Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.9
3.7
Journals
Metabolites
Special Issues
Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases: From Prevention to Clinical Management, 2nd...
share announcement

Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases: From Prevention to Clinical Management, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Metabolites (ISSN 2218-1989). This special issue belongs to the section "Endocrinology and Clinical Metabolic Research".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 3497

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Davide Masi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Medical Pathophysiology, Food Science and Endocrinology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
Interests: type 2 diabetes; obesity; gut microbiome; metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Renata Risi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Medical Pathophysiology, Food Science and Endocrinology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
Interests: obesity; autoimmune diabetes; MASLD; type 2 diabetes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, entitled "Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases: From Prevention to Clinical Management", will thoroughly explore the complex landscape of diabetes and metabolic disorders. It will shed light on key aspects, ranging from preventive measures to therapeutic solutions. Given the intertwined nature of obesity and diabetes, both of which are escalating to pandemic levels, there is an urgent need for comprehensive approaches that cover prevention, early detection, and targeted treatments.

Prevention strategies take the forefront, recognizing the pivotal role of lifestyle changes such as dietary adjustments and increased physical activity in halting the progression of these disorders. Early detection plays a crucial role in intervening promptly to slow down disease advancement and prevent complications. This Special Issue delves into screening methods and diagnostic tools that can enable the early identification of individuals at risk.

Therapeutic options are varied and tailored to suit each patient's unique needs, considering the diverse nature of diabetes and metabolic diseases. From dietary manipulations such as nutritional ketosis to medications targeting feeding behavior and the incretin system, the importance of personalized treatment approaches is underscored.

Furthermore, this Special Issue emphasizes the significance of holistic management strategies. This includes integrating pharmacotherapy with lifestyle adjustments, patient education, and psychosocial support to optimize outcomes and improve quality of life for those living with type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Dr. Davide Masi
Dr. Renata Risi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Metabolites is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • obesity
  • nutritional ketosis
  • dietary manipulations
  • therapeutic inertia
  • type 2 diabetes
  • gut microbiome
  • incretins
  • hormone regulation

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

12 pages, 899 KB  
Article
Serum Uric Acid as a Biomarker for Incident Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A 6-Year Cohort Study in Qatar
by Alan Saeed, Yamane Chawa, Samer Kaspo, Hassan Ibrahim, Aisha Al Adab and Anas Kalfah
Metabolites 2026, 16(4), 251; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo16040251 - 8 Apr 2026
Viewed by 498
Abstract
Background: Serum uric acid (SUA) may predict incident type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but longitudinal evidence from Middle Eastern populations remains limited. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using electronic health records from Qatar’s Primary Health Care Corporation over a six-year period [...] Read more.
Background: Serum uric acid (SUA) may predict incident type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but longitudinal evidence from Middle Eastern populations remains limited. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using electronic health records from Qatar’s Primary Health Care Corporation over a six-year period (2018–2023). Adults aged ≥18 years with at least one valid serum uric acid (SUA) measurement and no prior diabetes at baseline were eligible. All eligible participants were retained; no propensity score matching was performed. Baseline SUA was defined at the first valid measurement, and repeated-measure exposures included current SUA, cumulative-average SUA, and landmark time-weighted average (TWA) SUA. Sex-specific SUA categories were low <208, normal 208–428, and high >428 µmol/L in males and low <149, normal 149–357, and high >357 µmol/L in females. Sex-stratified Cox models, restricted cubic spline analyses, prespecified sensitivity analyses, and complementary explainable boosting machine (EBM) models were used to evaluate associations with incident type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Results: The cohort included 169,876 adults (85,361 males and 84,515 females) and 18,714 incident T2DM events. In fully adjusted baseline Cox models, high baseline SUA was associated with higher T2DM hazard in females (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.44; 95% CI: 1.36–1.53), whereas low baseline SUA was associated with higher hazard in males (HR: 1.60; 95% CI: 1.44–1.78), and high SUA was not. In women, positive SUA–T2DM associations persisted in time-varying and landmark analyses, including current high- versus- normal SUA (HR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.41–1.58) and 2-measurement landmark TWA SUA per 1 mg/dL (HR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.13–1.20). In men, unlagged whole-cohort analyses showed inverse continuous associations, but lagged and repeated-measure analyses shifted toward positive associations, including 365-day lagged high- versus- normal baseline SUA (HR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.11–1.28) and 2-measurement landmark TWA SUA per 1 mg/dL (HR: 1.06; 95% CI: 1.03–1.09). Restricted cubic splines showed a steadily rising risk gradient in females above approximately 262 µmol/L and a J-shaped pattern in males, with the lowest risk near 374 µmol/L. In EBM models, TWA SUA ranked third in women and fifth in men in the 2-measurement landmark cohorts. Conclusions: In this large Qatar cohort, longitudinal SUA was associated with incident T2DM in a sex-specific manner, with consistent positive associations in females and exposure-definition-dependent patterns in males. Repeated SUA measurements may improve diabetes risk stratification, but causal and therapeutic implications require further study. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases: From Prevention to Clinical Management, 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 219 KB  
Article
Personalizing Obesity Treatment: Real-World Comparison of a Very-Low-Calorie Ketogenic Diet Versus a Whole-Food Mediterranean Ketogenic Diet
by Davide Masi, Maria Letizia Spizzichini, Elena Colonnello, Daniel Vasquez Barahona, Lucio Gnessi, Daniele Gianfrilli and Mikiko Watanabe
Metabolites 2026, 16(4), 248; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo16040248 - 5 Apr 2026
Viewed by 799
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Obesity is a chronic, relapsing disease in which lifestyle modification represents the cornerstone of treatment. Among dietary strategies, ketogenic diets can induce rapid weight loss, whereas the Mediterranean diet is associated with established cardiometabolic benefits but typically produces slower weight reduction. Very-low-calorie [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Obesity is a chronic, relapsing disease in which lifestyle modification represents the cornerstone of treatment. Among dietary strategies, ketogenic diets can induce rapid weight loss, whereas the Mediterranean diet is associated with established cardiometabolic benefits but typically produces slower weight reduction. Very-low-calorie ketogenic diets (VLCKDs) are effective for weight loss but are often limited by cost, reliance on meal replacements, and reduced long-term feasibility. This study aimed to evaluate whether a whole-food Mediterranean ketogenic diet with moderate caloric restriction (MedKD) could represent a feasible and effective alternative to VLCKD for weight loss and metabolic improvement in adults with obesity. Methods: This 3-month prospective, real-world study compared VLCKD and MedKD in adults with obesity attending a clinical nutrition program. The primary outcome was percentage weight loss. Secondary outcomes included changes in waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), lipid profile, kidney function, and treatment tolerability. Clinical and biochemical parameters were assessed at baseline and after the intervention. Group differences and time-by-group interactions were analyzed to evaluate changes over the study period. Results: Sixty-two participants were enrolled, and 55 completed the study (27 VLCKD, 28 MedKD). Baseline characteristics were generally comparable, although the MedKD group had a higher prevalence of diabetes and higher baseline insulin resistance and triglyceride levels. Both dietary interventions resulted in substantial and comparable weight loss (approximately 15% of initial body weight), accompanied by significant reductions in waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio. Insulin resistance improved in both groups, with a greater reduction in HOMA-IR observed in the MedKD group (time × group p = 0.031). Serum creatinine decreased in the VLCKD group and slightly increased in the MedKD group (p = 0.025). Changes in lipid profile were not significantly different between groups. No severe adverse events were reported. Conclusions: A whole-food Mediterranean ketogenic diet with moderate caloric restriction achieved weight loss and metabolic improvements comparable to those observed with VLCKD over three months. These findings suggest that MedKD may represent a feasible alternative to formula-based ketogenic programs, supporting more flexible and personalized dietary strategies in the clinical management of obesity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases: From Prevention to Clinical Management, 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

26 pages, 1911 KB  
Article
Metabolic Outcomes in Bariatric/Metabolic Surgery Individuals: Impact of Metabolic Health Definition, Type of Surgery, and Follow-Up Duration—An Observational, Retrospective Study
by Anna Pluemacher, Cláudia Camila Dias, Bárbara Peleteiro, Denise Pinheiro, Paula Freitas, Eduardo Lima, Alexandra Leitão, Elisabete Martins and Maria João Martins
Metabolites 2026, 16(1), 47; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo16010047 - 5 Jan 2026
Viewed by 804
Abstract
Background: There is no standardized definition for metabolic health. Overweight and obesity are often linked to metabolic dysfunction. Bariatric surgery promotes body weight loss and cardiometabolic health improvement. Objective: We aim to characterize metabolic health using distinct definitions and evaluate anthropometric and cardiometabolic [...] Read more.
Background: There is no standardized definition for metabolic health. Overweight and obesity are often linked to metabolic dysfunction. Bariatric surgery promotes body weight loss and cardiometabolic health improvement. Objective: We aim to characterize metabolic health using distinct definitions and evaluate anthropometric and cardiometabolic features, both before and after different surgery procedures. Methods: We studied 3313 individuals from CRI-O [Porto, PT; BMI 39.56 (42.60; 46.20) kg/m2; 36 (43; 51) y; 82.7% women] who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB; 61.7%), sleeve gastrectomy (30.9%), or gastric band (7.5%) surgery. Anthropometric and cardiometabolic features were assessed at baseline and at yearly follow-ups, up to 4 years; the same for cardiometabolic dysfunction characterization using NCEP ATP III, Karelis, Meigs, Khan, Pluemacher, and Schulze definitions. Results: Baseline metabolic health classification and metabolically unhealthy phenotype (MUH) post-surgery prevalence decrease show substantial variability depending on the definition used. Unlike relative body weight loss, the altered metabolic feature number in MUH remains unchanged. Changes in MUH prevalence do not reflect body weight loss, nor does the variation in MUH percentage fully align with changes in altered metabolic features. Blood pressure, C-reactive protein, antihypertensive medication, and HOMA-IR are key contributors to baseline MUH. Post-surgical changes in body weight, lipid profile, and C-reactive protein vary by procedure. RYGB yields greater weight loss and more often improves cardiometabolic markers. However, post-operative metabolic phenotype is independent of surgery type. Conclusions: Metabolic health phenotypes pre- and post-surgery vary by definition, and the latter are not solely driven by weight loss or surgery type. In this cohort, RYGB shows the strongest beneficial impact. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases: From Prevention to Clinical Management, 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Review

Jump to: Research

23 pages, 2381 KB  
Review
Neurotrophic Factors: Emerging Biology and Therapeutic Applications for Cardiovascular Diseases
by Yu Liu, Huijie Zhang, Fengzhi Yu, Tiemin Liu, Dandan Jia and Ruwen Wang
Metabolites 2026, 16(1), 58; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo16010058 - 9 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1020
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have emerged as a common health problem. However, despite their prevalence, little progress has been made in their treatment. In recent years, neurotrophic factors (NTFs) have been discovered to exert cardioprotective functions for CVDs. NTFs can modulate vascular integrity, myocardial [...] Read more.
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have emerged as a common health problem. However, despite their prevalence, little progress has been made in their treatment. In recent years, neurotrophic factors (NTFs) have been discovered to exert cardioprotective functions for CVDs. NTFs can modulate vascular integrity, myocardial remodeling, angiogenesis, and autonomic regulation, playing the roles of maintaining cardiovascular homeostasis and influencing disease progression. Under pathological conditions, the supplement of NTFs can induce substantial adaptations to mitigate adverse cardiac responses. Several NTFs have been investigated in this regard. This review briefly elaborates on present insights into the expression, signaling pathways, and regulatory effects of NTFs on the development of CVDs, and also discusses emerging therapeutic strategies based on NTFs, ranging from exercise to advanced modalities including stem cell therapy, gene transfer, recombinant protein therapy and NTF mimetics, among which the mimetics and exercise interventions emerge as the most promising avenues for clinical translation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases: From Prevention to Clinical Management, 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-4
Back to TopTop