jungle diabetics

Out of the Jungle: a new discovery for Diabetics

by Barry Bittman, MD

The most obvious clues for the greatest potential advances in science often go unnoticed. Yet breakthroughs do occur when we expand our horizons and think outside the box.

Years ago, a scientist walked into a laboratory and observed mold growing on the surface of one of his experimental plates. He cursed the finding and started all over.

In 1929, a British Bacteriologist noticed the same thing. However, he took a closer look. To his amazement, something unusual had occurred¾ there were no bacteria growing in the vicinity of the mold. His name was Alexander Flemming and the mold that intrigued him was none other than a species of the fairly common mold penicillum. The rest is history.

History is in the making again. Yet it didn’t occur by chance. A team of dedicated researchers working for Merck Research Laboratories intensively studied more than 50,000 natural and synthetic substances from around the world. They were on a mission to discover a substance that would mimic the actions of insulin. Their goal was to help individuals with diabetes worldwide¾ more than 16 million of whom live in our nation.

Despite the fact that their goal was nothing short of finding a needle in a haystack, the researchers seem to be ultimately successful. The substance they discovered is referred to as L-783,281 and it comes from a fungus growing in the Congo in West Africa. Simply stated, it mimics the actions of insulin, a hormone that is necessary for the body to metabolize sugar.

You’re probably saying to yourself that there are a number of drugs available for the treatment of diabetes. Yet for many diabetics, daily insulin injections are needed for survival. Unlike insulin, L-783,281 is a potential insulin substitute that works when taken by mouth!

According to Dr. Bei Zhang of Merck, the principal author of a study recently published in the journal Science, “This could potentially be used to replace insulin shots in diabetics.”

Although the research is in its preliminary stages, L-783,281 appears effective in at least two strains of mice according to these scientists. The next steps are to test it in other animals and eventually in humans.

This breakthrough is of utmost importance for insulin-dependent Type I or Type II diabetics. Type I diabetics are children or young adults who are often required to use multiple insulin injections each day. Type II diabetics typically develop the disease later in life and are often treated with diet, exercise and oral medications. Yet, a number of Type II diabetics eventually require insulin.

The Merck study is important for two reasons. Of greatest importance is the enormous potential benefit for diabetics. The second is based upon the process of discovery that led to the breakthrough. As noted in several prior columns, many drugs in common use are derived from natural substances. Research and testing of these compounds are performed under the careful scrutiny of conventional science. This approach should be contrasted with alternative medicine’s myriad of unsubstantiated claims for natural supplements sold over-the-counter, by mail order and on the internet.

It is this author’s contention that basic science research to establish the mechanism of action, followed by carefully designed controlled studies that begin with laboratory animals and progress to humans is essential. Through such an exhaustive process, real breakthroughs such as this one are possible.

While the testing of L-783,281 is certainly in the early stages, it appears that nature may offer the best pharmacy for illnesses that challenge our most advanced technology. Quality of life for millions of people around the world with diabetes can potentially be improved with another gift from Mother Nature. Perhaps one day in the future, the syringe and the needle will become ancient diabetic relics of a society that eventually discovered the healing secrets of our planet¾ Mind Over Matter!