Oxidative stress as a covariate of recovery in diabetes therapy

Abstract

Excess glucose – hyperglycemia – has long been associated with type 2 diabetes. Ancient literature from Egypt and India describe the disease; it was easily identifiable because “a patient’s urine attracted ants” (1). More than two millennia later, monitoring glycemic status continues to be central to clinical management. It is currently the only variable accepted for standardization of both diagnosis as well as treatment (2). Despite its strong association with diabetes, however, hyperglycemia is not the disease per se. It is important to ask what other variables besides glucose are relevant to the disorder.