The Pharmacology of Diabetic Complications

V.   Melih   Altan

Abstract

In spite of the significant developments in antidiabetic therapy, diabetic complications, particularly seen in long-term diabetes, continue to be seriously deleterious. Various types of diabetic complications affecting different systems in the body have been reported. The clinical course of the disease is largely determined by those complications. Therefore, an important area is obviously prevention or treatment of the disabling complications associated with diabetes. Recent investigations address to the problem from different angles, since the development of diabetes-induced long-term problems is likely a multifactorial process. In this review, some of the factors which are implicated in the development of these complications such as neuropathy, retinopathy and cataract are discussed. Some of the approaches which have been used in attempts to prevent or delay those abnormalities are reported as well.

Keywords: diabetic complications, aldose reductase inhibitors, polyol pathway, advanced glycation end products, free radical scavengers