Understanding insulin resistance

PREVIEW

Insulin resistance is an important clinical issue in patients with other prominent components of metabolic syndrome, such as central adiposity and diabetes. However, its presence may be less evident in patients who are neither obese nor diabetic. Is measurement of insulin resistance important in clinical practice? How might its presence change management in individual patients? In this concise review, Dr Sivitz discusses the underlying mechanisms involved in insulin resistance, the issues surrounding assessment, and the implications for management in patients in whom insulin resistance is either detected or suspected.