When grizzlies and other bear species hibernate, they go months without eating or drinking, living off the fat they accumulated during the summer and fall. They also undergo changes to their metabolism and develop resistance to insulin, a hormone also found in humans that helps regulate blood sugar levels. The development of resistance to insulin can be an early indicator of type 2 diabetes in humans, a potentially chronic condition that left untreated can damage the kidneys and other organs.

Researchers at the Washington State University in Pullman used blood samples and cell cultures taken from grizzlies at the Washington State University Bear Center to identify eight proteins that are responsible for regulating insulin sensitivity in bears. The proteins caused changes in gene expression, leading to insulin resistance during the winter hibernation and insulin sensitivity during the active spring and summer months. Versions of these proteins also exist in humans, revealing a possible molecular roadmap to develop better medications for controlling the insulin resistance that can lead to diabetes. Joining us now is Blair Perry, a post-doctoral researcher in the School of Biology at Washington State University, and a co-author of the study on insulin resistance in bears published this month in the journal iScience.