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Energy well spent fighting the diabetes epidemic

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-16, 16:37 authored by Stannard, SR, Johnson, NA
As the global burden of type 2 diabetes increases, medical science races to comprehensively understand its molecular aetiology. We suggest that the apparent struggle to seek a pharmacological or molecular victory to the diabetes epidemic is a flawed strategy given that evolution has already provided us with the best medicine. Recent molecular evidence highlights the interaction between muscle fatty acid kinetics in dictating whole body insulin action. Insights from an evolutionary perspective suggest that the ability of the body to evoke insulin resistance and store energy as fat within muscle cells is a normal physiological response to aid our survival during food or carbohydrate scarcity, but this 'hunter-gatherer physiology' predisposes to diabetes in a modern environment characterized by ample food availability and muscle inactivity. We contend that the true value of physical activity in the prevention and treatment of insulin resistance has been missed by the medical community because scientific investigation has been constructed upon physical activity recommendations that were never intended for this purpose. These recommendations provide a level of metabolic stress insufficient to be compatible with the expectations of our genes. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

History

Publication title

Diabetes-Metabolism Research and Reviews

Volume

22

Pagination

11-19

ISSN

1520-7552

Department/School

School of Health Sciences

Publisher

John Wiley and Sons

Place of publication

Sussex UK

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Clinical health not elsewhere classified

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