Did You Know? Resistance May Increase Risk of CVD in Type 1 Diabetes

Resistance May Increase Risk of CVD in Type 1 Diabetes: The Coronary Artery Calcification in Type 1 Diabetes (CACTI) study assessed the role of insulin action on peripheral glucose utilization and nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) suppression in predicting coronary artery calcification (CAC) in Type 1 diabetes. Compared to subjects without diabetes, patients with Type 1 diabetes had lower peripheral glucose utilization and lower NEFA levels during 8 mU/m2/min insulin infusion. In addition, both lower glucose utilization and higher NEFA levels were associated with CAC volume and were predictive of CAC with an odds ratio of 0.45 and 2.4, respectively. No correlation was found between insulin resistance and current glycemic control. These results suggest that insulin resistance may contribute towards increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease both in patients with Type 1 diabetes and in subjects without diabetes Schauer, I.E. et al. Diabetes 2011, 60(1): 306).