Helping the diabetic heart use sugar better to protect the heart and improve blood sugar
Increasing glycolysis in the diabetic heart is cardioprotective and improves glucose tolerance
Seeing whether boosting the heart's ability to burn sugar can protect adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes from heart damage and help control blood sugar.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oklahoma City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11175464 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project increases a key enzyme (PFK-2) to boost glycolysis, the heart's sugar-burning pathway, and studies the effects on diabetic heart health. Researchers use genetically modified mice with higher cardiac glycolysis to look for prevention of diabetic cardiomyopathy and improvements in whole-body glucose tolerance. They measure heart function, mitochondrial flexibility, and blood sugar responses after dietary stress. Early mouse results show protection from heart dysfunction and better glucose handling in females, which the team will explore further.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who are at risk for or show early signs of diabetic cardiomyopathy.
Not a fit: People without diabetes, children, or those whose heart disease stems from non-metabolic causes are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If the approach translates to people, it could reduce diabetic heart damage and improve blood sugar control.
How similar studies have performed: Related animal studies, including these GlycoHi mice, have shown promising protective effects on the diabetic heart, but this approach has not yet been tested in humans.
Where this research is happening
Oklahoma City, United States
- Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation — Oklahoma City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Humphries, Kenneth M — Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
- Study coordinator: Humphries, Kenneth M
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.