Insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia and glucose intolerance in non-diabetic coronary heart disease

ABSTRACT

Serum insulin level and blood glucose level in the fasting and 2 hours after oral glucose load as well as lipid profile were measured in 25 non-diabetic, normotensive patients with old myocardial infarction and compared with that of 15 healthy control subjects. The results showed a significant increase in fasting serum insulin level, a very highly significant increase in 2-hour serum insulin level and a significant decrease in insulin sensitivity index in patients compared to controls. A nonsignificant increase in fasting plasma glucose and a highly significant increase in 2-hour plasma glucose level were found in patients compared to controls. As regards lipid profile, serum triglycerides, serum total cholesterol and total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio were significantly higher in patients compared to controls. The study showed that insulin resistance and its two major consequences, hyperinsulinemia and glucose intolerance, are major and independent coronary heart disease [CAD] risk factors