Waist circumference is a better predictor than body mass index of insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes.

Summay: Background: Insulin resistance is an important pathogenic factor in type 2 diabetes patents. An easy and efficiency measurement predicting insulin resistance; which can be done easily by type 2 patients is desired. Objective: To examine whether waist circumference is a better predictor of insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes than body mass index (BMI). Methods: From a population of 1356 registered diabetic patients, 144 who met (1) aged between 30 and 75years, (2) being Chinese, (3) having had type 2 diabetes for more than one year, and (4) having been taking gliclazide and metformin for more than 6months were enrolled in this study. The main outcome evaluated is the associations of HOMA insulin resistance index (HOMA index); which were assessed using multiple linear regression analysis. Results: The coefficients of multiple regression analysis with stepwise model showed that waist circumference (β =0.35, p <0.001) but not BMI (β =0.01, p =0.94), adiponectin (β =−0.25, p =0.04) and hemoglobulin A1c% (HbA1c) (β =0.25, p =0.01) were the main predictors of HOMA index. Conclusions: These initial findings indicate that waist circumference is a better predictor of insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes than BMI. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]