The role of glycemia variability in the processes of cellular and vascular ageing in patients with type 2 diabetes

Aim. To investigate  on  the  presence and  relation characteristics of glycemia  variability (GV) and   vascular   wall  parameters,  chronic inflammation, oxidation status,   telomere  biology in type  2  diabetes patients (DM2). Material and methods . Into the single-movement study, 50 DM2 patients included, with no signs of cardiovascular diseases. All participants  were evaluated on the carbohydrate  metabolism, glycemia variablity, underwent duplex  scan   of  carotid   arteries   with  intima-media  complex  (IMC) measurement, and  assessment for atherosclerotic  plaques;  underwent carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity measurement, endothelium dependent vasodialtion, telomere length measurement and telomerase activity (TA). Results. The parameters of vessel wall, together with the classical CVD risk  factors,   independently   related   with the  various  carbohydrate metabolism parameters: glycated hemoglobin, fasting glucose plasma, HOMA-IR index, C-peptide, immune reactive insulin. The GV of moderate amplitude  of glycemia (MAGE) was related  to IMC increase  in DM2 patients.  There was significant relation of telomere length (TL) not just with a chronic hyperglycemia, but with glucose level fluctuations as well, e.g. with GV standard deviation (SD), MAGE, CONGA (continuous overall net glycemic action), and such relation is higher in the analysis of “the longest”  telomeres.  Relation of TL  and  GV  is not dependent on the cardiovascular risk factors,  chronic inflammation and TA, but depends on fasting plasma glucose.  There was no significant relation of TA with GV in DM2. There was direct correlation of GV CONGA  and oxidative stress marker malonic dialdehyde, and independent negative correlation of GV (MAGE, SD, CONGA) with TL. Conclusion. GV is related  with subclinical atherosclerosis (IMC) and shorter  TL in DM2 patients,  which is mediated  by activated oxidation stress under glycemia fluctuations.