The Grizzly Truth

A team of grizzly bears is working with scientists to improve our understanding of common human diseases like obesity and diabetes. Cases of obesity are rising across the world. The condition is a major cause of type 2 diabetes, when cells lose the ability to regulate the level of sugar in the blood, which can result in major complications. Seeking new therapies for both diseases, researchers are turning to the extreme conditions found in the natural world, specifically the hibernating habits of the grizzly bear (pictured). Every autumn bears overeat to become obese so as to survive a long, somnolent winter when food is sparse. Hibernating bears enter a natural state of diabetes, which they then cure themselves of when they wake up in spring. It’s hoped that understanding the science behind this natural phenomenon will lead to new lines of treatments for obesity and diabetes.

Written by Nick Kennedy

Nick Kennedy

Writer

A Biology and Science Communication graduate, Nick is now working behind the scenes on the BPoD project. He also works as a freelance science journalist.

• Image by Jean-Pierre Lavoie
• Originally published under a Creative Commons Licence (BY 2.5)
• Research published in Cell Metabolism, August 2014