Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia, usually caused by insulin secretion deficiency or insulin resistance. The high incidence of diabetes and its complications (such as cardiovascular diseases, nephropathy, retinopathy, etc.) places a heavy burden on the public health system. In 2021, there were already 537 million adults with diabetes worldwide. Referring to the current development trend, it is estimated that the number of global patients will reach 783 million by 2045 [1].

Classification of Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes can be classified into the following main types based on its etiology and pathophysiological characteristics.

1. Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM)

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) is an autoimmune disease. The immune system mistakenly destroys pancreatic beta cells, leading to absolute insulin deficiency. T1DM is more common in children and adolescents and requires lifelong exogenous insulin treatment.

2. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM)

More than 90% of global diabetes cases are T2DM. The core pathology of T2DM is insulin resistance (IR) and progressive β cell dysfunction. T2DM has genetic susceptibility and is exacerbated by environmental factors such as obesity, lack of exercise, advanced age and poor dietary habits.

3. Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)

Gestational diabetes (GDM) is a type of high blood sugar that is first detected during pregnancy. It is caused by the induction of insulin resistance by placental hormones. GDM usually returns to normal after childbirth, but the risk of developing T2DM in the future increases 7 times.

4. Other Special Types

Including genetic defects, exocrine pancreatic diseases, drug or chemical-induced conditions, etc.

Treatment Strategies for Diabetes Mellitus

1. Lifestyle Intervention

• Medical nutrition therapy
• Exercise therapy
• Weight management

2. Regular Blood Sugar Monitoring

• Fasting plasma glucose (FPG)
• Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)
• Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)
• Random plasma glucose

3. Drug Therapy

• Insulin therapy

Insulin therapy is mainly used for T1DM and advanced T2DM.

• Oral and injectable hypoglycemic drugs

Most T2DM patients control their blood sugar levels through oral or injectable medications. The main types of hypoglycemic drugs include metformin, sulfonylureas, DPP-4 inhibitors and SGLT2 inhibitors.

• Advanced treatment methods

The glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists promote insulin secretion and inhibit glucagon release in a glucose concentration-dependent manner, achieving precise regulation of blood sugar. As a significant breakthrough in diabetes treatment, GLP-1 agonists are reshaping the treatment landscape for diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes mellitus is a complex disease caused by multiple factors, and it requires combined classification, mechanism research, and individualized treatment. Protheragen offers a full range of hypoglycemic APIs to support global pharmaceutical companies and research institutions in developing drugs for the treatment of diabetes, in order to achieve precise prevention and management of diabetes and its complications. If you are interested in our hypoglycemic API products, please contact us.