Handedness, insulin sensitivity and pancreatic B-cell function in Type 2 diabetes

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Metabolic Disorders
• Human Physiology

Background:

• Laterality, or handedness, is linked to various health conditions.
• The impact of handedness on Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) phenotype remains unexamined.
• Key T2DM aspects like glucose homeostasis, therapies, and metabolic control require investigation concerning handedness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of handedness on the phenotype of Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
• To assess differences in glucose homeostasis, insulin sensitivity, and metabolic control between right-handed and non-right-handed T2DM patients.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 576 adult T2DM outpatients was studied.
• Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) was used to evaluate pancreatic B-cell function (B), insulin sensitivity (S), and their products (B x S).
• Patients were categorized into right-handed (RH) and non-right-handed (non-RH) groups, with demographic and clinical data compared.

Main Results:

• Non-RH patients (12.5%) demonstrated significantly higher insulin sensitivity compared to RH patients (87.5%).
• Non-RH individuals exhibited a higher hyperbolic product (B x S) and a lower age-standardized B x S deficit.
• These differences were statistically significant (P < 0.0024 for insulin sensitivity, P = 0.0005 for B x S, and P < 0.0001 for B x S deficit).

Conclusions:

• Non-right-handed T2DM patients present with enhanced insulin sensitivity.
• Higher hyperbolic product and reduced age-standardized B x S deficit are observed in non-RH T2DM individuals.
• These laterality-associated metabolic differences may impact glucose-lowering therapy needs and overall glycemic control in T2DM management.