Aspirin and Diabetes Mellitus: Revisiting an old player

Abstract

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus confers an excess risk of cardiovascular disease. The mechanisms involved in the development of the disease are an active field of research, and prompt the development of newer and safer therapeutics with implications for cardiovascular disease. Currently there is increasing awareness of the role of platelet dysfunction, low-grade chronic inflammation and thrombogenesis in the pathophysiology of insulin resistance, T2DM, as well as type 1 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. This new evolving knowledge has allowed a better understanding of the role of aspirin, an old medication with proven beneficial effects on patients with established cardiovascular disease. The influence of salicylates on insulin resistance, glucose homeostasis, platelet function and inflammatory pathways, in particular related to the activation of the NFκB pathway, is a promising field of active research, and will help in the management of both diabetes mellitus and atherosclerotic-related cardiovascular disease. © 2008, Sage Publications. All rights reserved.