UCP1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are ligand-activated transcription factors involved in the regulation of glucose/lipid metabolism [41] and are pivotal in the control of transcription of the UCP family of genes [42, 43] Interestingly, pre-clinical studies in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty (OLETF) rats, that develop T2DM, have shown that PPAR-γ is also effective at elevating telomerase activity and telomere-associated proteins [41], ameliorating the effects of T2DM on telomere shortening.