Diabetes Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Diabetes, including details on insulin, type i, type ii, diet, treatment, prevention.

Postprandial dysmetabolism and cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes.

Tushuizen ME, Diamant M, Heine RJ

Department of Endocrinology/Diabetes Centre, VU University Medical Centre, PO Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands. m.tushuizen@vumc.nl

The worldwide prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus has reached epidemic proportions. The so-called traditional risk factors cannot fully explain the excessive cardiovascular disease risk of type 2 diabetic patients. Numerous studies indicate that postprandial metabolic derangements, most notably hyperglycaemia and hypertriglyceridaemia, which are exaggerated and prolonged in type 2 diabetes, are important cardiovascular disease risk factors since they induce oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunctions. This review discusses the current evidence showing that postprandial dysmetabolism may indeed constitute an important cardiovascular disease risk factor as well as the mechanisms underlying this association. Finally, some possible therapeutic options and recommendations for future research are discussed.

Published 10 January 2005 in Postgrad Med J, 81(951): 1-6.
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