Sympathetic nerve activity in type 2 diabetes mellitus; a promising potential therapeutic target

Augmented sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) has an important effect on various diseases. SNA is significantly related to glucose metabolism in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Type 2 DM causes cardiovascular complications such as heart failure, arrhythmia, and myocardial infarction. These complications are reported to be associated with increasing SNA. Previous studies have not shown a beneficial effect of insulin and conventional sulfonylurea therapy on cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. In previous studies, the principal therapeutic target in type 2 DM is recognized as lowering glycemic control. However, there is a lack of evidence for improvement of SNA and glycemic control in type 2 DM. Therefore, additional therapeutic strategy is required to prevent major cardiovascular complications in type 2 DM. In this review, we reconsidered effect of conventional anti-diabetic drugs on SNA and also discuss the risk and benefit of using beta blockade in the treatment of type 2 DM patients.