ABSTRACT
By definition, diabetes mellitus is a group of pathophysiological conditions of varying etiologies that has as a common denominator-the derangement of blood glucose regulation (i.e., hyperglycemia). Two major forms of diabetes mellitus exist: type 1, a less common form in which there is an absolute defi ciency of circulating insulin due to destruction of the β-cells of the pancreas, and type 2, the most common form, characterized primarily by a decreased ability of insulin to stimulate skeletal muscle glucose transport and metabo lism. Although there is increasing information that oxidative stress, character ized by the localized production of free radicals and other reactive oxygen species, may be associated with metabolic abnormalities present in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes and several studies have been published recently support ing the effectiveness of antioxidant interventions in improving the defective metabolic state characteristic of diabetes, the relationship between oxidative stress and insulin resistance remains controversial (1,2).
