Apitherapy for diabetes mellitus: mechanisms and clinical implications

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes mellitus is a complex disease in terms of its causes and pathophysiological processes, it produces a significant impact on health and leads to complications that are difficult to manage. CONTENT: This review summarizes and analyzes recent advances in the understanding of the mechanisms of diabetes mellitus and how apitherapy affects them. Also present the available clinical evidence on its application. SUMMARY: Apitherapy (complementary-integral use of beehive products) is a potentially useful therapeutic system with a significant level of evidence. This review shows and analyzes the preclinical and clinical evidence on the use of apitherapy in diabetes mellitus. OUTLOOK: Apitherapy shows significant effects on epigenetics, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, metabolic control, dysbiosis, premature cell death and tissue remodeling. Clinical evidence shows an impact on these mechanisms. Apitherapy is a very useful complementary medicine in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.