Many people with diabetes develop overactive bladder (OAB), a condition that causes frequent urination and urges, and difficulties with holding urine. But it’s not clear why this happens.
Michael Odom, PhD, assistant professor of urology, has been awarded a new grant from the National Institutes of Health to understand how diabetes triggers bladder dysfunction, with the goal of developing new treatments.
Research suggests that diabetes may change how bladder cells respond to estrogen, which can activate a signaling pathway that encourages extra sensory nerves to grow in the bladder lining. These extra nerves cause the bladder to become extremely sensitive.
“Current OAB treatments don't necessarily target the underlying pathology by which diabetes causes OAB symptoms, and some may cause serious side effects that impact daily life,” Odom said.
“With this grant , our research team will have the necessary tools to gain new insight into how diabetes dysregulates molecular pathways that control bladder function,” he continued.