Diabetologia Doświadczalna i Kliniczna 2008, tom 8, nr 2

The worldwide incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) increases dramatically, affecting also young adults and adolescents. T2DM is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and premature death [1]. Therefore, new therapies of T2DM are needed to diminish the burden associated with this devastating disease. It has been observed that an increase in insulin secretion is much higher after oral compared to intravenous administration of glucose [2]...

Osteoporosis is a systemic disease of the skeleton characterised by low bone mass, impaired microarchitecture of the bone and the resulting increased risk of fracture, with the latter being the most important in terms of clinical significance. Fracture risk assessment is currently the mainstay of diagnostic evaluation of osteoporosis [1]...

The condition of arteries is reflected by arterial elasticity, defined as the increment in volume per unit transmural pressure that stretches the artery. Arterial elasticity is measured by large artery (C1) elasticity index and small artery (C2) elasticity index. C1 refers to large, transporting arteries and defines their capacitive compliance, while C2 describes small, resistance arteries, defines their oscillatory compliance [1] and allows to draw conclusions about the degree of endothelial dysfunction in the microcirculation...

Diabetic foot syndrome develops in approximately 15% of patients with diabetes mellitus and is the main cause of lower extremity amputations. Peripheral neuropathy and microvascular damage are the underlying pathologies of the syndrome [1, 2]. The ulcer is usually a result of repetitive or excessive pressure on a deformed foot devoid of sensation caused by neuropathy...

Epidemiological studies demonstrate a significant increase in the number of overweight and obese persons in developed and developing countries. Over a billion people worldwide are overweight and over 300 million are obese [1]. Calculating body mass index (BMI) is theeasiest way to evaluate overweight and obesity. Quetelet index, commonly known as BMI, is the quotient of body mass in kilograms by squared height in metres (kg/m2)...

The constant growth in the incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in this ethnically homogenous Polish population, cannot be accounted for solely by changes in genetic factors. It is thought that factors triggering the onset of T1DM include environmental factors acting both during the foetal period and in the period preceding the disease onset [1, 2]...

Diabetes mellitus is the chronic disease associated with an increased risk of premature atherosclerosis. The classic risk factors including hyperlipidemia and hypertension do not completely account for the increased incidence of atherosclerosis in diabetes. The “responseto injury” hypothesis postulates that the initial step of atherogenesis is represented by endothelial dysfunction...

International System of Units (SI) for concentrations in plasma serum, and full blood