Worldwide, some 135 million people suffer from diabetes. Type 2 diabetes often can be controlled by diet and losing weight. Some people also need drugs. If it is not treated, the disease can damage the eyes, nerves and kidneys. The disease often develops after age 45 when the body's pancreas cannot make enough insulin or becomes resistant to the effects of insulin.
Obese people are particularly at risk.
Insulin is a hormone made in the pancreas and released into the body, where it binds with cells. Insulin goes through a complex series of steps to remove glucose from the bloodstream and bring it into the cells. Glucose is the main source of energy in the body. The PTP-1B enzyme appears to counter the action of insulin, effectively blocking the proper use of glucose by cells and raising blood sugar levels. Scientists still do not know exactly how PTP-1B works, but Kennedy said it might turn off the points on the cell's surface where insulin usually binds.