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Diabetes is increasingly becoming a global health concern, with experts warning it may reach epidemic proportions in the coming decades. The disease primarily manifests in two forms: Type 1, an autoimmune condition with genetic links, and Type 2, whose precise causes remain largely unknown.

In a groundbreaking study, researchers at IIT Bombay have uncovered a surprising connection between collagen, the body’s most abundant structural protein, and the progression of Type 2 diabetes. Collagen appears to promote the accumulation of a hormone called amylin within the pancreas, impairing its function by reducing insulin production and thereby elevating blood sugar levels.
The study, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, explains that alongside insulin, the body produces amylin to regulate blood sugar after meals. However, abnormal amylin can clump together as amyloid aggregates, damaging pancreatic beta cells and worsening diabetes.

Professor Shamik Sen and his team revealed that fibrillar collagen 1 encourages the formation of these harmful clumps, increasing the risk of Type 2 diabetes. This new insight highlights the crucial role of structural proteins in diabetes development, beyond just blood sugar levels.

These findings could lead to innovative treatments aimed at restoring pancreatic health by managing collagen and amylin levels, offering fresh hope to millions affected by Type 2 diabetes.