Association of obesity and leptin with insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes mellitus in Indian population.

Obesity and diabetes mellitus are two modern epidemics. But their interrelationship is debated. Here we explored the probable association among obesity, leptin and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes mellitus. 60 recent onset (< 5 years) diabetics and age-sex matched 33 non diabetic controls were assessed for physical and chemical parameters like Body Mass Index, abdominal circumference, waist/hip ratio, fasting blood glucose, insulin and leptin. Degree of insulin resistance was calculated by HOMA-IR method (Homeostatic Model Assessment). All the physical parameters showed positive correlation with leptin and the HOMA-IR score, strength of association being highest between insulin resistance and abdominal circumference. Leptin and insulin resistance showed no correlation. Findings were lower in controls. Study concluded that, obesity mainly central type might be responsible for insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes mellitus where as leptin, a potential marker for obesity, may not. This perhaps points towards the multifactorial causation of insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes mellitus.