Although type 2 diabetes has been associated with impaired PI3kinase/Akt signalling, GLUT4 expression as well as defects in AMPK and other kinases involved in preconditioning [56], our study showed that hearts from young DIO (insulin- resistant, but not diabetic) rats appear to be preconditioned already, while hearts from middle-aged DIO rats showed a significant reduction in infarct size when preconditioned (Figs. 2 and 3). Here, AKT1 is linked to type 2 diabetes mellitus.