Current Issue

The impact of glycemic variability on diabetic complications and related mechanisms

LIU Jing-Yi¹, AN Qi¹, ZHANG Si-Qi¹, YANG Biao², LI Ya-Qiong^1,*

¹Department of Pathology, Jining Medical University, Jining 272067, China；²Department of Dermatology, Jining No. 1 People's Hospital, Jining 272011, China

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major global health issue, with glycated hemoglobin levels serving as the gold standard for evaluating glucose level control in DM patients. However, it has limitations in reflecting glucose oscillations (i.e. glycemic variability, GV). Increasing evidence suggests that GV is closely related to the progression of diabetes complications and patient prognosis. As people realize the importance of avoiding hypoglycemia while achieving target glycated hemoglobin levels in treatment, the clinical significance of GV becomes more obvious. This article systematically reviewed the concept and connotation of GV, summarized the latest research on its role in the complications of diabetes, and revealed the biochemical and pathophysiological abnormalities caused by excessive glycemic oscillation, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for the risk warning and early intervention of DM patients.

Key words: glycemic variability; diabetes mellitus; complications; vascular injury

Received: 　　Accepted:

Corresponding author: 李雅琼　　E-mail:

DOI: 10.13294/j.aps.2025.0081

Citing This Article：

LIU Jing-Yi, AN Qi, ZHANG Si-Qi, YANG Biao, LI Ya-Qiong. The impact of glycemic variability on diabetic complications and related mechanisms. Acta Physiol Sin 2025; 77 (5): 925-938 (in Chinese with English abstract).