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Insulin Resistance (cont.)

Medical Author:
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Medical Editor:
Robert Ferry Jr., MD
Robert Ferry Jr., MD

Robert Ferry Jr., MD, is a U.S. board-certified Pediatric Endocrinologist. After taking his baccalaureate degree from Yale College, receiving his doctoral degree and residency training in pediatrics at University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA), he completed fellowship training in pediatric endocrinology at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

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What's new in insulin resistance?

Over the past decade, insulin resistance has gained significance, in its own right, as a contributor to the metabolic syndrome. Timely intervention can delay the onset of overt type 2 diabetes. Future studies must assess longer intervals than research to date in order to determine the duration for treatment to prevent the development of type 2 diabetes and related complications.

Lifestyle changes (in nutrition and physical activity) are clearly important to delay the development of type 2 diabetes in individuals with insulin resistance. Education about these changes must be directed to all groups at risk for type 2 diabetes. Childhood obesity is epidemic and on the rise in the developed countries. Changes must be made in homes and school cafeterias to ensure healthier nutrition (MyPlate).

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) is currently sponsoring the HEALTHY study, part of a research program called STOPP T2D (Studies to Treat or Prevent Pediatric Type 2 Diabetes). The goal of this research is to determine how nutrition, activity, and lifestyle modification may reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in children. Also ongoing is the TODAY study (Treatment Options for Type 2 Diabetes in Adolescents and Youth), focused on treatment options for pediatric patients with overt type 2 diabetes.

REFERENCES:

Chiasson, JL. et al. The STOP-NIDDM Trial: an international study on the efficacy of an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor to prevent type 2 diabetes in a population with impaired glucose tolerance: rationale, design, and preliminary screening data. Study to Prevent Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes Care. 1998 Oct;21(10):1720-5.

ClinicalTrials.gov. Treatment Options for Type 2 Diabetes in Adolescents and Youth (TODAY).

Knowler, WC. et al. Prevention of type 2 diabetes with troglitazone in the Diabetes Prevention Program. Diabetes. 2005 Apr;54(4):1150-6.

National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC). Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP)

National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC). Insulin resistance and prediabetes.

The George Washington University. Studies to treat or prevent pediatric type 2 diabetes (STOPP-T2D).

United States Department of Agriculture. MyPLate

Previous contributing author and editors: Ruchi Mathur, MD FRCP(C), William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR, and Jay W. Marks, MD


Reviewed by Robert Ferry Jr., MD on 12/21/2012

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