Endocrine Abstracts

Background: The central distribution of body fat has been identified as a significant risk factor for development of macrovascular complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) in particular. The aim of the study was the features of fat mass distribution in T2D patients using insulin.

Materials and methods: We studied 138 T2D patients with insulin in therapy (31 men and 107 women; mean age 51.43+8.41 yrs; disease duration 6.40+2.01 yrs; BMI 31.15±1.99 kg/m²; HbA1c was 8.05+0.95%; total daily dose (TDD) of insulin – 0.74+0.12 U; duration of insulin using - 3.86+0.87 yrs) and 32 matched for age and body mass index controls. The research involved anthropometry, general clinic examination, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry performed on “PRODIGY LUNAR” using program “Total body” and “Body composition”.

Results: There were no significant differences in fat component in general group of T2D patients and controls: Total Body 39.10±7.70% vs 36.88±7.84%, P=0.057; Android: 45.35±8.06% vs 44.34±7.15%, P=0.393; A/G Ratio: 1.12±0.19 vs 1.16±0.25, P<0.05; Trunk/Total: 0.58±0.07 vs 0.56±0.07, P=0.070. But in the subgroups of women (T2D vs controls) the following features were established: Total Body 40.75±6.63% vs 41.81±5.34%, P=0.384; Android: 46.38±7.71% vs 46.56±7.28%, P=0.898; Gynoid,%: 43.14±6.95% vs 46.10±5.32%, P=0.021; A/G Ratio: 1.08±0.15 vs 1.02±0.16, P=0.033; Trunk/Total: 0.57±0.07 vs 0.53±0.06, P=0.001; (Arms+Legs)/Total 0.72±0.23 vs 0.87±0.24, P=0.001; Legs/Total: 0.29±0.07 vs 0.33±0.07, P=0.001. Increasing A/G Ratio, Trunk/Total and decreasing (Arms+Legs)/Total, Legs/Total in diabetic patients evidence of fat redistribution in the trunk towards the extremities. Android (central) fat distribution was positively correlated with the age of T2DM women (r=0.18; P=0.023), however no correlation was found with the duration of the disease, level HbA1c, the TDD insulin dose. Similar differences were not found in the subgroups of men (T2D vs controls) in the following parameters: Total Body (P=0.271), Android, % (P=0.906), Gynoid, % (P=0.280), A/GRatio (P=0.146), Trunk/Total (P=0.974), (Arms+Legs)/ Total (P=0.095); Legs/Total (P=0.976).

Conclusions: There are differences in the distribution of fat in men of women with type 2 diabetes getting insulin. Women are characterized by a redistribution of fats with an increase in sediment in the trunk region.