[Lymphocytic sensitization to insulin as a risk factor of diabetes mellitus]

to search for immunological risk factors of diabetes and prediabetes.

The prospective study included 91 patients (26 males and 65 females; mean age 45.9 years; body mass index 27 +/- 3 kg/m2). Follow-ups were made in 1993 to 1995 and in 2005 to 2007. All the patients were divided into 2 groups depending on the presence or absence of an autoimmune reaction to insulin. The incidence of hyperglycemia, diabetes, essential hypertension, coronary heart disease (CHD), obesity, and inflammatory skin diseases was determined in each group.

The incidence of hyperglycemia, diabetes, or CHD was much higher in the patients having an autoimmune reaction to insulin. An excess body weight of more than 30% and additional 10 years of life from the baseline increased a risk for diabetes in persons showing a lymphocytic sensitization to insulin, this was not seen in those without this responsiveness.

Lymphocytic sensitization to insulin is a risk factor of diabetes and prediabetes. Aging, female sex, and overweight are provocative factors for diabetes in persons with an autoimmune reaction to insulin.