Minimizing the Side Effects of Diabetes
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Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder that has reached epidemic proportions, affecting over 800 million people worldwide due to factors such as aging populations, sedentary lifestyles, and increasing obesity rates (WHO, 2024). Characterized by persistent hyperglycemia, diabetes results from either an absolute deficiency in insulin production, as seen in Type 1 diabetes, or insulin resistance combined with inadequate insulin secretion, as observed in Type 2 diabetes. If left uncontrolled, chronic hyperglycemia leads to severe complications, including cardiovascular disease, neuropathy, retinopathy, and nephropathy, which significantly reduce the quality of life and increase mortality rates. Despite remarkable advancements in diabetes management, existing treatments primarily focus on glycemic control rather than addressing the underlying molecular mechanisms that contribute to disease progression. Chronic hyperglycemia induces oxidative stress and systemic inflammation, both of which play a crucial role in endothelial dysfunction and the development of microvascular and macrovascular complications associated with diabetes (Papachristoforou et al., 2020).