Effect of Metformin on Circulating Neuregulin-4 in Children With Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is an autoimmune disease characterized by T-cell mediated destruction of the pancreatic b-cells, resulting in insulin deficiency and elevated blood glucose levels.

The increasing incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus in many countries challenges health systems because the disease is presently incurable with no known method of prevention. Around 490,100 children live with the disease worldwide, with incidence estimated to be increasing in children under 15 years by 2.8% per year .This trend is particularly worrying because type 1 diabetes increases mortality and morbidity population-wide.

Vascular co-morbid diseases include retinopathy, which may cause reduced vision and blindness, and nephropathy, which may result in renal failure and require dialysis or kidney transplantation. This is in addition to hypertension, which is linked to peripheral, cardio- and cerebrovascular disease, the end points of which are limb amputations, cardiac failure, stroke and sudden death. As vascular complications curtail both life expectancy and quality of life development at younger ages when people are typically establishing Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is an autoimmune disease characterized by T-cell mediated destruction of the pancreatic b-cells, resulting in insulin deficiency and elevated blood glucose levels.

The increasing incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus in many countries challenges health systems because the disease is presently incurable with no known method of prevention . Around 490,100 children live with the disease worldwide, with incidence estimated to be increasing in children under 15 years by 2.8% per year .This trend is particularly worrying because type 1 diabetes increases mortality and morbidity population-wide.

Vascular co-morbid diseases include retinopathy, which may cause reduced vision and blindness, and nephropathy, which may result in renal failure and require dialysis or kidney transplantation. This is in addition to hypertension, which is linked to peripheral, cardio- and cerebrovascular disease, the end points of which are limb amputations, cardiac failure, stroke and sudden death. As vascular complications curtail both life expectancy and quality of life development at younger ages when people are typically establishing careers and families is particularly detrimental .