Does diabetes mellitus (DM) cause inflammation?

From the Guidelines

Yes, diabetes does cause inflammation, as evidenced by the most recent and highest quality study 1, which highlights the importance of managing blood glucose levels to reduce inflammation and prevent diabetes-related complications.

Key Points

• Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are associated with chronic, low-grade inflammation throughout the body, as noted in 1 and 1.
• In type 2 diabetes, excess fat tissue, particularly visceral fat around organs, releases inflammatory chemicals called cytokines, as discussed in 1 and 1.
• High blood glucose levels also directly trigger inflammatory responses in blood vessels and tissues, contributing to insulin resistance and damaging blood vessels, as explained in 1 and 1.
• This inflammation creates a harmful cycle where diabetes causes inflammation, which worsens diabetes control, as highlighted in 1 and 1.

Management

• Managing blood glucose through medications (like metformin, GLP-1 agonists, or insulin), regular physical activity, and a balanced diet can help reduce this inflammation, as recommended in 1.
• Anti-inflammatory medications may sometimes be prescribed, but the primary approach is controlling blood sugar levels to break the inflammatory cycle, as noted in 1 and 1.

Conclusion is not allowed, so the answer will be ended here.

From the Research

Relationship Between Diabetes Mellitus and Inflammation

• Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with inflammation, which plays a multifunctional role in the pathogenesis of diabetes complications 2, 3, 4.
• Inflammation is a key factor in the development of diabetes complications, including diabetic cardiomyopathy, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and diabetic nephropathy 2.
• The immune system triggers or resolves inflammatory responses, indicating its potential role in diabetes complications 2.
• Low-grade inflammation is linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes, reflecting the activation of innate immunity and implicating metabolic, environmental, and genetic factors 3.

Mechanisms of Inflammation in Diabetes

• Chronic tissue inflammation results in insulin resistance, impaired insulin secretion, glucose intolerance, and type 2 diabetes 4.
• Inflammation contributes to long-term complications of diabetes, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, retinopathy, cardiovascular disease, and nephropathy 4.
• The role of endoplasmic reticulum stress and unfolded protein response is underlined in the context of inflammation and diabetes 3.
• Inflammation markers are predictive of the risk of developing diabetes and are associated with an increased cardiovascular risk 3.

Therapeutic Strategies Targeting Inflammation

• Various therapeutic strategies aim to improve diabetes complications by targeting inflammation, ranging from special remedies to conventional lifestyle changes 2.
• Drugs with potential anti-inflammatory properties, such as statins, fibrates, ACE inhibitors, and angiotensin receptor blockers, may reduce the risk of developing diabetes 5.
• Metformin and thiazolidinediones have been shown to reduce the risk of developing diabetes and lower inflammatory markers 5.
• Future research should focus on combined suppression of various inflammatory response pathways to improve prevention and control of diabetes 6.