New Therapeutic Approaches to Prevent or Delay Beta-cell Failure in Diabetes

Background and aims: The most recent estimates of International Diabetes Federation indicate that 382 million people have diabetes, and the incidence of this disease is increasing. While in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) beta-cell death is autoimmunemediated, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) results from an interaction between genetic and environmental factors that impair beta-cell function and insulin action. Many people with T2DM remain unaware of their illness for a long time because symptoms may take years to appear or be recognized, while the body is affected by excess blood glucose. These patients are often diagnosed only when diabetes complications have already developed. The aim of this article was to perform a review based on literature data on therapeutic modalities to prevent/delay beta cell function decline. Material and Methods: We searched MEDLINE from 2000 to the present to identify the therapeutic approaches to prevent or delay beta-cell failure in patients with T2DM. Results and conclusions: Several common polymorphisms in genes linked to monogenic forms of diabetes appear to influence the response to T2DM pharmacotherapy. Recent studies report the role of the G protein coupled receptor 40 (GPR40), also known as Free Fatty Acids Receptor 1 (FFAR1) in the regulation of beta-cell functionCNX-011-67 (a GPR40 agonist) has the potential to provide good and durable glycemic control in T2DM patients. key words: Beta-cell function; Beta-cell failure; GLP-1 agonists; DPP-4 inhibitors; Thiazolidinediones; Pharmacogenetics.