Application of nanomaterials in the treatment of diabetes and its complications: As nanocarriers or with inherent therapeutic functions.

Diabetes mellitus, a widespread chronic metabolic disease worldwide, poses a serious threat to human health due to its microvascular and macrovascular complications. Traditional treatments are limited by low drug bioavailability, poor targeting, and numerous side effects. Nanotechnology, with its controllable physicochemical properties, high loading capacity, and precise targeting ability, offers a new strategy for drug delivery and disease management in diabetes. This review systematically summarizes treatment strategies based on nanotechnology, examines the application of different nanocarriers in diabetes therapy, and explores the research and use of nanomaterials as antidiabetic drugs. In addition to diabetes treatment, this article highlights the innovative use of nanomaterials in preventing and managing complications such as diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy. It emphasizes key issues, including long-term biological safety, potential mechanisms of toxicity, and the metabolic fate of nanomaterials. The review also suggests future directions to address challenges such as large-scale production, long-term efficacy, and safety evaluation in clinical translation, guiding the precise design and safe application of nanodrugs in diabetes treatment.