Adiponectin, leptin and indexes of insulin resistance

Abstract

Insulin resistance is the principal cause of glucose intolerance and type 2 diabetes and induces progression of atherosclerosis. It is justified to evaluate the extend of insulin resistance for introducing the proper treatment. Several techniques are used to measure it. Among them M (euglycemic, hyperinsulinemic clamp) - value which is complicated and expensive. Another one is HOMA-IR, which has also some limitations. Therefore a more accurate index is necessary for determining insulin resistance. In this review we discuss the evaluation of adiponectin, leptin and A/L, L/A, HOMA-AD as recently proposed indexes for determining insulin resistance. (Diabet. Prakt. 2008; 9: 44-47)