402 | id == 402
402 | category_id == 25
402 | category_order == 22
402 | category_name == Blood Sugar
402 | category_color == #C47AC0
402 | slug == BCL2-blood-sugar
402 | title == The Link Between a Cell Death Regulator & Elevated Blood Sugar (BCL2)
402 | meta_description == Bcl-2 is involved in blood sugar regulation. A variant of BCL2 has been associated with elevated blood sugar. Read more here.
402 | summary == <p style="text-align:justify"><strong>Bcl-2 can prevent the excess release of a hormone that regulates blood sugar, by acting on a region of the cell called the mitochondria. A variant of <em>BCL2 </em>has been associated with elevated blood sugar. Read more to learn about this association, and to learn about recommendations you may follow to mitigate the negative effects of this variant.</strong></p>
402 | overall_score_text == Your Blood Sugar Score (based on BCL2 gene)
402 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/BCL2-Blood-Sugar-Diabetes.jpg
402 | author_id == 14
402 | author_name == Shany Lahan
402 | author_title == MS (Neuroscience)
402 | author_order == 5
402 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Shany.webp
402 | author_intro == <p>Shany received her MSc in Neuroscience from Western University.</p>    <p>Prior to joining SelfDecode, Shany conducted research related to Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease, and taught science to undergraduate students. She believes that research should be accessible to everyone, regardless of scientific background. Shany joined SelfDecode&nbsp;with a mission to help others optimize their health and wellbeing &ndash; as well as help them understand the science behind it all.</p>
402 | reviewer == None
402 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
402 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
402 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
402 | publish_date == 2020
402 | publish_date == 10
402 | publish_date == 12
402 | avg_rating == 5.0
402 | tags_id == 216
402 | tags_name == Apoptosis
402 | tags_id == 803
402 | tags_name == ATP
402 | tags_id == 812
402 | tags_name == Bcl-2
402 | tags_id == 214
402 | tags_name == BCL2 Gene
402 | tags_id == 768
402 | tags_name == Cell Death
402 | tags_id == 81
402 | tags_name == Diabetes Type 1
402 | tags_id == 127
402 | tags_name == Diabetes Type 2
402 | tags_id == 139
402 | tags_name == Insulin
402 | tags_id == 110
402 | tags_name == Mitochondria
402 | tags_id == 805
402 | tags_name == Pancreas
402 | permissions_favorite == False
402 | permissions_rate == False
402 | content_article == <h2 style="text-align: justify;">Summary</h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bcl-2</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">is a protein that can prevent the excess release of insulin. A variant of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">BCL2 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">may play a role in elevated blood sugar levels by decreasing production of bcl-2. Diet and supplement modifications may counteract the effects of this variant by increasing bcl-2 production.</span></span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>BCL2</em> and Blood Sugar</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bcl-2 is a protein well-known to regulate cell death by tightening the barrier of a part of the cell called the mitochondria. In this manner, bcl-2 can prevent the mitochondria from releasing proteins that can stimulate cell death [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9027314/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The mitochondria also plays vital roles in generating the energy-carrying compound ATP. In cells of the pancreas, ATP is essential for the release of </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/insulin-101/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">insulin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, a hormone that regulates </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/glucose/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">blood sugar</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> levels [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2896931/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">When insulin needs to be released in large amounts (for example, after eating a large meal), the demand for pancreatic cells to generate ATP may be increased to such an extent that these cells may begin to release toxic proteins from their mitochondria. This may eventually lead to the death of pancreatic cells [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27070098/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Pancreatic cell death has been linked to elevated blood sugar levels and type 1 </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/glucose/#What_Is_Diabetes"><span style="font-weight: 400;">diabetes</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Similarly, excess insulin release has been linked to elevated blood sugar and type 2 diabetes, as high insulin levels experienced over a prolonged period of time can result in decreased insulin receptor sensitivity [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6735759/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Recent studies have provided evidence that bcl-2 may be able to act on the mitochondria to suppress the excess release of insulin and prevent the death of pancreatic cells [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3526034/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Indeed, a variant of </span><a href="https://selfdecode.com/gene/bcl2/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">BCL2</span></em></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> has been associated with elevated blood sugar. This variant may decrease the production or activity of bcl-2 in the pancreas, which may result in excess insulin release and pancreatic cell death [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30718926/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Your <em>BCL2</em> Results for Blood Sugar</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;">*7878351346103072*</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Primary SNP: </strong><strong><em>BCL2 </em></strong><a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs12454712/"><strong>rs12454712</strong></a></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;T&rsquo; = Increased risk of elevated blood sugar</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; = Not associated with blood sugar</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;">*5244532926590417*</p> <h2 style="text-align: left;"><strong>Recommendations for Lowering Blood Sugar</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;">*5459220549355903*</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">It is important to keep bcl-2 balanced in the body. Although low amounts of bcl-2 have been linked to high blood sugar levels and diabetes due to excess insulin release and increased cell death, high amounts of bcl-2 have been linked to uncontrolled growth and division of abnormal cells (cancer).</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The recommendations listed below may decrease cancer risk, despite having been shown to increase production of bcl-2. However, it&rsquo;s important to speak with your doctor before making any significant changes to your lifestyle, diet, or supplements -- especially if you may be at increased risk of cancer.&nbsp;</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Diet</strong></h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Resistant Starch</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/reistant1-what-is-resistant-starch-sources-how-to-increase-diet/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Resistant starches</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> are starches that are resistant to digestion in the small intestine. Rather than being absorbed, they are fermented; therefore, they don&rsquo;t increase blood sugar levels like typical non-resistant (digestible) starches do [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1330528/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5223246/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2656505/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In several clinical trials, dietary interventions involving the intake of resistant starch reduced blood sugar spikes after meal consumption [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22954674/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4616456/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30887937/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30982743/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15784985/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dietary sources of resistant starch include coarsely-ground or whole grains, seeds, legumes, starchy fruits (e.g., bananas), and raw vegetables [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25331334/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In cells, resistant starch was found to increase production of bcl-2, and decrease production of proteins that induce cell death [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11694645/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Consumption of resistant starch may lower blood sugar levels by increasing production of bcl-2.&nbsp;</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Supplements</strong></h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Curcumin (Turmeric)</strong></h4> <p><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/curcumin-cures-top-15-scientifically-proven-health-benefits-with-references/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Curcumin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is a compound found in the spice turmeric.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Multiple animal and human studies have found that curcumin can lower blood sugar levels, decrease </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/top-tips-for-fixing-insulin-resistance/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">insulin resistance</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, improve the function of pancreatic cells, suppress the death of these cells, and ultimately prevent the development of diabetes [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3857752/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6723242/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Curcumin has been shown to boost production of bcl-2, while decreasing production of proteins that induce cell death [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7369553/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7060797/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Curcumin (turmeric) supplements may lower blood sugar levels by increasing production of bcl-2.</span></p> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Creatine</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/creatine/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Creatine</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is a compound mainly found in muscles.&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Creatine was found to significantly lower blood sugar levels after meal consumption, in individuals with type 2 diabetes. This effect was similar to that of 2 conventional diabetes medications [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20003839/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21792527/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Creatine supplements similarly lowered blood sugar levels in several studies of animals with diabetes [</span><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27306768"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Although creatine has been shown to increase production of bcl-2, it doesn&rsquo;t seem to affect insulin levels or sensitivity to insulin [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29863586/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17396216/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Creatine supplements may lower blood sugar levels by increasing production of bcl-2.</span></p>
402 | content_snp_table_7878351346103072_key == 7878351346103072
402 | content_snp_table_7878351346103072_blur == True
402 | content_snp_table_7878351346103072_hidden == False
402 | content_learn_more_5244532926590417_key == 5244532926590417
402 | content_learn_more_5244532926590417_blur == True
402 | content_learn_more_5244532926590417_hidden == False
402 | content_learn_more_5244532926590417_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your BCL2 gene makes you somewhat more likely to have elevated blood sugar. However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall risk of elevated blood sugar; it’s just one gene related to it. Consuming foods rich in resistant starch, and taking curcumin (turmeric) and creatine supplements may help. Keep scrolling to find out more.
402 | content_recommendation_5459220549355903_key == 5459220549355903
402 | content_recommendation_5459220549355903_blur == True
402 | content_recommendation_5459220549355903_hidden == False
rsIDs = rs12454712
rsStatus = rs12454712,BCL2,chr18,63178651,T,A,C,,31,0,Normal
