Insulin Resistance, a surrogate marker, in type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is an insulin resistant state associated with accelerated atherosclerosis, hypertension, dyslipidemia and abnormal vasomotor responses to insulin. One hundred and thirty nine T2DM patients were included in this study. Out of the total 139 patients, 120 (86.33%) had hyper-insulinemia. According to the NCEP-ATP III criteria, the prevalence of IRS was 103 (74.1%) among the total patients. But, among the hyper-insulinemic group alone, 79.15% had IRS. There is lesser prevalence of diabetes in the 7th decade and beyond. The results showed that WHR has better correlation with IRS than the BMI. The control of diabetes was poor among nearly 2/3rd of the patients. 1/5th of males and 1/3rd of females had CAD. 67.21% of males and 71.19% of females had hypertension. 50% had positive family history of diabetes among 1st degree relatives. The lipid abnormalities were of lesser classical nature. More number of patients had abnormal LDL levels than having TGL or HDL abnormalities. 52.1% of males and 55% females had statistically significant lower calcium levels, whereas the uric acid levels were normal in more than 90%. The study also showed that the fasting insulin level is higher (90.4μU/ml for males and 72.3 μU/ml for females) and that it correlates well with the degree of insulin resistance. It may therefore be necessary to measure insulin level along with blood glucose and lipids in type 2 diabetes mellitus.