ODT: High-stakes race to cure type 2 diabetes

A local scientist is convinced that he’s on the path to a treatment for Type II diabetes – a hormone produced in the duodenum which causes insulin resistance.

He also hypothesises that obesity is a symptom, rather than a cause, of diabetes.

An excerpt: (read in full here)

“Overseas researchers have already discovered a hormone called glucagon-like intestinal peptide (glp 1) and produced a drug which reduces the negative impact the hormone has on insulin.

“However, Prof Stubbs believes another hormone he has dubbed “factor X” is the hormone which needs to be targeted.

“Over the past 10 years, he and his team have developed a method of analysing blood and painstakingly separating and purifying it to isolate the hormones.

“Provided the research continues at the same pace, he hopes to have homed in on factor X within two years.”