Recent Progress in Therapeutic Strategies for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract: 

Type 2 diabetes is becoming a rising global concern, and there is an urgent need to address the underrepresented group, adolescents, who experience higher risks of adverse diabetes outcomes and more severe pathophysiology effects. Diabetes is linked to insulin resistance, which involves abnormally high levels of insulin to stimulate glucose uptake, leading to hyperglycemia once insulin-producing beta cells become decompensated. Being the main factor that remedy and prevention strategies aim to address, hyperglycemia is the primary cause of detrimental cardiovascular diseases. Diabetes may also be linked to predisposed genetic factors, especially with more women developing gestational diabetes during pregnancy. Oftentimes, obesity arises due to genetics and shared lifestyle factors between generations, which is a leading risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Lifestyle interventions, namely a healthy diet and regular physical exercise, are currently the primary treatment to reduce the risk of developing diabetes and promote diabetes remission. Numerous drugs for type 2 diabetes combat hyperglycemia and insulin resistance, with metformin being the first line of treatment. Insulin therapy, GLP-1 receptor agonists, SGLT-2 inhibitors, DPP-4 inhibitors, sulfonylureas, and thiazolidinediones are considered second-line treatment methods when metformin does not achieve normoglycemia.