Oxidative Stress and Novel Antioxidant Approaches to Reduce Diabetic Complications
In 1995, the International Diabetes Federation estimated the prevalence of diabetes to be approximately 135 million patients worldwide. More recently in 2010, it was estimated that around 285 million people were diabetic and this number is predicted to reach 438 million by 2030, accounting for 7.7% of the population aged 20 79 (Shaw et al 2010) However, despite greater knowledge of the disease, approximately one third of people with diabetes remain undiagnosed. Although intensive blood glucose and blood pressure control have reduced the risk of diabetes associated microvascular (nephropathy, retinopathy, neuropathy) and macrovascular complications (atherosclerosis) diabetes remains a major risk factor for cardiovascular complications, cardiomyopathy, end stage renal disease (ESRD) blindness and neuropathy. There is therefore an urgent need to develop more effective therapeutic strategies to prevent and/or halt the progression of diabetic complications.