Proteins That Can Control Diabetes

Craig Engert
Website:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140805132248.htm
Date of Publication:
August 5th, 2014
Author:
Not applicable

Proteins That Can Control Diabetes
Summary: The article, "New 'whey' to control Diabetes" describes how a protein called, "whey" could be a solution to diabetes. People take medication to control their diabetes. Professor Daniela Jakubowicz and Doctor Julio Wainstein at Tel Aviv University of the Wolfson Medical Center's Diabetes Unit, professor Oren Froy of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and professor Bo Ahren of Lund University in Sweden have come to the conclusion that their is a way to control diabetes without medication. The solution are whey proteins. Whey proteins in some cases are so effective that they eliminate the need of insulin treatment completely. The researchers came up with the hypothesis; "'We hypothesized that stimulating GLP-1 production by consuming whey protein before a meal would enhance insulin secretion and have beneficial glucose-lowering effects in type 2 diabetes,' Prof. Jakubowicz said" (New 'whey' to control Diabetes). The researchers in the article used 15 people with well controlled type two diabetes at Wolfson Medical Center, and randomly gave some of them 250 milliliters of water mixed with whey proteins or placebo a drug proven to control diabetes. In the trial they then took the blood sugar level of the individuals at 15, 30, 60, 120, 150 and 180 minutes after eating a sugar rich meal. They found at earlier stages the effects of whey were almost the same as placebo, however, at the 180 minute interval glucose levels were reduced by 28 percent for the people who were treated with whey proteins. Proving that whey is a valid way of controlling diabetes.

Connections: This article pertains to our unit on macromolecules. In Unit 2  Chapter 5 we learned about the four macromolecules of life. They are carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins. . Proteins properties are decided by their amino acids. Their amino acids are organized in long chains called polypeptides. The polypeptides will eventually form a protein such as whey. As described on our Unit 2  Chapter 5 test many people go on heavy carbohydrate diets of just bread and rice. The diet lacks proteins such as whey and many others which are essential to life. Thus, even having a proper diet of protein might fix some of health issues such as diabetes. Proteins are major discussion in class and provide a varieties of benefits from texture of our hair to disease fighting proteins. Furthermore, it can relate to Chapter 2 because the use of scientific method. They had the observation of high milk intake equates to a lower blood sugar, came up with a hypothesis and then tested the data. The dependent variable being the blood sugar variable and the independent variable being the treatment before eating the meal. Thus, the text shows evidence of the scientific method.