adiponectin and diabetes
a new article appeared in Nature which may be an important breakthrough in diabetes care/prevention in the future, targeting probably the primary pathophysiologic disturbance in the development of type 2 diabetes (see dm adiponectin analog nature 2014 in dropbox, or doi:10.1038/nature12656). adiponectin has been known for years as a naturally occurring hormone produced in adipocytes, with lower levels found in obese people and those with diabetes. there is a strong relationship between lower adiponectin levels and visceral adiposity as well as the development of insulin resistance, and by increasing adiponectin levels there is improved insulin sensitivity (presumably through increasing fatty acid oxidation and inhibition of hepatic glucose production) and lowered blood glucose levels. adiponectin levels are increased by the glitizones and that may be their mechanism to improve insulin sensitivity. in addition adiponectin has anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic effects in...