Introduction-preventing insulin resistance through exercise: a cellular approach.

Insulin resistance is a progressive metabolic disorder associated with inactivity, ageing, genetic predisposition and environmental factors, and is a hallmark feature of a variety of disease states including obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, polycystic ovarian syndrome, arteriosclerosis and noninsulin dependent (Type 2) diabetes mellitus. The primary defect in the development of whole body insulin resistance remains unclear. However, during the past decade major advances have been made in our understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms regulating the entry of glucose into insulin-sensitive tissues. Such an understanding is critical in the identification of specific glucoregulatory biochemical/molecular sites that can be targeted by treatment strategies (i.e. exercise training) in the prevention and treatment of insulin resistance. The five papers comprising this symposium provide a state-of-the-art synopsis of the metabolic, cellular, and molecular mechanisms positively affected by exercise training in individuals who are insulin resistant.