Short Summary: The science of diabetes with Dr. Scott Soleimanpour, blending personal insights and cutting-edge research that gets into mitochondrial biology and more.
About the guest: Scott Soleimanpour, MD, is a physician-scientist at the University of Michigan’s Caswell Diabetes Institute, where he runs a lab studying pancreatic beta cell biology and mitochondrial quality control in diabetes.
Note: Podcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and everyone on YouTube. Partial versions are available elsewhere. Full transcript and other information on Substack.
Episode Summary: Nick Jikomes interviews Dr. Scott Soleimanpour about the biology of diabetes, exploring the pancreas’s dual role in digestion and blood sugar regulation via beta cells, which produce insulin. They discuss type 1 diabetes as an autoimmune condition with rising incidence and complex beta cell issues, and type 2 as a progressive disease tied to beta cell failure, not just obesity. The conversation covers mitochondrial function in beta cells, lifestyle factors like diet, and the limits of current treatments, offering practical advice for prevention and management.
Key Takeaways:
The pancreas has two parts: the exocrine (98%) makes digestive enzymes, while the endocrine (1-2%) regulates blood sugar with hormones like insulin from beta cells.
Type 1 diabetes involves autoimmunity and intrinsic beta cell defects, with rates increasing due to environmental factors, not just genetics.
Type 2 diabetes hinges on beta cell dysfunction, not obesity alone—only 1 in 5 overweight people develop it, showing other factors matter.
Beta cells are energy-intensive and long-lived, relying on mitochondria; stress from overwork (e.g., excess insulin demand) can lead to failure.
Current diabetes drugs don’t rejuvenate beta cells; only TZDs (rarely used) preserve function, highlighting a gap in treatment.
Related episode:
M&M #140: Obesogens, Oxidative Stress, Dietary Sugars & Fats, Statins, Diabetes & the True Causes of Metabolic Dysfunction & Chronic Disease | Robert Lustig
*Not medical advice.
Support M&M if you find value in this content.
Episode transcript below.
Episode Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro
00:05:37 Pancreas and Beta Cell Basics
00:11:42 Scott’s Personal Journey with Type 1 Diabetes
00:16:24 Pathogenesis of Type 1 Diabetes
00:21:47 Rising Rates of Type 1 Diabetes
00:27:06 Type 1 Treatment and Beta Cell Regeneration
00:33:21 Type 2 Diabetes & Beta Cell Failure
00:39:47 Insulin Resistance vs. Secretion in Type 2
00:47:03 Diet, Lifestyle, and Type 2 Diabetes
00:55:50 Mitochondrial Biology in Beta Cells
01:01:20 Pre-Diabetes to Diabetes Transition
01:07:35 Reversibility of Type 2 Diabetes
01:14:39 Intrinsic Beta Cell Problems in Type 2
01:26:44 Final Thoughts and Treatment Gaps
Full AI-generated transcript below. Beware of typos & mistranslations!
Listen to this episode with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Mind & Matter to listen to this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.
