Insulin resistance and hyperinsulinaemia in diabetic cardiomyopathy

Abstract

Reported rises in the prevalence of diabetic cardiomyopathy among developed nations have occurred in parallel with increased rates of obesity, insulin resistance and hyperinsulinaemia Insulin resistance and/or hyperinsulinaemia seem to underpin the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy, which is initially characterized by diastolic dysfunction in the absence of coronary artery disease and hypertension Pathophysiological mechanisms include impaired insulin signalling, cardiac mitochondrial dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum stress, impaired autophagy, impaired myocardial calcium handling, abnormal coronary microcirculation, inappropriate neurohumoral activation and maladaptive immune responses Insulin resistance, or hyperinsulinaemia, independently predisposes to the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy and targeting insulin resistance or hyperinsulinaemia could be a potential therapeutic strategy to prevent the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy