Abstract: The method of treating diabetes-related vascular complications includes the treatment of diabetic patients with ?-lipoic acid (LA) in order to mitigate the negative impact of diabetes-related vascular dysfunctions upon vascular homeostasis. The treatment method includes the step of administering to the patient an initial dosage of ?-lipoic acid believed to be therapeutically effective. The patient's response is then monitored by measuring ?-lipoic acid-responsive biomarkers and by performing assays from blood and tissue taken from the patient.

Abstract: The method of diagnosing and treating oxidative stress-impaired wound healing allows a practitioner to identify a subject at risk of having impaired wound healing by identifying the sensitivity of that patient to IGF-1. A finding of IGF-1 resistance, either systemically or at the site of an already existing wound, indicates an increased likelihood that the wound will have difficulty healing. In addition, identifying IGF-1 resistance by this method indicates that treatment of a wound with a combination of an antioxidant, IGF-1 and IGFBP-1 will provide optimal healing.

Abstract: The method of treating impaired wound healing in diabetics comprises the step of administering an effective amount of a glycogen synthase kinase 3-? (GSK-3?) inhibitor to a diabetic patient in need thereof to activate the NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and genes downstream of Nrf2 that normally regulate the expression and coordination of antioxidant responses during wound healing, but are suppressed in the diabetic patient undergoing the oxidative stress that can occur during wound healing. The GSK-3? inhibitor may be lithium or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or TDZD-8 (4-benzyl-2-methyl-1,2,4-thiadiazolidine-3,5-dione). The method may further comprise the step of testing the diabetic patient for the presence of oxidative stress and decreased Nrf2, which enables the early or prophylactic treatment of the patient with a GSK-3? inhibitor when the patient first presents with a wound, rather than waiting for other symptoms of impaired wound healing to occur.

Abstract: The method of diagnosing and treating oxidative stress-impaired wound healing allows a practitioner to identify a subject at risk of having impaired wound healing by identifying the sensitivity of that patient to IGF-1. A finding of IGF-1 resistance, either systemically or at the site of an already existing wound, indicates an increased likelihood that the wound will have difficulty healing. In addition, identifying IGF-1 resistance by this method indicates that treatment of a wound with a combination of an antioxidant, IGF-1 and IGFBP-1 will provide optimal healing.

Abstract: The method of treating diabetes-related vascular complications includes the treatment of diabetic patients with ?-lipoic acid (LA) in order to mitigate the negative impact of diabetes-related vascular dysfunctions upon vascular homeostasis. The treatment method includes the step of administering to the patient an initial dosage of ?-lipoic acid believed to be therapeutically effective. The patient's response is then monitored by measuring ?-lipoic acid-responsive biomarkers and by performing assays from blood and tissue taken from the patient.