A recent investigation conducted by researchers at Duke University School of Medicine upends long‑held beliefs about how blood sugar is controlled and uncovers an unexpected ally in the fight against type 2 diabetes.
The study, published in Science Advances, shows that pancreatic alpha cells—traditionally seen as producers of glucagon, the hormone that raises blood glucose during fasting or exercise—also synthesize GLP‑1. This hormone is well known for boosting insulin release and regulating glucose levels.
GLP‑1 is the target of widely used medications such as Ozempic and Mounjaro, which imitate its action. The discovery that these cells naturally generate GLP‑1 suggests a new perspective on hormonal regulation and could inform future therapeutic strategies for diabetes management.