Pathways from Insulin Resistance to Cardiovascular Disease: New Insights into Management and Prevention

Corporate-sponsored symposium
Saturday, June 5, 2004
5:30 – 7:45 am

Chair:
Christie Ballantyne, MD

Faculty:
Steven Haffner, MD
Alan Chait, MD
Jorge Plutzky, MD

Reviewed by Joelle Escoffery, PhD

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a common complication of type 2 diabetes. This symposium provided attendees with new information on the potential causative role of insulin resistance in the development of CVD.

Insulin resistance is believed to be an underlying condition linking obesity, T2D, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and coronary heart disease (CHD). In clinical studies, it has been observed that higher fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels were associated with an increased risk of CHD in patients with T2D, dependent of other CHD risk factors. Studies have also shown that non-diabetic patients with insulin resistance (prediabetes) also have an increased CV risk, dependent of conventional risk factors. Furthermore, it is a lesser-known fact that macrovascular complications are often associated with prediabetes. Therefore, a multifactorial approach, including diabetes prevention, improved glycemic control, and improved CV risk factor management, is necessary.