Insulin Resistance Precedes Development of Diabetes

Although people with insulin resistance may appear healthy, if undetected and unmanaged, the condition can lead to long-term chronic diseases such as type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The condition is associated with people who are overweight, physically inactive, or have other metabolic risk factors such as high blood pressure and dyslipidemia.

Insulin is the hormone that controls blood glucose levels and its metabolism. Insulin resistance is one of the primary contributors to the development of type II diabetes. Characteristically asymptomatic, it precedes the development of diabetes by many years.

In an effort to accelerate pre-diabetes diagnostic development, Metabolon, Inc. (Research Triangle Park, NC, USA), a metabolomics biomarker discovery and analysis company, will collaborate with the European Group for the Study of Insulin Resistance (EGIR). The EGIR has compiled large numbers of biologic samples from studies conducted at 19 clinical research centers across Europe as part of its effort to understand insulin resistance and how it affects disease. Metabolon will discover and validate the biomarkers found in these samples that relate to insulin resistance.

"This collaboration with EGIR will help Metabolon accelerate the development of Quantose IR, our diagnostic test for better screening of pre-diabetic patients,” remarked Dr. John Ryals, president and CEO of Metabolon. "This routine test will help identify pre-diabetic patients years before they become diabetic. With this information in hand, doctors can intervene with lifestyle or drug therapies, which may delay or prevent the onset of type II diabetes.”

Metabolon is a diagnostics and services company offering a biochemical-profiling platform. The company's platform provides a global analysis of complex biologic samples for the discovery of markers and pathways associated with drug action and disease. This metabolomics-driven approach enables the identification of biomarkers useful for the development of a wide range of diagnostics and provides insight into complex biochemical processes such as drug action, toxicology, and bioprocess optimization.


Related Links:
European Group for the Study of Insulin Resistance
Metabolon