Application of Cortisol Determination in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Objective: To analyze the variation of cortisol in patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) with different waist circumference(WC),and to investigate the clinical significance of cortisol determination in type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods: Ninety six cases with T2DM and 71 normal controls were enrolled.The subjects were divided into non-abdominal obesity group(WC 90 cm for male,and WC 80 cm for female) and abdominal obesity group(WC ≥ 90 cm for male,and WC ≥ 80 cm for female).The level of serum cortisol at 8 a.m.,the 24-hour urinary free cortisol,glucose metabolism,and lipid profile were assayed.And insulin resistance index(HOMA-IR) was assessed.Results: The level of serum cortisol at 8 a.m.and the 24 hours urinary free cortisol in cases with T2DM were significantly higher than in controls.The hematuria cortisol levels in abdominal obesity group were also significantly higher than in non-abdominal obesity group.HOMA-IR was significantly associated with BMI,WC,FPG and 24-hour urinary free cortisol in patients with T2DM.Conclusion: The levels of cortisol in patients with T2DM are higher than in controls.Abdominal obesity can increase the level of cortisol.The urinary free cortisol is positively correlated with HOMA-IR.The determination of cortisol is significant in T2DM.