Aiming to detect and halt type 2 diabetes

This interview was originally published in Swedish in 2022. It has been translated and published in 2025 by Rebecca Forsberg.

"The dream is to be able to detect type 2 diabetes at an early stage through blood samples from large population studies such as the Västerbotten Health Surveys, Scapis, and VipViza. That would allow us to slow the disease with treatments tailored to each individual,” says Elin Chorell, Associate professor at the Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine.

Type 2 diabetes has long been considered an incurable disease that worsens over time. But recent research shows that remission is possible – primarily by reducing fat and lipids in organs such as the pancreas, liver, and muscles.

“We know that the accumulation of certain types of lipids in these organs can disrupt both the uptake of glucose from the bloodstream and the secretion of insulin from the pancreas – two key factors in the development of type 2 diabetes. Despite major efforts in the research field, the underlying mechanisms of type 2 diabetes and its remission are still not fully understood,” she says. 

“Our ambition is to identify the processes involved in the development of type 2 diabetes—especially those that could serve as new treatments or clinical biomarkers for early detection and prevention.”

Method development during her PhD studies

Elin’s path into research was relatively direct. After high school, she studied chemistry at Umeå University, and her thesis project led her further into research. As a PhD student, she had a co-supervisor in sports medicine, which allowed her to combine her skills in analytical chemistry with her passion for health-related issues.

“As a doctoral student, I focused a lot on method development within metabolomics, a research field centered on large-scale chemical analyses of small molecules in various tissues. The goal of metabolomics is to map metabolism in tissues and thereby understand health and disease effects. My role was to develop robust methods that could generate meaningful information from our analyses, not just large datasets.”

“That experience made me realize the importance of understanding biology deeply, not just the methods. It sparked a growing interest in medicine,” Elin explains.

Overweight is the most obvious risk factor, but it’s not definitive

Our metabolism—the foundation of life and health—involves the processes that build up and break down our cells. Metabolites are the end products of these processes and can be seen as indicators of imbalances in the system, i.e., signs of disease.

By studying metabolites, researchers can identify early signs of disease or analyze the health effects of diet and exercise. The method Elin works with – metabolomics – involves identifying and quantifying metabolites in samples, such as biopsies from the liver, pancreas, muscles, or from urine and blood.

From Molecules to Patients

Elin earned her PhD with research focused on the effects of diet and exercise – what happens in the body during physical activity.

After her PhD, she continued along the medical path as a postdoc with researcher Tommy Olsson at Umeå University. The focus was on obesity-related illnesses linked to type 2 diabetes, a disease traditionally associated with older adults but now affecting all ages due to the global rise in obesity.

“It was incredibly interesting to continue developing the metabolomics method for this area. We were mainly looking at the role of diet and exercise in diabetes. Coming from a chemistry background – so structured and focused on molecules and math – to medicine and patient care was an eye-opening and rewarding transition.”

A complex lifestyle disease

Type 2 diabetes is a lifestyle disease and therefore complex to understand, as many factors are involved – physical activity, diet, sleep, stress, and genetics. Overweight is the most obvious risk factor, but it’s not definitive.

“One likely explanation is that lipids from fat tissue spill over and begin accumulating in less safe storage areas such as skeletal muscle, the liver, and the heart. This can lead to metabolic imbalance and a pre-diabetic state.”

We know that early detection is key. And because this is a lifestyle disease, we may need different treatments for different individuals.

Achieving remission of type 2 diabetes requires significant weight loss. Research has shown that reducing the fat content within organs is critical. Elin’s research focuses on understanding these mechanisms and includes ongoing studies in humans, animals, and cells.

In a collaboration with diabetes physician Julia Otten at Umeå University, patients who undergo a low-calorie diet and significant weight loss are being studied for remission. The study tracks their glucose uptake and insulin production alongside the collection of biopsies and blood samples.

Recieved major research grant

Elin’s research focuses on identifying lipid-related processes involved in disease progression and recovery at the molecular level. A new project recently funded by the Swedish Research Council will investigate specific aspects of phospholipid metabolism. Elin believes this part of the metabolic process may disrupt the lipid balance in tissues, particularly the pancreas, liver, and skeletal muscles, and drive disease progression.

“I want to investigate whether that’s the case and contribute my piece to the puzzle of this complex disease. Together with researchers studying other aspects of type 2 diabetes, we may be able to discover new treatment methods, and above all, identify individuals at risk before they become ill.”

Curing through understanding – the main path forward

Elin’s research is rooted in the molecular perspective, but she collaborates extensively with experts in clinical care, pancreatic biology, and cell cultivation. Her overarching goal, the driving force behind all her projects, is the belief that type 2 diabetes can be cured, but only if researchers gain a deeper understanding of the disease.

“We know that early detection is key. And because this is a lifestyle disease, we may need different treatments for different individuals.”