Radicals and oxidative stress in diabetes

Recent evidence is reviewed indicating increased oxidative damage in Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes mellitus as well as deficits in antioxidant defence en zymes and vitamins. Mechanisms are considered whereby hyperglycaemia can in crease oxidative stress, and change the redox potential of glutathione and whereby reactive oxygen species can cause hyperglycaemia. It is argued that oxygen, antioxidant defences, and cellular redox status should now be rega rded as central players in diabetes and the metabolic syndrome.