Assessment of Insulin Secretion and Insulin Resistance

Abstract

Impaired insulin secretion and increased insulin resistance are major contributors to the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus (DM). Because pancreatic β-cell function and insulin resistance play an important role in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of DM, several methods for measuring them have been developed based on dynamic and static tests. Because dynamic tests are time consuming and labor intensive, they are not suitable for use in practice. Static tests are simple and less invasive but do not reflect the complex processes of glucose and insulin metabolism. To easily measure insulin secretion capacity, insulinogenic index calculated from oral glucose tolerance test or mixed meal tolerance test and HOMA-β (homeostasis model assessment for β-cell function) can be used. To assess insulin resistance, HOMA-IR (homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance) can be used. To measure insulin secretion and insulin resistance more accurately, efficiently, and easily, standardized insulin assay should be establishment and new tests should be continuously developed.