Type 2 diabetes: proteins, oxidative status and stress, and biomarkers

Currently there is no cure for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but it can often be managed through exercise, eating well and maintaining a healthy weight. If lifestyle changes are not enough, oral medications or insulin therapy may be necessary. Considerable work has been undertaken to research T2DM, as illustrated by work undertaken in the UK by groups in Lincoln and Wolverhampton,¹ and also by researchers in India.² Elsewhere, a group in Iran³ evaluated the effects of oligofructose-enriched inulin on T-cell subsets and their related cytokines, anthropometric and metabolic parameters in patients with T2DM and showed several beneficial effects of this approach on glycaemic control. More recently, studies have reviewed the role of biomarkers, metabolomics, proteomics and genomics in T2DM.^4,5

Brief introduction to diabetes

Type 2 diabetes mellitus occurs when the body cannot properly use insulin to regulate blood sugar. When we eat, our bodies break down complex carbohydrates into glucose, the fuel we need. The pancreas releases insulin that acts as a kind of key to unlock the cells, allowing glucose to enter and be absorbed. In T2DM, the pancreas initially produces extra insulin, but eventually cannot keep up with production in order to keep blood sugar levels in check. Without insulin, sugar stays in the blood and can cause serious damage. There are two main types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2, as well as other, rarer forms.