Investigating the Use of Quercetin on Glucose Absorption in Obesity, and Obesity With Type 2 Diabetes

Quercetin is a compound naturally found in various foods. It may have some role in the treatment of obesity and diabetes. The purpose of this study is to investigate research volunteers with obesity or obesity with type 2 diabetes to determine whether quercetin affects the way glucose is absorbed by the body. Thirty two participants aged 19 to 65 who are considered to be medically obese or obese with type 2 diabetes will be enrolled in this study. Before the onset of treatment, they will undergo a medical history, physical exam, blood work, and urinalysis. During the study, participants will be given an oral glucose tolerance test three times; during these tests they will receive 1 or 2 grams of quercetin, or placebo. Researchers will collect blood samples and analyze the effect of the treatment on blood glucose.

* INCLUSION CRITERIA: Subjects to be recruited for the study will be male and female subjects between the ages of 18 and 65, able to give informed consent, with mild to moderate type 2 diabetes (such that fasting blood sugar \2), eye damage (proliferative retinopathy), severe diabetic neuropathy, coronary artery disease, or symptomatic peripheral vascular disease; smoking; alcohol or drug abuse; smokers; pregnancy (a urine pregnancy test will be performed on all women with reproductive age before each part of the study); lactation; positive HIV or hepatitis (B or C) screening tests (subjects will be notified of these test results). Diabetic subjects who choose not to self-monitor glucose daily by glucometer will be excluded.