After a long pause from writing blog posts I decided to give it another go after reading the book "Lifespan," by David Sinclair. The book unveils a different aging perspective, which got me thinking into a rabbit hole ending with diabetes.
Aging: More than DNA Changes
"Lifespan" presents a simple but deep metaphor for aging. DNA is like a DVD, says Sinclair. As a DVD will get scratched with time, so does our DNA undergo epigenetic changes. These don't mess with the DNA itself but alter how it's used, like how DVD scratches disrupt reading the disk. Now, if you can clean a DVD to fix it, our cells can 'fix' these epigenetic changes too. In a nutshell: Sinclair proposes that epigenetic changes rather than DNA mutations are what actually cause aging.
Sirtuins: Mother Nature's DVD Fixer
Let's talk about sirtuins. Just as you might have a disc repair kit, sirtuins are our cells' equivalents. They help settle which genes are on or off, seeing that our cells work properly. Sirtuins excel in shielding cells from stress. Think about a scratched disc causing a film to pause or skip; stress in cells, maybe from high glucose, can do similar damage. Sirtuins work to limit this stress, ensuring the cell's steadiness.
Are Sirtuins and Diabetes Linked?
It got me thinking about sirtuins and diabetes, a disease with too high blood sugar. If sirtuins can fix and protect our cells, could they help when cells are swamped with extra glucose? Apparently, studies indicate that sirtuins play a part in our bodies' insulin reaction and blood sugar control, hinting at a possible influence on diabetes management.
Sirtuins and Diabetes:
Sirtuins help manage diabetes. Sirtuins, particularly SIRT1, help improve the body's response to insulin, akin to a DVD player being fine-tuned to read a slightly scratched disc more effectively. This does the same. Cells absorb glucose better, diabetes rates fall.
Fighting Cellular Stress:
High blood sugar causes cell stress, like a DVD player having trouble with a heavy scratched disc. That's where sirtuins jump in. They ward off harm from high glucose. Thus, they help steer clear of diabetes complications like nerve harm and kidney issues.
Working with Fat Metabolism:
Sirtuins have a part in body fat processes. In diabetes, fat breakdown can go awry. Sirtuins can fix this. They guide fat storage and breakdown, making metabolism healthier — all good for diabetes management.
Therapies on the Horizon:
Given all this, researchers eye sirtuins for diabetes treatments. Treatments would boost sirtuin activity. That would improve insulin sensitivity and reduce cell stress. It's like a special disc polish for a DVD, designed to fix disruption-causing scratches.
To wrap up, studying sirtuins in relation to diabetes shows potential for new solutions and a deeper grasp of the condition. They do more than simply 'fix' epigenetic shifts; they might help manage diabetes. This illustrates the linked role of aging, cell wellbeing, and chronic illnesses.
References:
Lifespan: Why We Age―and Why We Don't Have To by David Sinclair
Sirtuins and Type 2 Diabetes: Role in Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and
Mitochondrial Function
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00187
PubMed: PMC6469470
Citation: Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2019 Mar 27;10:187.A Review on SIRtuins in Diabetes
DOI: 10.2174/1381612823666170125153334
PubMed: PMC5817414
Citation: 2017;23 (16):2299-2307.Sirtuin 6, a Possible Therapeutic Target for Type 2 Diabetes
DOI: 10.1007/s12272-017-0989-8
PubMed: PMC5716050
Citation: 2017 Dec;40 (12):1380-1389.