Oral contraceptives, insulin resistance and ischemic vascular disease.

From a large prospective study on diabetes risks, 1112 professionally active, non-menopausal, non-pregnant, healthy women were cross-sectionally analysed according to their use of oral contraception. After adjustment for age, weight and diabetes risk factors, those taking the pill, compared to those who did not, had significantly higher fasting serum insulin, triglycerides and 2-h 75 g OGTT blood glucose levels. The insulin-resistance markers which have recently been cited as ischemic vascular disease risk factors should be carefully monitored in pill users.