#140 - Gerald Shulman, M.D., Ph.D.: A masterclass on insulin resistance—molecular mechanisms and clinical implications

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Dec 7, 2020

Gerald Shulman, a Professor at Yale and expert in insulin resistance, shares fascinating insights into the molecular mechanisms behind this condition and its role in chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes. He discusses how diet and exercise influence insulin sensitivity and explains the evolutionary purpose of insulin resistance in survival. The implications of his research on gluconeogenesis and lipid metabolism shed light on metabolic health, while his analysis of Metformin reveals its potential as a longevity agent. A masterclass in understanding metabolism!

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INSIGHT

Understanding Insulin Resistance

To understand insulin resistance, one must understand glucose and fat movement.
Blood tests provide snapshots, but advanced techniques show the dynamic flux within cells.

INSIGHT

Insulin Resistance and Chronic Disease

Insulin resistance is a root cause of major chronic diseases, including cancer and dementia.
It amplifies atherosclerosis, making it crucial to address for longevity.

INSIGHT

NMR Spectroscopy

NMR spectroscopy allows non-invasive study of cellular metabolism.
By tracking labeled molecules, researchers measure metabolic flux within cells.

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Gerald Shulman is a Professor of Medicine, Cellular & Molecular Physiology, and the Director of the Diabetes Research Center at Yale. His pioneering work on the use of advanced technologies to analyze metabolic flux within cells has greatly contributed to the understanding of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. In this episode, Gerald clarifies what insulin resistance means as it relates to the muscle and the liver, and the evolutionary reason for its existence. He goes into depth on mechanisms that lead to and resolve insulin resistance, like the role of diet, exercise, and pharmacological agents. As a bonus, Gerald concludes with insights into Metformin’s mechanism of action and its suitability as a longevity agent.

We discuss:

Gerald’s background and interest in metabolism and insulin resistance (4:30);
Insulin resistance as a root cause of chronic disease (8:30);
How Gerald uses NMR to see inside cells (12:00);
Defining and diagnosing insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes (19:15);
The role of lipids in insulin resistance (31:15);
Confirmation of glucose transport as the root problem in lipid-induced insulin resistance (40:15);
The role of exercise in protecting against insulin resistance and fatty liver (50:00);
Insulin resistance in the liver (1:07:00);
The evolutionary explanation for insulin resistance—an important tool for surviving starvation (1:17:15);
The critical role of gluconeogenesis, and how it’s regulated by insulin (1:22:30);
Inflammation and body fat as contributing factors to insulin resistance (1:32:15);
Treatment approaches for fatty liver and insulin resistance, and an exciting new pharmacological approach (1:41:15);
Metformin’s mechanism of action and its suitability as a longevity agent (1:58:15);
More.

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