For years, it has been an accepted dogma that obesity led to type 2 diabetes by causing inflammation, which was perceived to change the way the body responds to the effects of insulin. Scientists theorized that chronic, low-grade tissue inflammation related to obesity contributed to possible insulin resistance. However, new study suggests that this theory may need to be updated, the Endocrine Web reports.

Researchers from Children's Hospital in Boston found out that inflammation is actually responsible for activating two different proteins that play key roles in keeping blood sugar levels stable. Without the presence of inflammation, these two proteins remain dormant.

The findings, reported in the journal Nature Medicine, now point to a new and significant role of inflammation in the body. Rather than viewing inflammation as a possible cause of health issues like type 2 diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers, it may now be seen in a different perspective, that is, it may be a helpful reaction in the body.

A previous research showed that a particular protein called XBP1 plays a central role in the healthy function of cells. However, the protein ceases to function in the presence of an obese condition as manifested in the test done on obese mice. When the protein was artificially turned on, blood sugar levels of the subjects showed improvement.

In the current study, a second protein, p38 MAPK considered as a marker for inflammation, is important in facilitating the efficient functioning of the XBP1 to stabilize blood sugar levels.

"This finding is completely contrary to the general dogma in the diabetes field that low-grade inflammation in obesity causes insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. For 20 years, this inflammation has been detrimental, whereas it is actually beneficial," according to Dr. Umut Ozcan, lead researcher.

This study may serve as an impetus in changing the way medicine views inflammation and how obesity leads to development of type 2 diabetes. Years of study had been spent on controlling inflammation as a potential preventive action in the development of type 2 diabetes.

Dr. Ozcan said that the findings may lead to the development of new medications that could boost the activation levels of these proteins leading to effective control of blood sugar levels.