Investigating the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes from the Perspective of Adipose Tissue

Zezheng Kang,1,* Zishan Jin,2,3,* Lei Wu,1 Aru Sun,1 Lishuo Dong,1 Jiarui Li,1 Qingwei Li,2 Xiaolin Tong2 1Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130117, People’s Republic of China; 2Institute of Metabolic Diseases, Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese...

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Main Authors: Kang Z, Jin Z, Wu L, Sun A, Dong L, Li J, Li Q, Tong X
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2025-07-01
Series:Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity
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Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/investigating-the-pathogenesis-and-treatment-of-type-2-diabetes-from-t-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-DMSO
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author Kang Z
Jin Z
Wu L
Sun A
Dong L
Li J
Li Q
Tong X
author_facet Kang Z
Jin Z
Wu L
Sun A
Dong L
Li J
Li Q
Tong X
author_sort Kang Z
collection DOAJ
description Zezheng Kang,1,* Zishan Jin,2,3,* Lei Wu,1 Aru Sun,1 Lishuo Dong,1 Jiarui Li,1 Qingwei Li,2 Xiaolin Tong2 1Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130117, People’s Republic of China; 2Institute of Metabolic Diseases, Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100053, People’s Republic of China; 3Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100105, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Qingwei Li, Institute of Metabolic Diseases, Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100053, People’s Republic of China, Email dsliqingwei@163.com Xiaolin Tong, Institute of Metabolic Diseases, Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100053, People’s Republic of China, Email tongxiaolin@vip.163.comAbstract: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has a high prevalence worldwide; its cardiac, renal, and visual complications greatly affect patients’ quality of life. This, together with the large patient base, makes clinical health management of T2DM a problem. Existing studies have shown that obesity and the onset of T2DM are highly correlated, which can start from the earliest lipid metabolism problems and ultimately develop into T2DM. Moreover, adipose tissue can also seriously affect patient treatment by affecting insulin secretion, promoting pancreatic β-cell proliferation, and increasing insulin resistance. Our study describes the association between obesity and T2DM, summarizes the role played by the adipose tissue in T2DM, and focuses on fatty acid esters of hydroxy fatty acids (FAHFA), whose role in improving insulin secretion and increasing insulin sensitivity shows greater potential in T2DM. In addition, we summarize the existing more mature clinical treatment strategies, such as life interventions, drugs, and surgery, which can help control blood glucose levels and reduce adipose-related insulin resistance by reducing the adipose tissue. Among these treatments, Chinese medicine is another factor worth exploring. However, due to the influence of geography, culture, and other factors, this method has only achieved some success in China and part of the East Asia region and has been applied clinically. Although there is no evidence of clinical benefit for obesity or adipose tissue, its clinical benefit for T2DM has been demonstrated; therefore, there is still a need to develop it, as well as considerable potential for development.Keywords: T2DM, obesity, adipose tissue, FAHFA, treatment, Chinese medicine
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series Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity
spelling doaj-art-45c29e0f2c7a44c8b5ecd5bc69499f132025-08-20T02:39:21ZengDove Medical PressDiabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity1178-70072025-07-01Volume 18Issue 123432360104785Investigating the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes from the Perspective of Adipose TissueKang Z0Jin Z1Wu L2Sun A3Dong L4Li J5Li Q6Tong X7College of Traditional Chinese MedicineInstitute of Metabolic DiseasesDepartment of RehabilitationCollege of Traditional Chinese MedicineCollege of Traditional Chinese MedicineCollege of Traditional Chinese MedicineInstitute of Metabolic DiseasesInstitute of Metabolic DiseasesZezheng Kang,1,* Zishan Jin,2,3,* Lei Wu,1 Aru Sun,1 Lishuo Dong,1 Jiarui Li,1 Qingwei Li,2 Xiaolin Tong2 1Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130117, People’s Republic of China; 2Institute of Metabolic Diseases, Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100053, People’s Republic of China; 3Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100105, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Qingwei Li, Institute of Metabolic Diseases, Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100053, People’s Republic of China, Email dsliqingwei@163.com Xiaolin Tong, Institute of Metabolic Diseases, Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100053, People’s Republic of China, Email tongxiaolin@vip.163.comAbstract: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has a high prevalence worldwide; its cardiac, renal, and visual complications greatly affect patients’ quality of life. This, together with the large patient base, makes clinical health management of T2DM a problem. Existing studies have shown that obesity and the onset of T2DM are highly correlated, which can start from the earliest lipid metabolism problems and ultimately develop into T2DM. Moreover, adipose tissue can also seriously affect patient treatment by affecting insulin secretion, promoting pancreatic β-cell proliferation, and increasing insulin resistance. Our study describes the association between obesity and T2DM, summarizes the role played by the adipose tissue in T2DM, and focuses on fatty acid esters of hydroxy fatty acids (FAHFA), whose role in improving insulin secretion and increasing insulin sensitivity shows greater potential in T2DM. In addition, we summarize the existing more mature clinical treatment strategies, such as life interventions, drugs, and surgery, which can help control blood glucose levels and reduce adipose-related insulin resistance by reducing the adipose tissue. Among these treatments, Chinese medicine is another factor worth exploring. However, due to the influence of geography, culture, and other factors, this method has only achieved some success in China and part of the East Asia region and has been applied clinically. Although there is no evidence of clinical benefit for obesity or adipose tissue, its clinical benefit for T2DM has been demonstrated; therefore, there is still a need to develop it, as well as considerable potential for development.Keywords: T2DM, obesity, adipose tissue, FAHFA, treatment, Chinese medicinehttps://www.dovepress.com/investigating-the-pathogenesis-and-treatment-of-type-2-diabetes-from-t-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-DMSOT2DMobesityadipose tissueFAHFAtreatmentChinese medicine
spellingShingle Kang Z
Jin Z
Wu L
Sun A
Dong L
Li J
Li Q
Tong X
Investigating the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes from the Perspective of Adipose Tissue
Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity
T2DM
obesity
adipose tissue
FAHFA
treatment
Chinese medicine
title Investigating the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes from the Perspective of Adipose Tissue
title_full Investigating the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes from the Perspective of Adipose Tissue
title_fullStr Investigating the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes from the Perspective of Adipose Tissue
title_full_unstemmed Investigating the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes from the Perspective of Adipose Tissue
title_short Investigating the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes from the Perspective of Adipose Tissue
title_sort investigating the pathogenesis and treatment of type 2 diabetes from the perspective of adipose tissue
topic T2DM
obesity
adipose tissue
FAHFA
treatment
Chinese medicine
url https://www.dovepress.com/investigating-the-pathogenesis-and-treatment-of-type-2-diabetes-from-t-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-DMSO
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