Dynamics of Muscle Mitochondria in Type 2 Diabetes Exercise

Insulin promotes the clearance of sugars from the blood into skeletal muscle and fat cells for use as energy; it also promotes storage of excess nutrients as fat. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the cells of the body become resistant to the effects of insulin, and this causes high blood sugar and contributes to a build-up of fat in muscle, pancreas, liver, and the heart. Understanding how insulin resistance occurs will pave the way for new therapies aimed at preventing and treating type 2 diabetes. Mitochondria are cellular structures that are responsible for turning nutrients from food, into the energy that our cells run on. As a result, mitochondria are known as "the powerhouse of the cell." Mitochondria are dynamic organelles that can move within a cell to the areas where they are needed, and can fuse together to form large, string-like, tubular networks or divide into small spherical structures. The name of this process is "mitochondrial dynamics" and the process keeps the cells healthy. However, when more food is consumed compared to the amount of energy burned, mitochondria may become overloaded and dysfunctional resulting in a leak of partially metabolized nutrients that can interfere with the ability of insulin to communicate within the cell. This may be a way for the cells to prevent further uptake of nutrients until the current supply has been exhausted. However, long term overload of the mitochondria may cause blood sugar levels to rise and lead to the development of type 2 diabetes. This study will provide information about the relationship between mitochondrial dynamics, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.