Effect Of Exogenous 17-Beta Estradiol On Beta Cells In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

Beta cells are cells located in the pancreas that produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin, causing glucose levels to increase. Patients with type 2 typically experience beta cell apoptosis (cell death) and beta cell dysfunction (failure to secrete insulin). Our research focuses on exogenous 17-Beta estradiol and its impacts on beta cells in people with type 2 diabetes. One of our main research interests was relating metabolism to the reproductive system. We discovered that there is a bidirectional relationship between insulin and estrogen. Using this relationship, we worked to connect two existing models: the BIG model of beta-cells, insulin, and glucose and a model of the menstrual cycle that included estrogen, progesterone, LH, and FSH. To connect the models, we added new terms and parameters to represent the new relationships. Preliminary results showed that due to estrogen’s influence on insulin secretion rate, increasing estrogen increased beta-cell mass.