New Research on Diabetic Complications

Diabetes increases UTI prevalence, inhibits Notch signaling, and increases mitochondrial respiration and oxidative stress…. 

Yu et al studied the prevalence of urinary tract infections in T2DM patients compared to non-diabetic patients in Germany. The 1 year prevalence of UTI was 7.8% in T2DM patients. UTI infection risk was greater for T2DM, female, elderly, and those with a previous history of UTI.

Notch signaling is a major contributor to cell differentiation and angiogenesis which are impaired in patients with diabetic wounds. Catrina et al found that hyperglycemia activates the Notch pathway which has repressive effects on angiogenesis. Administering γ-secretase inhibitors in human endothelial cells blocked Notch signaling and significantly improved wound healing rates.

Szendroedi et al concluded that insulin resistance in mice with hepatic steatosis correlates with increased mitochondrial respiration and oxidative stress, and progresses with age. Regrettably, this relates to left ventricular hypertrophy and increased cardiac output.

• The 1 year prevalence of UTI in T2DM is 7.8%.
• Inhibiting Notch signaling improves diabetic wound healing rates.
• Insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis increases mitochondrial respiration and oxidative stress.

EASD Barcelona, September 24 2013

1. S Yu, C Zhao, K Joshi, and Y Qiu. Prevalence of urinary tract infection among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients vs non-diabetic patients in Germany.

2. SB Catrina, V Sunkari, I Botusan, J Grünler, A Catrina, and FRadtke. Activated Notch1 signalling has repressive effects on wound healing in diabetes

3. J Szendroedi, T Jelenik, U Floegel, E Phielix, K Kaul, P Nowotny et. al. Insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis relate to increased cardiac oxidative stress in mice.