IL6 and type 2 diabetes mellitus: Reduced antioxidant defences in type 2 diabetes [2] result in increased oxidised LDL which promotes increased synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), major and minor modulators, respectively, of blood plasma c-reactive protein (CRP) levels [7].