RESUMEN

PURPOSE: We aimed to assess the relationship between the regional body fat distribution and insulin resistance and pancreas volume (PV) in type-2 diabetes (DM) patients. METHODS: Fifty-three consecutive type-2 diabetic and 51 non-diabetic patients matched by age, gender and body mass index (BMI) were enrolled. Subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), waist circumference, and PV were measured with computed tomography. Insulin resistance was assessed by the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). RESULTS: Patients with type-2 DM had significantly lower PV than non-diabetic individuals. HOMA-IR ranged from 0.74 to 6.24; and from 0.37 to 3.26, in type-2 DM patients and non-diabetics, respectively. VAT was positively correlated with HOMA-IR in two groups. There were inverse correlations between PV and VAT and VAT/SAT but only in diabetics. CONCLUSIONS: The VAT/SAT ratio may reflect the possible role of VAT to better understand the pathogenesis of obesity-related disorders in patients with type-2 DM.