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Updated: Jan 15, 2026

Homogeneous Time-resolved Förster Resonance Energy Transfer-based Assay for Detection of Insulin Secretion
Published on: May 10, 2018
Sex hormone binging globulin as an indicator of insulin resistance in type 1 diabetes
Andrzej S Januszewski1, Wayne A Rankin2, David N O'Neal3
1Sydney Pharmacy School, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia.
Background:
Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) regulates sex hormone bioavailability and is a marker of hepatic insulin resistance.
Aim:
Determine the relationship of circulating SHBG concentration with components of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and estimated insulin sensitivity (eIS) in adults with and without T1D.
Methods:
Serum SHBG concentrations were determined in 102 adults with T1D and 111 Controls (39% and 41% males, mean(SD): age 39(14) and 38(13) yrs., BMI 26.9(5.4) and 25.8(4.5) kg/m2, respectively).
Results:
SHBG (median(LQ,UQ) was higher in T1D vs. Controls: 66.1(39.3,98.7) vs. 45.5(30.3,74.8) nmol/L, p = 0.001; and ≈2-fold higher in females than males in both groups, p < 0.0001. SHBG correlated with eIS and was lower with vs. without MetS: T1D (51(32,71) vs. 79(46,106) nmol/L, p = 0.007), Controls (35(30,43) vs. 51(31,84) nmol/L, p = 0.03). In both groups there were significant associations of lower waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio, BMI, triglycerides, LDL-C and higher eIS with an increase in sex-specific SHBG concentration tertiles (p < 0.05). In both groups SHBG decreased with number of MetS components, p(trend) = 0.005 and 0.0006, respectively.
Conclusion:
In adults with T1D, SHBG decreases with increasing insulin resistance and MetS components. These findings support a potential role for SHBG as a biomarker of metabolic health in T1D, but further studies are needed to determine its clinical utility in identifying individuals who may benefit from interventions targeting insulin sensitivity.
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