β-Cell Expansion for Therapeutic Compensation of Insulin Resistance in Type 2 Diabetes
2003 ◽
Vol 4
(1)
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pp. 1-5
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Keyword(s):
Β Cell
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Insulin resistance is the primary cause of type 2 diabetes. However, if compensated by increased insulin production, insulin resistance by itself does not lead to overt disease. Type 2 diabetes develops when this compensation is insufficient, due to defects inβ-cell function and in regulation of theβ-cell mass.β-Cell transplantation, as well as approaches that replenish or preserve the endogenousβ-cell mass, may facilitate the treatment of type 2 diabetes in patients requiring exogenous insulin.