KINGSTON, Jamaica – New research has yielded promising results for more effective treatment and management options for patients suffering from Type 2 diabetes.

The study, titled ‘Combined Supplementation of S-Nitro glutathione and Glutathione Improves Glycaemic Control in Type 2 Diabetic Rats’, was led by a master’s graduate from the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona campus, Amarley Wright.

It focuses on the use of the antioxidant Glutathione, combined with another substance known as Nitric oxide, to significantly lower blood sugar levels in diabetic rats.

“So, these are some promising results, and it highlights the possible role that this combination treatment could play in improving the lives of diabetic patients,” Wright said.

Diabetes is a disorder in which an individual develops an abnormally high blood sugar level due to inadequate or lack of insulin production by the pancreas or the inability of the body to respond properly to the hormone.

Insulin is needed to control the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood.

Wright said Type 2 diabetes represents between 90 and 95 per cent of all diabetes cases globally, with 11.6 per cent of Jamaicans currently living with the condition.

“More than likely, each one of us knows somebody with diabetes. This is the reason why my research is of major importance. There are millions of people worldwide living with diabetes, and in Jamaica, the Economic and Social Survey showed that diabetes was one of the three main causes of death for both men and women in 2021,” he noted.

Common symptoms associated with diabetes include excessive thirst, extreme hunger, frequent urination, fatigue, and blindness.

Wright stated that the major test used to diagnose Type 2 diabetes is the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test, also known as the OGTT.

“This test involves an overnight fast. Thereafter, blood is taken from the patient and a fasting blood sugar level is measured. Then, they’re given fluids to drink, which contain glucose, and their blood sugar level is measured one hour and two hours afterwards. Normally a reading that is greater than or equal to 200 milligrams per decilitre indicates diabetes,” he explained.

In patients with diabetes, there is the development of a phenomenon called ‘oxidative stress’ where bad compounds in the body, such as free radicals become present. Good compounds known as antioxidants help fight against these bad compounds.

For Wright’s research, a major antioxidant, Glutathione, is combined with another substance known as Nitric oxide to form S-Nitro glutathione (GSNO).

“These two compounds are the focus of my work. So, I administered these compounds in Type 2 diabetic rats,” he said.

Wright’s research revealed that, among other things, Glutathione on its own was effective in significantly reducing the blood-sugar levels of the diabetic rats, which were administered the compound.

His research findings also showed an increase in the insulin concentration for the rats, which were treated as part of the study when compared to those that were left untreated.

Wright added that further work needs to be done “in terms of evaluating the toxicity as well as other biomedical parameters that can be measured so that we can know more about the mechanism that these compounds work by”.

While clinical trials on the use of the combination of compounds as treatment for diabetes in humans have begun in other jurisdictions such as India, Jamaica currently has no such programme.

Wright said his research has the potential to change that reality.

“We could engage the clinical transitional research unit from the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the University of the West Indies, Mona, to see how this could be done. We could also seek further information from them about what other drug tests we need to do to see if we can push this forward to clinical trials.

“Overall, we want to improve the quality of life for diabetic patients. We see that diabetes is not only a topical issue it is a growing one. There is expected to be an increase in the prevalence of diabetes as well,” Wright pointed out.

He added that the healthcare expenditure associated with treating diabetes is also an area of concern, in terms of insulin and other medications associated with the condition that afflicted patients have to purchase.

“So, we’re talking about effective treatment, and we see that these compounds, administering them together, could lead to a possible pharmaceutical option for treating Type 2 diabetes,” he said.

For his research, Wright received the award for ‘Best Student Oral Presentation’ at the 14th Annual National Health Research Conference held in November 2023.

-JIS