Free radicals in Diabetes mellitus

• In diabetes, both type 1 and type 2, there is often an imbalance between the production of free radicals and the body's ability to neutralize them with antioxidants.

• This imbalance leads to a state known as oxidative stress.

Here's how free radicals specifically impact diabetes:

1. Increased Production of Free Radicals:

• High blood glucose levels, common in diabetes, lead to the overproduction of free radicals through various pathways.

• For instance, glucose can auto-oxidize or react with proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, forming advanced glycation end products (AGEs) that further promote free radical production.

2. Impaired Antioxidant Defense:

• Diabetes often impairs the body's antioxidant defenses, making it less efficient at neutralizing free radicals.

• Enzymes like superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, which normally help detoxify free radicals, can be less active in people with diabetes.

3. Oxidative Stress and Complications:

• The excess free radicals can damage cellular components, including DNA, proteins, and lipids.

• This damage contributes to the development of various diabetic complications such as:

  1. Neuropathy: Damage to nerves, leading to pain and loss of sensation.

  2. Retinopathy: Damage to the retina, causing vision problems.

  3. Nephropathy: Damage to the kidneys, leading to impaired kidney function.

  4. Cardiovascular Diseases: Increased oxidative stress can lead to atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and strokes.

4. Insulin Resistance:

• Oxidative stress is also linked to the development of insulin resistance.

• Free radicals can interfere with insulin signaling pathways, making the body less responsive to insulin, and exacerbating the condition of diabetes.

5. Inflammatory Response:

• Free radicals can activate various inflammatory pathways, leading to chronic inflammation, which is another contributor to the complications of diabetes.

Managing oxidative stress through lifestyle changes like diet, exercise, and sometimes antioxidant supplementation can help mitigate these effects and improve overall management of diabetes.