Short-term cold acclimation improves insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Hanssen, Mark J W; Hoeks, Joris; Brans, Boudewijn; van der Lans, Anouk A J J; Schaart, Gert; van den Driessche, José J; Jörgensen, Johanna A; Boekschoten, Mark V et al. · Nat Med · 2015

case_series · Level IV

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Abstract

Cold exposure may be a potential therapy for diabetes by increasing brown adipose tissue (BAT) mass and activity. Here we report that 10 d of cold acclimation (14-15 °C) increased peripheral insulin sensitivity by ∼43% in eight type 2 diabetes subjects. Basal skeletal muscle GLUT4 translocation markedly increased, without effects on insulin signaling or AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation and only a minor increase in BAT glucose uptake.

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