While diabetes natural remedies may help patients with the disease control their symptoms, they are still more susceptible to certain diabetic problems such as blindness.
Until recently, physicians did not know how high blood sugar levels damage blood vessels in the eye. According to researchers from Michigan State University, when blood sugar levels rise, a protein known as siah-1 is produced, which shuttles the protein glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) into the nucleus of the Müller cells.
Müller cells have contact with the blood vessels of the eye. The GAPDH protein kills the Müller cells, which causes loss of sight, or diabetic retinopathy. Previous studies knew that GAPDH had something to do with the destruction of the Müller cells, however no one knew how the cells were transported to the area.
The researchers believe this could lead to new treatments. “This is very exciting,” said researcher Susanne Mohr. “We know that we can’t regulate production of GAPDH because it’s necessary for producing energy throughout the body. But since siah-1 is produced only when glucose levels are high, regulating it doesn’t cause any problems.
If we can out how to stop siah-1 production, it may lead to new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.”ADNFCR-1960-ID-19601483-ADNFCR
