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Department of Nutrition Sciences Professor, Tim Garvey, M.D., and team set out to investigate the effects of both cardiometabolic disease (CMD)–such as obesity and type 2 diabetes–and social determinants of health (SDoH)–like educational attainment, social vulnerability index, rurality, and healthcare access– on COVID-19 outcomes.

In a new series, the UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center (UCDC), a leader in the field of diabetes research, will highlight its dynamic faculty and trainees.

The UCDC has members from across several schools and departments at UAB. Diabetes research capabilities are made stronger by the expansive research focuses and innovations that members bring to the table. To better understand these research capabilities and discoveries, we will spotlight UCDC researchers throughout the year.

Many researchers are pursing treatment options for diabetes­­—a disease characterized by high glucose levels— through approaches that increase insulin. However, there are two pancreatic hormones that play a critical role in regulating glucose levels, insulin, produced by pancreatic beta cells, lowers glucose and glucagon, produced by pancreatic alpha cells, increases circulating glucose levels.

Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham have recently discovered a rise in new-onset type 2 diabetes among Alabama youth during COVID-19 pandemic. Particularly, they found that the increase in cases disproportionately affected Medicaid enrollees and males.

Dr. Guanlan Xu, corresponding author. Behold the beta-cell: a cell found in the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas that is responsible for all the insulin production and secretion needed to maintain normal blood sugar levels.