Diabetes mellitus (DM) represents one of the greatest threats to modern global health. Diabetes mellitus is characterized by chronic elevation of blood glucose concentration as a consequence of decreased blood insulin levels or decreased action of insulin. In order to prevent or delay the onset of such complications, tight control of fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels is a central aspect of diabetes treatment. Development of new therapies that are able to improve glycemia management, cure diabetes, and can even protect from it, are of great interest. Metal compounds proposed to have the potential to elicit beneficial effect in the pathogenesis and complication of the disease. The idea of using metal ions for the treatment of diabetes originates from the report in 1899. Vanadium, chromium, copper, cobalt, tungsten and zinc were found to be effective for treating diabetes in experimental animals. Results from long-term trials are needed in order to assess the safety and beneficial role of these metals as complementary therapies in the management of diabetes. The present review includes the therapeutic potential of some metals showing promising result in the treatment of diabetes.
Key words: Hyperglycemia; diabetes mellitus; metals; pathogenesis; therapeutic potential
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