A.C.B. Domingos

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a heterogeneous group of metabolic disorders characterized by chronic hyperglycemia, with changes in carbohydrate, fatty acid and protein metabolism. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DMT2) is the most common form of this disease, which affects approximately 90% of people who have DM. It is characterized mainly by changes in the action and secretion of insulin, although the etiology, genetics and specific pathophysiology of the disease are not yet completely determined. DMT2 patients have a higher risk of developing macro- and microvascular complications. Studies have shown that angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and adenosine deaminase (ADA) may be related to the development of DMT2 or its complications. Based on these data, we studied the I/D polymorphism of the ACE gene and the TaqI polymorphism in the ADA gene in 162 patients with DMT2 and 160 blood donors. According to the American Diabetes Association, people with diabetes who have HDL-C below 40 mg/dL or LDL-C above 100 mg/dL or triglycerides above 150 mg/dL are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Therefore, we selected 81 individuals with these characteristics to compose the study group of diabetic patients designated “risk of cardiovascular disease”. Read More….