Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 30, 2026

Telomere Length and Telomerase Activity; A Yin and Yang of Cell Senescence
Published on: May 22, 2013
Telomere length and type 2 diabetes in males, a premature aging syndrome
Blanca Murillo-Ortiz1, Froylán Albarrán-Tamayo, Diego Arenas-Aranda
1Unidad de Investigación en Epidemiología Clínica, Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, León Guanajuato, México. bomo907@hotmail.com
Background:
Increased telomere shortening has been demonstrated in several diseases including type 2 diabetes. However, it is not known whether telomere length changes during the course of type 2 diabetes.
Objective:
To determine telomere length at different stages of type 2 diabetes, including early and late stages.
Methods:
A total of 93 males with type 2 diabetes and 10 years or more since original diagnosis; 96 males with less than one year of diagnosis; 98 age matched healthy males. Telomere length was estimated by means of real-time polymerase chain reaction. Fasting venous blood samples were obtained for measurement of lipid peroxidation and inflammation markers.
Results:
We found a greater telomere shortening in group (A) with type 2 diabetes of 10 years or more since original diagnosis, compared with the control group (C) of healthy males (5.4 vs 9.6 Kb) (p = 0.04) and with group B (5.4 vs 8.7 kb) (p = 0.05). With regard to inflammatory markers TNF-α, malondialdehyde peroxidation and adiponectin we found significant differences.
Conclusion:
Telomere shortening increases with the duration of diabetes. The time of exhibition suggests in parallel that the progressive increase of inflammation and/or oxidative stress plays a direct role in telomere shortening.
Related Concept Videos
Type II Diabetes I: Introduction
Type II Diabetes II: Pathophysiology
Type I Diabetes II: Pathophysiology
Type I Diabetes I: Introduction
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational
Type II Diabetes Mellitus III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnosis
