THE ROLE OF GLYCEMIA VARIABILITY IN THE PROCESSES OF CELLULAR AND VASCULAR AGEING IN PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES

Abstract

Aim. To investigate on the presence and relation characteristics of glycemia variability (GV) and vascular wall parameters, chronic inflammation, oxidation status, telomere biology in type 2 diabetes patients (DM2). Material and methods . Into the single-movement study, 50 DM2 patients included, with no signs of cardiovascular diseases. All participants were evaluated on the carbohydrate metabolism, glycemia variablity, underwent duplex scan of carotid arteries with intima-media complex (IMC) measurement, and assessment for atherosclerotic plaques; underwent carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity measurement, endothelium dependent vasodialtion, telomere length measurement and telomerase activity (TA). Results. The parameters of vessel wall, together with the classical CVD risk factors, independently related with the various carbohydrate metabolism parameters: glycated hemoglobin, fasting glucose plasma, HOMA-IR index, C-peptide, immune reactive insulin. The GV of moderate amplitude of glycemia (MAGE) was related to IMC increase in DM2 patients. There was significant relation of telomere length (TL) not just with a chronic hyperglycemia, but with glucose level fluctuations as well, e.g. with GV standard deviation (SD), MAGE, CONGA (continuous overall net glycemic action), and such relation is higher in the analysis of “the longest” telomeres. Relation of TL and GV is not dependent on the cardiovascular risk factors, chronic inflammation and TA, but depends on fasting plasma glucose. There was no significant relation of TA with GV in DM2. There was direct correlation of GV CONGA and oxidative stress marker malonic dialdehyde, and independent negative correlation of GV (MAGE, SD, CONGA) with TL. Conclusion. GV is related with subclinical atherosclerosis (IMC) and shorter TL in DM2 patients, which is mediated by activated oxidation stress under glycemia fluctuations.