Comprehensive biomarker testing of glycemia, insulin resistance, and beta cell function has greater sensitivity to detect diabetes risk than fasting glucose and HbA1c and is associated with improved glycemic control in clinical practice

J Cardiovasc Transl Res. 2014 Aug;7(6):597-606. doi: 10.1007/s12265-014-9577-1. Epub 2014 Jul 29.

Abstract

Blood-based biomarker testing of insulin resistance (IR) and beta cell dysfunction may identify diabetes risk earlier than current glycemia-based approaches. This retrospective cohort study assessed 1,687 US patients at risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) under routine clinical care with a comprehensive panel of 19 biomarkers and derived factors related to IR, beta cell function, and glycemic control. The mean age was 53 ± 15, 42 % were male, and 25 % had glycemic indicators consistent with prediabetes. An additional 45 % of the patients who had normal glycemic indicators were identified with IR or beta cell abnormalities. After 5.3 months of median follow-up, significantly more patients had improved than worsened their glycemic status in the prediabetic category (35 vs. 9 %; P < 0.0001) and in the "high normal" category (HbA1c values of 5.5-5.6; 56 vs. 18 %, p < 0.0001). Biomarker testing can identify IR early, enable and inform treatment, and improve glycemic control in a high proportion of patients.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism*
  • Diabetes Mellitus / blood*
  • Diabetes Mellitus / diagnosis
  • Fasting / blood*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Glycated Hemoglobin / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Insulin Resistance / physiology*
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • ROC Curve
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Blood Glucose
  • Glycated Hemoglobin A
  • hemoglobin A1c protein, human