CLINICAL AND BIOLOGICAL MARKERS OF INSULIN RESISTANCE

Abstract

Insulin resistance (IR) is lately a much debated and disputed subject. It is already well known that insulin resistance is involved in the metabolic syndrome, dyslipidemia, hypertension, dysfibrinolisis, but also in type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. A number of clinical and biological markers can help us quantify insulin resistance. Among the clinical markers that are most frequently used in practice we can enumerate: waist circumference, waist circumference to hip circumference ratio and waist circumference to height ratio. A newly used marker is neck circumference that is an easier and cheaper method which does not change during the day as other indicators such as waist circumference do. Also Levine et al. observed an association between "chubby cheeks“ and increased visceral fat and indicated that these patients have a higher risk of metabolic complications and obesity. Biological markers of insulin resistance like Homeostasis Model Assessment-Insulin Resistance, Homeostasis Model Assessment-Adiponectin, triglycerides, adipocitokines are extremely useful in quantifying IR.