Project summary
Type 3c diabetes develops because of damage to the pancreas. It often goes misdiagnosed and there’s no tailored treatment or care for people living with it. Professor James Shaw is testing existing drugs to see if they could help to repair the pancreas and boost insulin production. This research could pave the way for more effective treatments, helping those with type 3c diabetes better manage their blood sugar levels.
Background to research
You may have heard of the more common types of diabetes, like type 1, type 2, and gestational. But there are many other lesser-known types, such as type 3c diabetes. A study of over 2 million people found that type 3c could account for 9% of diabetes cases, potentially making it nearly as common as type 1. But it’s often confused with type 2 because type 3c isn't as well known and the term 3c isn't always used. And the lack of tailored treatment and care makes it even more challenging for people to manage their type 3c diabetes.
Type 3c occurs when the pancreas is damaged and can't produce enough insulin to bring blood sugar levels down. This damage can result from conditions like chronic pancreatitis, where inflammation scars the pancreas.
Prof. James Shaw's research shows that stellate cells in the pancreas, which produce scar tissue, release substances that may kill or harm insulin-producing beta cells. Existing drugs that are used to treat lung diseases have been shown to help stop scarring. But we don’t know if they could also help to protect beta cells in type 3c diabetes.
Research aims
Prof Shaw and his team will look at two drugs to see if they can improve beta cell health in a damaged pancreas.
The team will test the drugs, called pirfenidone and nintedanib, on stellate cells in the lab and in pancreas tissue donated by people with chronic pancreatitis. They’ll see if the drugs prevent scar tissue and if they help beta cells to survive and produce more insulin.
Potential benefit to people with diabetes
Currently, there aren’t any tailored treatments for type 3c diabetes. Yet people with type 3c could have specific, complex needs when it comes to managing their blood sugar levels. So it's vitally important to develop more effective treatments targeting the causes of type 3c, including chronic pancreatitis.
By providing evidence to show if repurposing existing drugs could protect the pancreas, this research could lead to clinical trials and move us closer to the first treatment for type 3c diabetes. New treatments could help people avoid the need for insulin, while having better blood glucose management.
Knowing more about the impact of treating scarring in the pancreas on beta cells could also have implications for treating type 1 or type 2 diabetes in the future.
