contact

Beta cells are not working themselves to death – they’re being killed by amylin

Posted by Dr Sandy on in Diabetes | 1326 Views | Leave a response
WhatsApp
Reddit
Share
More
Tweet
Pin
Share

Insulin is what is NEEDED. Amylin comes along for the ride, because both are secreted together. Unfortunately, amylin turns out to be a killer.

Share Button

Click to listen to the audio…

What is really ‘killing” beta cells in type 2 diabetes ?

aggregation in the pancreas

Insulin is what is NEEDED. Amylin comes along for the ride, because insulin and amylin are secreted together. Unfortunately, amylin turns out to be a killer.

Everyone who has taken a high school biology class, knows the beta cells in the Islet’s of Langerhans, produce insulin.

But this is not all they produce…..

They also produce, a protein called amylin, also known as human islet amyloid polypeptide (hiAPP).

The antics of hiAPP

Now relatively speaking, the amount of amylin produced, is small – under “normal” circumstances,  there are 20 molecules of insulin produced, for every molecule of amylin.

But this is enough to get the job done.

Amylin’s chief job, is to STOP HUNGER.  And this helps insulin do HIS job i.e.  move the glucose out of the blood, into cells.

By stopping you from round 2 – it buys insulin the time he needs, to clear the blood of glucose.

When it comes to body chemicals, amylin is a bit of an odd ball.

A shape shifter

Unlike most proteins, amylin is an intrinsically disordered protein – this means it shape shifts, i.e. it “adapts” it’s shape, to interact with different targets.

molecule in different conformations

This is, by it’s very nature, a “super power”.

But “super powers” come with vulnerabilities, in the case of amylin, the vulnerability is the molecules can interact with themselves,  forming aggregates, that bung up the works.

aggregate damaging the pancreas

The result………………… IS NOT PRETTY.

Amylin come together

Now, to be fair.  Under normal circumstances, amylin molecules are dispatched from the pancreas to go about their business.

punching the stomach effectively suppressing appetite

Under normal circumstances !

But, when you’re INSULIN RESISTANCE, things are NOT normal.  The reason, the pancreas has shifted into overdrive…………

Hyperinsulinemia

Insulin is being churned out in BUCKET loads.

a day in the life of a beta cell in someone who is insulin resistant

Morning, noon and night.

The ramped up production, is a desperate attempt to meet the body’s excessive demand for insulin.

Hyperamylinemia

Insulin is what is NEEDED. Amylin comes along for the ride…………….. because both are secreted together.

So…………. lots of insulin, also means lots of amylin.

LOTS.

The  molecules INTERACT….

Bunging up the works

Now the details of exactly how they BUNG UP THE WORKS, are still a bit sketchy.

The point is, they do, bung up the works.

We know this, because when we look at the pancreas of people who have died with type 2 diabetes, there is marked accumulation of amylin.

Amylin deposits

This doesn’t happen in the non-diabetics.

Actually, it doesn’t happen in diabetic rodents either.

Turns out, rat amylin doesn’t have the same “super powers” as human amylin.  It doesn’t aggregate.  This is good for rats, but a problem for scientists studying type 2 diabetes.

It means, the role of this protein, is not always appreciated.

Deposits are trouble

The presence of the  deposits, create additional stress, on the already pretty stressed out beta cells.  Attempts are made to clean up the mess.

beta cell stressed by aggregates

But…………… it is a numbers game.

The more amylin floating about, the dire the situation becomes.  Especially in the light of the fact, that amylin aggregates are difficult to clean up.

Beta cells in trouble

Stressed out beta cells become

MORE STRESSED OUT.

For many, the accumulation of aggregates is the final straw.  They give up the ghost.

Ouch !  There are now fewer beta cells…………..

Sugar levels rise

The pancreas’ capacity to produce INSULIN is compromised.

It’s a vicious cycle.

vicious cycle of type 2 diabetesMore insulin is needed. More insulin is produced, along with MORE  amylin. The MORE amylin molecules interact and aggregate.  The amylin aggregates bung up the works.  So less insulin is actually produced and sugar levels rise.  Eish !

So what can you do ?

Give your beta cells some time off

REIN IN INSULIN and AMYLIN !

By decreasing THE NEED for insulin, you also decrease the production of amylin.

With less amylin moving through the pipes, the odds that the amylin molecules aggregate is significantly reduced.

And if a little aggregation does happen.  And it will……… shape shifters are UNSTABLE.

Clean up inside the ER

No worries.

the clean up crew taking care of aggregates

The clean up crew, can get busy – no harm, no foul.

Click here for tips and strategies that will help you rein in insulin, using lifestyle.

Share Button
Human IAPP amyloidogenic properties and pancreatic b-cell death. Cell Calcium (2014) 56(5):416-427. Marta S. Fernández.

Further reading

beta cells being regenerated

Can you grow new beta cells when your beta cells fail ?

Diabetes happens when beta cells fail, but beta cells can be regenerated naturally. Fancy stem cell technology or drugs are not required, diet will do it

beta cell not sleeping

Clock watching uncovers one reason why beta cells fail in diabetes

Pancreatic clocks tick better when spend time in the dark. Unfortunately, being IN THE DARK, doesn’t always happen, light at night is commonplace.

iron causing the pancreas to rust

Turning down an iron pump – irons out diabetes

When an iron pump in the pancreas runs full steam for too long, beta cells die and diabetes begins. Turning the pump down, is enough to stop diabetes.

Want to discover more ways to create BETTER BODY CHEMISTRY ?

WhatsApp
Reddit
Share
More
Tweet
Pin
Share
Posted in Diabetes | Tagged amylin, amyloid, beta cells, diabetes, human islet amyloid polypeptide, hunger, hyperamylinemia, hyperinsulinemia, insulin, pancreas, type 2 diabetes

Sugar gremlins are REAL

Connect with us

facebook you tube pinterest 40 google plus 40 Linkedin

willpower report
  • Popular
  • Featured
  • Recent
  • asprosin the sugar plum fairy

    Why sugar levels are high despite NOT eating

    20021 views / Posted
  • poop getting stuck

    The fix for constipation is to go on a low fibre diet

    19325 views / Posted
  • oatmeal breakfast being beaten by egg

    Which is a better breakfast, egg or oatmeal ?

    18918 views / Posted
  • chewing gum relieving postoperative ileus

    A stick of chewing gum gets the gut going after surgery

    16671 views / Posted
  • carbonated water bubbles fill you up

    Fizzing up the water flattens your appetite

    15447 views / Posted
  • sun extracting cholesterol

    Make sure you have your “annual” check-up in the summer time

    / Dr Sandy
  • sending your kid to bootcamp won't stop childhood obesity

    Moving more won’t stop your kid from getting fat

    / Dr Sandy
  • cholesterol at the scene of the accident

    Bone cells are stiffening up your arteries not cholesterol

    / Dr Sandy
  • brain size the problem in ADHD

    Are kids with ADHD just acting according to their brain age

    / Dr Sandy
  • plastering the blood vessel with calcium

    Calcium supplements are building bones and breaking hearts

    / Dr Sandy
  • sandman whipping up a fall asleep potion

    Hot eyes fall asleep faster

    / Dr Sandy
  • HOT or COLD – which is better metabolically speaking ?

    / Dr Sandy
  • A eye healthy diet should include eggs

    / Dr Sandy
  • It’s official – you cannot out run a bad diet, your biology won’t let you

    / Dr Sandy
  • corona virus sporting his beautiful crown

    How to overcome long covid sooner rather than later

    / Dr Sandy

RSS Recent posts

Dr Sandy Dr Sandy Evans, PhD

Located in Johannesburg, South Africa

Book an appointment with Spoonful of Science using SetMore
Disclaimer : The stories and articles are provided as a service. Dr Sandy's opinions are for information only, and are not intended to diagnose or prescribe. For your specific diagnosis and treatment, consult your doctor or health care provider.
 
 

Connect with Dr Sandy

facebook 40
you tube 40
pinterest 40
google plus 40
linkedin 40
meetup 40
 

Categories

Featured posts

  • asprosin the sugar plum fairy

    Why sugar levels are high despite NOT eating

    20021 views / Posted
  • poop getting stuck

    The fix for constipation is to go on a low fibre diet

    19325 views / Posted
  • oatmeal breakfast being beaten by egg

    Which is a better breakfast, egg or oatmeal ?

    18918 views / Posted
 

©2011-2022 Spoonful of Science

Menu

  • Meet Dr Sandy
  • Disclosure/disclaimer
  • Privacy policy
  • Comment policy
  • Contact
Redirect Stakk
Thank You

Beat your SUGAR CRAVINGS, using biology, NOT psychology

Download our FREE REPORT entitled, "How to get the Willpower you Need to Trump Sugar's Power"

  • Do you have a sugar gremlin ?
  • Discover the biology behind sugar gremlins
  • Learn about the 10 weapons you can use to TAME YOUR SUGAR GREMLIN

Get instant access

WhatsApp
Reddit
Share
More
Tweet