The syndrome of insulin resistance

It is well known that excessive weight is associated with resistance to insulin-mediated glucose uptake and predisposition to the development of type II diabetes. It has been shown more recently that excessive weight and insulin resistance tend to be associated to android fat distribution, arterial hypertension, elevated levels of triglycerides, low concentration of HDL cholesterol and defective fibrinolysis. The terms syndrome of insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome or syndrome X have been proposed to describe this cluster of abnormalities. The pathophysiological mechanisms which could explain the interrelations between these different parameters are still only partly understood. Epidemiological prospective studies have demonstrated that the metabolic syndrome is a risk factor for coronary heart disease and type II diabetes. The mechanisms involved in the development of diabetes are relatively well established, but those which are implicated in the atherothrombotic process are far from being clearly described. Anyway, sufficient presumption exists to attempt at decreasing insulin resistance when it exists. Physical training and, if indicated, weight reduction are the simplest means.