The present meta-analysis suggests that consuming probiotics may improve glucose metabolism by a modest degree, with a potentially greater effect when the duration of intervention is ≥8 weeks, or multiple species of probiotics are consumed.

Consuming probiotics could reduce body weight and BMI, with a potentially greater effect when multiple species of probiotics were consumed, the duration of intervention was ≥8 weeks, or the objects were overweight.

In the present study, the function of microRNA (miR)-214 on diabetic nephropathy (DN) and diabetes of proximal tubular cells was investigated. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used measure the expression of miR-214 in rats with DN and ELISA was performed to measure oxidative stress and ROS levels. Results indicated that miR-214 expression in the peripheral blood was significantly decreased in rats with DN. The in vitro model of DN indicated that miR-214 upregulation significantly decreased oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, but significantly increased uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), phosphorylated (p)-Akt and p-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) protein expression levels. The administration of genipin, a UCP2 inhibitor, significantly attenuated the effects of miR-214 upregulation on oxidative stress in the in vitro DN model by regulating ROS, Akt and mTOR protein expression levels. Notably, Akt inhibitor suppressed p-Akt protein expression and attenuated the effects of miR-214 upregulation on oxidative stress in the in vitro DN model. Collectively, these data suggest that miR-214 regulates diabetes through a ROS/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway by UCP2 in proximal tubular cells.

Metformin, the first-line therapy for type 2 diabetes (T2D), decreases hepatic glucose production and reduces fasting plasma glucose levels. Dorzagliatin, a dual-acting orally bioavailable glucokinase activator targeting both the pancreas and liver glucokinase, decreases postprandial glucose in patients with T2D. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial, the efficacy and safety of dorzagliatin as an add-on therapy to metformin were assessed in patients with T2D who had inadequate glycemic control using metformin alone. Eligible patients with T2D (n = 767) were randomly assigned to receive dorzagliatin or placebo (1:1 ratio) as an add-on to metformin (1,500 mg per day) for 24 weeks of double-blind treatment, followed by 28 weeks of open-label treatment with dorzagliatin for all patients. The primary efficacy endpoint was the change in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels from baseline to week 24, and safety was assessed throughout the trial. At week 24, the least-squares mean change from baseline in HbA1c (95% confidence interval (CI)) was −1.02% (−1.11, −0.93) in the dorzagliatin group and −0.36% (−0.45, −0.26) in the placebo group (estimated treatment difference, −0.66%; 95% CI: −0.79, −0.53; P < 0.0001). The incidence of adverse events was similar between groups. There were no severe hypoglycemia events or drug-related serious adverse events in the dorzagliatin and metformin combined therapy group. In patients with T2D who experienced inadequate glycemic control with metformin alone, dorzagliatin resulted in effective glycemic control with good tolerability and safety profile (NCT03141073).