Diabetesa gaixotasun inflamatorio gisa

Abstract

Diabetes is a chronic, highly prevalent disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or does not effectively use the insulin it produces. The effect of uncontrolled diabetes is hyperglycemia, which over time severely damages many organs and systems, especially nerves and blood vessels. Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes, in which the tissues do not respond effectively to insulin, a condition known as insulin resistance. Obesity is the most common metabolic disorder in the world and is one of the main risk factors for the development of T2DM. Although the mechanisms linking obesity and diabetes are still unclear, inflammation has emerged in the last years as a key factor. Diabetic patients have high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, originating in adipose tissue, leading to chronic generalized low-grade inflammation. This chronic inflammation causes alterations in insulin signaling, leading to insulin resistance and hyperglycemia. Although the main goal of current treatment is to normalize glycaemia with
hypoglycemic drugs, modulation of the immune system, by blocking cytokines such as TNF-α or IL-1β, is an interesting therapeutic target that may open up new possibilities for drug development.