Insulin is essential for regulating blood glucose levels. However, too much insulin in circulation, a condition that can be observed in cases of obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes, can do a lot of harm, especially in the long term and at the level of the pancreas. Let’s see what a very recent scientific research published in the journal Cell Metabolism by a Canadian team states (Zhang et al, Cell Metabolism, Oct 2023).
Too much insulin increases inflammation of the pancreas, the study scientists have managed to demonstrate that high insulin values directly stimulate some areas of the pancreas responsible for the synthesis of digestive enzymes.
These enzymes are essential for digesting fat-rich foods. It has been possible to demonstrate that more insulin in circulation translates into greater activation of these areas and overproduction of digestive enzymes. This overproduction of enzymes inflames the pancreas and the cells of this gland, in the long term, as a result of this state of chronic inflammation, it can undergo degeneration, thus increasing the risk of pancreatic tumors.ConclusionsThe study is new and other work will have to follow.
But this is the research of inestimable importance, both for the scientific world, which will now be able to begin studying the action of too-high insulin levels even for other types of cancer, and for us, because we now know the importance of keeping insulin under control and combating overweight, obesity and type 2 diabetes. We can achieve these goals with a healthy diet and moderate physical activity.
Among the good habits to save body weight and pancreas, are limiting the intake of sugars, preferring whole grains, legumes, fruit, and vegetables, especially non-starchy ones such as green leafy vegetables, peppers, zucchini, cabbage, tomatoes, and asparagus, but also spices, such as cinnamon, and tea, especially green tea.