New Gene Discovery Sheds Light on How Type 2 Diabetes Progresses — and What It Means for Future Treatments
- Rebecca Guldberg
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
Scientists have made a breakthrough discovery that could transform our understanding of type 2 diabetes (T2D), offering fresh hope for treatments that target the underlying causes of the disease rather than just managing symptoms. In a groundbreaking study, researchers identified a gene that appears to drive malfunction in the very cells responsible for controlling blood sugar — and this insight could open the door to better therapies for millions living with diabetes.
What Did Scientists Find?
Researchers at City of Hope uncovered the gene SMOC1, which plays a surprising role in how insulin-producing cells behave in people with type 2 diabetes. Normally, the pancreas contains clusters of hormone-producing cells called islets:
Beta cells produce insulin, the hormone that lowers blood sugar.
Alpha cells produce glucagon, the hormone that raises blood sugar.
In healthy individuals, beta cells maintain insulin production and help keep blood sugar stable. But in type 2 diabetes, many beta cells progressively lose their identity and function.
The study found that SMOC1 activity increases within beta cells in diabetes, shifting them toward a state more like alpha cells. As a result, insulin production drops while glucagon production increases — a double challenge for blood sugar regulation.
“In healthy people, islet cells can mature in different directions – some become more like alpha cells, others like beta cells,” said lead author Adolfo Garcia-Ocaña, Ph.D., City of Hope’s Ruth B. and Robert K. Lanman Chair in Gene Regulation & Drug Discovery Research and chair of the Department of Molecular & Cellular Endocrinology. “But in type 2 diabetes, the path only goes one way: beta cells start imitating alpha cells. This shift may explain why insulin levels drop and glucagon levels rise in people with the disease.”
Why This Matters
This discovery helps explain a key mystery of type 2 diabetes: why beta cells decline in number and function over time. Rather than simply dying, many beta cells revert or transition toward a different cell type that no longer regulates glucose properly.
The implications are significant:
New diagnostic tools: SMOC1 or its pathways could serve as early biomarkers for beta-cell dysfunction in T2D.
Targeted therapies: Blocking or regulating SMOC1 might help preserve beta-cell identity and insulin production.
Cell-based approaches: Understanding how cells switch identities opens the door for regeneration or reprogramming therapies.
A Closer Look: How the Study Worked
The scientists analyzed hundreds of individual islet cells using advanced RNA sequencing from donors with and without type 2 diabetes. They identified five distinct cell types, tracking how some cells change over time and lose their beta cell characteristics. Cells expressing SMOC1 were more likely to shift toward a glucagon-producing state, offering a strong clue about the role this gene plays in diabetes progression.
What This Means for People with Diabetes
Current diabetes treatments primarily focus on managing blood glucose with insulin therapy, medications that improve insulin sensitivity, or lifestyle changes. While these are effective tools, they don’t directly address the root cause of beta-cell dysfunction.
This research suggests a future where therapies could:
Prevent beta cells from losing their identity
Restore or preserve insulin production
Slow disease progression instead of only managing high blood sugar
Looking Ahead
As the scientific community continues to unravel how genes like SMOC1 influence cell identity in diabetes, researchers hope to translate these findings into practical treatments. The ultimate goal is to improve — and one day reverse — the damage caused by type 2 diabetes.
📌 Source: Based on City of Hope’s study published in Nature Communications detailing how a gene converts insulin-producing cells into blood sugar-boosting cells in type 2 diabetes. (City of Hope)
About Direct Diabetes
Direct Diabetes has been helping people with diabetes for nearly 30 years by mailing the supplies they need directly to their home, and helping them avoid the hassle of having to go to a pharmacy. From Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) to insulin pumps and testing supplies, our goal is to take the stress out of managing diabetes so patients can focus on living healthier, fuller lives. We work directly with doctors and insurance companies to make the process simple and affordable.
📞 Contact Us: 480-998-5551
🌐 Website: DirectDiabetes.com
📲 Follow Us:
This content is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider about any questions or concerns regarding your health or treatment options.
