Leptin level measures and their clinical significance in type 2 diabetic patients

Objective The aim of the study was to investigate type 2 diabetics' serum leptin levels,and their relationship with insulin resistance,as well as the clinical significance. Methods A total of 100 type 2 diabetic patients, whose serum leptin level, BMI, glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1c), plasma glucose, serum insulin and proinsulin, lipids (triglycerides, total cholesterol ), free fatty acid ( FFA) and testosterone were measured. Insulin sensitivity was evaluated by homeostatic model assessment (HOMA-R). Results Multiple regression analyses showed the serum leptin levels positively correlated to sex, BMI, serum insulin, HOMA-R .There was, however, no relationship between serum leptin levels and measures of variables including total cholesterol, fasting blood glucose,HbA1c .Conclusion No significant difference of serum leptin levels existed between type 2 diabetics and non-diabetics;however,leptin levels had close relation with obesity and/or insulin resistance,and showed a certain clinical value for diabetic prevention and cure.