In someone without diabetes, blood sugars are controlled by a hormone called insulin. Insulin lowers blood sugar levels, and is produced by cells in the pancreas called beta cells. If someone is at risk of developing diabetes, their beta cells can't produce enough insulin, which puts the beta cells under stress. The beta cells try to adapt, but if this fails, a vicious cycle begins. On this episode, host Krista Lamb speaks with Dr. Dan Luciani about beta cells and his lab’s work to better understand them. Dr. Luciani is an investigator at the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute in Vancouver, and an associate professor in the Department of Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia.

The vagus nerve is an important part of our nervous system that can regulate blood sugar levels by controlling insulin activity. When the vagus nerve malfunctions, that can lead to the development of type 2 diabetes. On this episode of the Diabetes Canada Podcast, host Krista Lamb talks to Dr. Minna Woo about her research into how manipulating the vagus nerve may play a role in one day preventing or treating type 2 diabetes.

Beta cells play a big role in diabetes, and what we know about them continues to evolve. On this episode, host Krista Lamb speaks with Dr. Bruce Verchere about beta cells and his lab’s work to better understand them. Dr. Verchere is the director of the BC Diabetes Research Network and a Scientist at the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute in Vancouver.

Diabetes and heart disease are deeply connected – that’s why research into new and innovative treatments is so important. In this episode, host Krista Lamb speaks with Dr Sonia Butalia about her career and her work looking at new therapies to support heart health for those with diabetes. Dr. Butalia is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Community Health Sciences at the University of Calgary. She is also the winner of the 2022 Diabetes Canada Early Career Investigator Award.

Recently, there has been discussion about ways to potentially put type 2 diabetes into remission. When possible, it could potentially reduce complications and allow people with the condition to reduce or go off medication completely. But, as with most things in diabetes, it’s complicated. And it’s not for everyone. On this episode, host Krista Lamb speaks with Dr. Harpreet Bajaj who is an endocrinologist and the director of late-phase research at LMC Diabetes. Dr. Bajaj is leading the Diabetes Canada Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Diabetes in Canada, which recently developed an update that looks at the possibility for type 2 diabetes remission. Read the Guidelines here!