Evaluation of oxidative stress in diabetics with or without vascular complications.

An excess of Oxidative Stress can occur either through an increase in the generation of free radicals and their metabolites (which overwhelm the protective capacity of the normal defence mechanisms of the body) or through a decrease in the protective ability of the body to withstand normal Oxidative Stress or both. Excessive Oxidative Stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetes and its chronic complications like retinopathy and nephropathy. Through various mechanisms, it plays a prominent role in the progression and acceleration of atherosclerosis. Free radicals being highly unstable due to their high reactivity are very difficult to measure accurately. Recourse is therefore taken to measure the compounds that are formed due to the activity of these free radicals. These compounds are relatively more stable and therefore can be measured as diene congugate and lipid peroxides. Another valuable measurement is to measure the levels of reduced glutathione in serum. Measurements of these products can be an excellent parameter to judge the metabolic control of diabetes.