Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease which is a serious global problem. In 2010 an estimated 285 million people had diabetes and within the next 20 years this value is expected to almost double. Many antidiabetic therapies focus on improving insulin sensitivity, increasing insulin production, and/or decreasing the level of blood glucose. Although a number of synthetic medicines are available, drugs of natural origin have aroused great interest. Triterpenes seem to demonstrate adequate properties. Many experiments have shown that these compounds have several antidiabetic mechanisms. They can inhibit enzymes involved in glucose metabolism, prevent the development of insulin resistance and normalize plasma glucose and insulin levels. These natural compounds, in contrast to synthetic drugs, apart from producing a hypoglycemic effect have also been found to manifest hypolipidemic and anti-obesity activity. Triterpenes are also promising agents in the prevention of diabetic complications. They have strong antioxidant activity and inhibit the formation of advanced glycation end products, implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy, embryopathy, neuropathy or impaired wound healing. Until now very few clinical studies have been concerned with the application of triterpenes in treating diabetes. However, due to their great therapeutic potential, these compounds deserve special attention.

中文翻译：

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三萜类在糖尿病及其并发症管理中的作用。

糖尿病是一种慢性代谢性疾病，是一个严重的全球性问题。2010年，估计有2.85亿人患有糖尿病，并且在未来20年内，这一价值预计将几乎翻一番。许多抗糖尿病疗法集中于提高胰岛素敏感性，增加胰岛素产生和/或降低血糖水平。尽管可获得许多合成药物，但是天然来源的药物引起了极大的兴趣。三萜烯似乎显示出足够的性质。许多实验表明这些化合物具有几种抗糖尿病的机制。它们可以抑制参与葡萄糖代谢的酶，防止胰岛素抵抗的发展，并使血浆葡萄糖和胰岛素水平正常化。与合成药物相比，这些天然化合物 除了产生降血糖作用外，还发现其具有降血脂和抗肥胖活性。三萜类也是预防糖尿病并发症的有前途的药物。它们具有很强的抗氧化活性，并抑制高级糖基化终产物的形成，这与糖尿病性肾病，胚胎病，神经病或伤口愈合不良的发病机理有关。迄今为止，很少有临床研究涉及三萜类化合物在糖尿病治疗中的应用。但是，由于它们的巨大治疗潜力，这些化合物值得特别注意。它们具有很强的抗氧化活性，并抑制高级糖基化终产物的形成，这与糖尿病性肾病，胚胎病，神经病或伤口愈合不良的发病机理有关。迄今为止，很少有临床研究涉及三萜类化合物在糖尿病治疗中的应用。但是，由于它们的巨大治疗潜力，这些化合物值得特别注意。它们具有很强的抗氧化活性，并抑制高级糖基化终产物的形成，这与糖尿病性肾病，胚胎病，神经病或伤口愈合不良的发病机理有关。迄今为止，很少有临床研究涉及三萜类化合物在糖尿病治疗中的应用。但是，由于它们的巨大治疗潜力，这些化合物值得特别注意。