Current Diabetes Reviews - Volume 13, Issue 4, 2017

Introduction: In order to maintain metabolic homeostasis, organisms adjust the capacity and efficiency of ATP generation to changes in energetic demand and supply. While the transcriptional control of mitochondrial biogenesis allows to adapt mitochondrial respiratory capacity with long-term requirements for differential energy demand (e.g.: exercise training), bioenergetic adaptation also needs to take place within shorter ti Read More

Introduction: Obesity and type 2 diabetes are growing health problems worldwide. The three principal diabetogenic factors are adiposity, insulin resistance in skeletal muscle, and decreased insulin production by pancreatic β cells. During recent years, macroautophagy (hereafter autophagy) — sequestration and lysosomal degradation of cellular components — has emerged as an important player in these processes, playing a Read More

Introduction: Mitochondria form an interconnected and dynamic web that undergoes continuous cycles of fusion and fission events. This phenomenon, known as mitochondrial dynamics, represents a key quality control system to maintain a healthy mitochondrial population but also a mechanism to bioenergetically adapt to the cellular and tissue energetic demands. Consequently, mitochondria can be viewed not only Read More

Introduction: Mitochondrial uncoupling is a physiological process that has direct and indirect consequences on glucose homeostasis. Non-shivering thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue, which is the most well-recognized biological process related to the physiological uncoupling of mitochondria, is caused by uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1), which mediates a regulated permeabilization of the mitochondrial inner membr Read More

Introduction: The mitochondrion plays a critical role in cellular energy metabolism. For this reason it is considered as a plausible target for the treatment of metabolic diseases such as obesity and type-2 diabetes. Although several mitochondrial molecular targets have been suggested and investigated, currently there are no marketed drugs that target the mitochondrion to treat metabolic diseases. Through an investigation Read More

Introduction: Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have a unique mechanism of action leading to excretion of glucose in the urine and subsequent lowering of plasma glucose. This mechanism is independent of β-cell function; thus, these agents are effective treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) at theoretically any disease stage. This class should not confer an additional risk of hypoglycemia (unless comb Read More

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common metabolic problems and is characterized by persistent hyperglycaemia. Exposure to chronic hyperglycaemia can affect many tissues including the Achilles Tendon, which is one of the largest tendons in the body. The current literature on the effects of hyperglycaemia on tendons is sparse, though evidence on rat models does suggest a process of chronic degeneration, Read More

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk associate with ferritin and percent transferrin saturation (%TS) levels. However, increased risk has been observed at levels considered within the “normal range” for these markers. Objective: To define normative ferritin and %TS levels associated with T2D and CVD risk. Methods: Six-monthly ferritin, %TS and hemoglobin levels from 1,277 iron redu Read More