Telomere Shortening in Three Diabetes Mellitus Types in a Mexican Sample

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the role of telomere length in three different diabetes types: latent autoimmune diabetes of adulthood (LADA), latent autoimmune diabetes in the young (LADY), and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A total of 115 patients were included, 72 (62.61%) had LADA, 30 (26.09%) had T2DM, and 13 (11.30%) had LADY. Telomere length was measured using real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction. For statistical analysis, we used the ANOVA test, X2 test, and the Mann–Whitney U test. Patients with T2DM had higher BMI compared to LADA and LADY groups, with a BMI average of 31.32 kg/m2 (p = 0.0235). While the LADA group had more patients with comorbidities, there was not a statistically significant difference (p = 0.3164, p = 0.3315, p = 0.3742 for each of the previously mentioned conditions). There was a difference between those patients with T2DM who took metformin plus any other oral antidiabetic agent and those who took metformin plus insulin, the ones who had longer telomeres. LADA patients had shorter telomeres compared to T2DM patients but not LADY patients. Furthermore, T2DM may have longer telomeres thanks to the protective effects of both metformin and insulin, despite the higher BMI in this group.

Association between Combination Antiretroviral Therapy and Telomere Length in People Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus

“…Although statins, providing efficacy in the setting of cardiovascular diseases and atherosclerosis, which represent very common HIV-related comorbidities, have been reported to lead to telomere shortening [ 28 ], the mechanisms through which they can preserve telomere length are also suggested [ 33 ]. As well as statins, the influence of insulin on the length of telomeres cannot be generalized because there is evidence that it can lead to telomere shortening [ 34 ], but also that it can have a protective effect on telomeres [ 35 ]; while diabetes is undoubtedly associated with telomere shortening [ 36 ]. Diabetes is often associated with obesity.…”