Blood Glucose Control and Diabetic Complications

Excerpt

To the editor: To the hypotheses listed by Raskin and Rosenstock (1) in their recent review on blood glucose control and diabetic complications, I would like to offer a fourth. This hypothesis seems to be in the process of being supported by clinical findings and could have important implications for diabetic therapy.

Diabetes is characterized by hyperglycemia, which is a known inhibitor of the enzyme delta-6-desaturase (2). Chronic inhibition of this enzyme will therefore lead to a reduced production of eicosanoids from the parent essential fatty acids, linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid. Eicosanoids have been recognized in recent times as