Insulin Resistance And Maximal Oxygen Uptake

Background: Type 2 diabetes, coronary atherosclerosis, and physical fitness all correlate with insulin resistance, but the relative importance of each component is unknown.Hypothesis: This study was undertaken to determine the relationship between insulin resistance, maximal oxygen uptake, and the presence of either diabetes or ischemic heart disease.Methods: The study population comprised 33 patients with and without diabetes and ischemic heart disease. Insulin resistance was measured by a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp; maximal oxygen uptake was measured during a bicycle exercise test.Results: There was a strong correlation between maximal oxygen uptake and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake (r = 0.7, p = 0.001), and maximal oxygen uptake was the only factor of importance for determining insulin sensitivity in a model, which also included the presence of diabetes and ischemic heart disease.Conclusion: Maximal oxygen uptake may be a more important determinant for insulin sensitivity than ischemic heart disease and type 2 diabetes.