Chinese Study Shows Early Insulin Therapy Benefits Heart Health

In a groundbreaking study recently published in the journal Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, Professor Jianping Weng and his multi-institutional research team unveiled pivotal findings on the positive impact of early insulin therapy on cardiovascular health in adults newly diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). This collaborative research involved experts from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Southern Medical University, and Peking University.

Diabetes, a pervasive global health issue, has long been associated with elevated blood glucose levels that can significantly damage cardiovascular systems. This heightened risk of cardiovascular events makes effective blood glucose control a critical objective in diabetes management. Professor Weng's study, which monitored 5,424 patients with T2DM over 24 years, demonstrated that early insulin therapy led to a 31% reduction in strokes and a 28% decrease in hospitalizations for heart failure, marking a significant advancement in diabetes treatment strategies.

Traditionally, diabetes treatment follows a conservative approach, starting with lifestyle modifications like diet and exercise before moving to pharmaceutical interventions such as insulin. This step-by-step method often results in prolonged high blood glucose levels, causing irreversible internal damage and increasing the risk of complications. Recognizing these challenges, Chinese endocrinologists Jianping Weng and Linong Ji began exploring early insulin therapy's effects on patient outcomes in 2000. Initial studies indicated promising results, showing that early insulin therapy improved pancreatic islet function and reduced diabetes-related complications, forming the basis for several countries' diabetes guidelines.

In 2001, Weng and Ji discovered that intensive insulin therapy could delay the progressive failure of beta cells in diabetes patients. Subsequent studies reinforced these findings, demonstrating that short-term intensive insulin treatment could lead to long-term improvements in blood glucose control and beta cell function. These results were published in reputable journals such as Diabetes Care (2004) and The Lancet (2008), with Weng's team being the first to validate the "beta cell rest" theory in T2DM therapy.

Professor Weng emphasized that early insulin therapy could successfully control blood glucose levels, restore beta cell function, and reduce insulin resistance, urging a reevaluation of current diabetes treatment models. This shift in approach is supported by widespread citations of Weng's work in over 60 treatment guidelines worldwide, including those of the American Diabetes Association and the European Diabetes Association.

The cardiovascular benefits of early insulin therapy, highlighted in the latest study, provide compelling evidence for revising treatment guidelines. For patients with T2DM, insulin therapy is often necessary to maintain blood glucose control. However, the new findings suggest that starting insulin therapy early not only helps manage blood glucose levels but also reduces the risk of cardiovascular events such as strokes, heart failures, and coronary heart diseases.

Professor Ji remarked that T2DM is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Clinical guidelines must prioritize both lowering blood glucose levels and reducing cardiovascular event risks. Individualized management plans, blood sugar monitoring, and targeted treatment approaches are essential for optimizing patient outcomes.

The study underscores the potential of early insulin therapy in improving blood glucose control, enhancing metabolic memory, reducing glucotoxicity, promoting beta cell dedifferentiation, and lowering pro-inflammatory cytokine production. As research progresses, these insights challenge existing diabetes treatment paradigms and highlight the need for more effective, early-stage interventions to mitigate long-term complications and improve the quality of life for newly diagnosed diabetes patients.