Metformin is the first-line therapy of type 2 diabetes (T2D), but among T2D patients, ~30% are classified as glycemic non-responders. Currently no clinical phenotype successfully predicts the glycemic response to metformin. Therefore, our aim was to identify blood-based epigenetic biomarkers that successfully predicts metformin response in drug-naïve T2D patients. This research is of high importance since the epigenetic biomarkers could be used in the clinics in all newly T2D patients to discriminate which diabetics cannot receive metformin since they will not respond to this drug. This biomarker kit will progress personalized treatment for T2D using pharmacoepigenetics for the prediction of glycemic response to metformin treatment in newly diagnosed patients with T2D. Therefore, it will be essential for clinical decision making in T2D treatment.
On the other hand, T2D increases the risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality. However, it is not known why some diabetic individuals develop these complications whereas others not. Hence, we aimed to identify blood-based epigenetic biomarkers that successfully predict coronary events and stroke in T2D subjects. Notably, our epigenetic biomarkers will provide a useful tool to identify T2D subjects at high risk of developing CVD to prevent at an early stage the progression to a macrovascular event. In fact, prevention is possible since early intensive glycemic control of T2D reduce in the long-term the number of macrovascular complications.
Overall, the identified epigenetic biomarkers of clinical relevance from this project predicting metformin response and macrovascular complications in people with T2D could provide a valuable tool for personalized medicine.
