Relationship Between Estimated Glucose Disposal Rate and Type 2 Diabetic Retinopathy.

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Ophthalmology
• Metabolic Diseases

Background:

• Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of vision loss in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
• Understanding factors associated with DR development and progression is crucial for effective management.
• Estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR) reflects insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism, potentially influencing diabetes complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between diabetic retinopathy (DR), DR intensity, and estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR) in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 1762 T2DM patients was analyzed.
• Patients were categorized into four groups based on eGDR levels.
• Correlation and regression analyses were employed to assess relationships between eGDR and DR risk/severity, with subgroup analyses by sex.

Main Results:

• The DR detection rate was 19.75% in T2DM patients, with a 22.41% proliferative DR rate among those with DR.
• Patients with DR exhibited significantly lower eGDR levels compared to the non-DR group.
• Reduced eGDR was identified as an independent risk factor for DR, and it correlated with proliferative DR in women.

Conclusions:

• Lower eGDR is independently associated with an increased risk of diabetic retinopathy in Chinese T2DM patients.
• eGDR may serve as a valuable biomarker for assessing DR risk in this population.
• Sex-specific differences in the eGDR-DR relationship warrant further investigation.