Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.

This week on Healthwatch, we're talking about diabetes, in recognition of National Diabetes Awareness Month. Diabetes occurs when the body cant process glucose properly. In type 1 diabetes, its because the body doesnt produce insulin to allow the body to use glucose for fuel. In type 2 diabetes, its because the body doesnt use insulin effectively. In search of a cure for diabetes, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas are studying the way the body produces glucose.

Dr. Shawn Burgess, a UT Southwestern scientist, is looking at organs other than the liver that produce glucose. The liver is responsible for maintaining blood glucose levels between meals, but other organs can also make glucose. This research may help doctors better understand the imbalance that occurs between tissues that make glucose and tissues that use glucose in cases of diabetes.

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^{November 2005}

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