Oxford, England (Enmaeya News) — Scientists at the University of Oxford have discovered a new metabolic pathway that plays a key role in heart dysfunction associated with type 2 diabetes, offering fresh insights into the causes of diabetic cardiomyopathy and potential treatment strategies.

The study found that prolonged high blood sugar levels, or hyperglycemia, lead to mitochondrial dysfunction in heart cells. This damage to mitochondria — the energy-producing structures in cells — reduces energy output and weakens the heart muscle.

Researchers also identified diabetes-related disruptions in lipid metabolism, which cause harmful fat byproducts to build up in heart tissue. These lipid intermediates interfere with normal cell functions and trigger inflammation, further contributing to cardiac damage.

The findings suggest that targeting specific enzymes involved in lipid processing could lead to new therapies for preventing or treating heart disease in people with type 2 diabetes.

Researchers say the study highlights the critical role metabolic processes play in diabetic heart complications and paves the way for more effective and targeted treatments.