COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF DIABETES: UNDERSTANDING THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES, AND EMERGING TREATMENTS

Safa Fatima, Roofi and Fatima Umaira Saeed*

ABSTRACT

The abstract highlights the significant global burden of diabetes mellitus, with an alarming projection of doubling by the year 2000. In the United States, around 12 million individuals were affected by diabetes in 1990, with an increasing trend annually. Cardiovascular disease stands out as the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among diabetes patients, with over 1 million diabetics hospitalized for cardiovascular or ischemic heart disease in 1987 alone, resulting in over 100,000 deaths. Studies have revealed that post-acute myocardial infarction, mortality rates are notably higher in patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) compared to non-diabetic counterparts with similar infarcts. Additionally, research indicates a more than 8-fold increase in age-adjusted cardiovascular mortality rates in diabetics compared to non-diabetic individuals, mainly due to elevated incidence of coronary heart disease. Notably, diabetes emerges as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, beyond traditional risk factors such as serum cholesterol, blood pressure, and smoking. The molecular genetics of diabetes is discussed, emphasizing the extensive research conducted in recent years on mutations and single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes involved in glucose metabolism and pancreatic cell function. Despite significant advances in molecular understanding, the mechanisms of diabetes development and complications remain incompletely understood, indicating the need for further extensive research to improve diagnosis, therapy, and minimize chronic complications.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, Cardiovascular disease, Non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), molecular genetics, single nucleotide polymorphisms, chronic complications.