Title:Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Imeglimin: A New Ray of Hope for the
Treatment of Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus
Volume: 24
Issue: 17
Author(s): Jayshree Swain, Pooja Jadhao, S. L. Sravya, Brij Teli, Kasukurti Lavanya, Jaspreet Singh, Abhay Sahoo and Srijit Das*
Affiliation:
- Department of Human & Clinical Anatomy, College of Medicine & Health Sciences,
Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat 123, Sultanate of Oman
Keywords:
Type 2 Diabetes, insulin resistance, insulin secretion, mitochondrial function, mitochondrial dysfunction, Imeglimin.
Abstract: Diabetes is a rapidly growing health challenge and epidemic in many developing countries,
including India. India, being the diabetes capital of the world, has the dubious dual distinction
of being the leading nations for both undernutrition and overnutrition. Diabetes prevalence has increased
in both rural and urban areas, affected the younger population and increased the risk of
complications and economic burden. These alarming statistics ring an alarm bell to achieve glycemic
targets in the affected population in order to decrease diabetes-related morbidity and mortality.
In the recent years, diabetes pathophysiology has been extended from an ominous triad through octet
and dirty dozen etc. There is a new scope to target multiple pathways at the molecular level to
achieve a better glycemic target and further prevent micro- and macrovascular complications. Mitochondrial
dysfunction has a pivotal role in both β-cell failure and insulin resistance. Hence, targeting
this molecular pathway may help with both insulin secretion and peripheral tissue sensitization to
insulin. Imeglimin is the latest addition to our anti-diabetic armamentarium. As imeglimin targets,
this root cause of defective energy metabolism and insulin resistance makes it a new add-on therapy
in different diabetic regimes to achieve the proper glycemic targets. Its good tolerability and efficacy
profiles in recent studies shows a new ray of hope in the journey to curtail diabetes-related morbidity.
