Free Radical Biology of Diabetes Mellitus

Free radicals play a pivotal role in the etiology of different diseases, including diabetes mellitus (DM). In the past three decades, the understanding of the fundamental role of free radicals in the etiology and disease progression of DM was studied broadly. This chapter aimed to enumerate the recent progress in the areas of free radical biology for the management of DM. Free radicals, as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS), having extra electrons in their outer orbitals, react with all biomolecules, including “protein, lipids, and DNA,” causing oxidative stress and damage. DM is also associated with oxidative stress induced by the elevated production of free radicals or reduced antioxidant activity. Recently, the importance of an antioxidant rich diet, yoga, and exercise has been well documented for the management of DM. Studies confirmed that exercise-induced ROS is an acute effect, while the chronic effect of exercise produces endogenous antioxidant defences and promotes a state of endogenous antioxidant defence mechanism. Therefore, regulating oxidative stress will lead to a significant future area of research for DM disease management.