Short-term cold acclimation improves insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Nat Med. 2015 Aug;21(8):863-5. doi: 10.1038/nm.3891. Epub 2015 Jul 6.

Abstract

Cold exposure may be a potential therapy for diabetes by increasing brown adipose tissue (BAT) mass and activity. Here we report that 10 d of cold acclimation (14-15 °C) increased peripheral insulin sensitivity by ∼43% in eight type 2 diabetes subjects. Basal skeletal muscle GLUT4 translocation markedly increased, without effects on insulin signaling or AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation and only a minor increase in BAT glucose uptake.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acclimatization*
  • Adipose Tissue, Brown / metabolism
  • Aged
  • Cold Temperature
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / metabolism*
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Glucose Transporter Type 4 / physiology
  • Humans
  • Insulin Resistance*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged

Substances

  • Glucose Transporter Type 4
  • SLC2A4 protein, human
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Glucose

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE67297