Role of Cell Membrane Fatty Acids in Insulin Sensitivity: Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Erythrocyte Membrane in Diabetic Rats

Diabetes mellitus is a complex of metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia , diminished insulin production, impaired insulin action , or a combination of both resulting in the inability of glucose to be transported from the blood stream into the tissues, which in turn results in high blood glucose levels and excretion of glucose in the urine, The cell functions involved in the action of insulin receptor binding enzyme and transporter activities are controlled by membrane properties . Fatty acids composition of membrane phospholipids are affected by the composition of the dietary fat .Changes in the fatty acids composition of erythrocyte membrane , which are easily accessible cells, reflects changes in that of membrane phospholipids of less accessible tissues . The fatty acids composition of cell membrane can influence membrane associated phenomena such as the interaction between insulin and its receptors. Thus it is from interest to study the relationship between cell membrane phospholipids fractions and their role in insulin action, also to study the role of omega-3 fatty acids in reducing oxidative stress in diabetic rats.