title: Pathophysiology of prediabetes.
abstract: Prediabetes encompasses conventional diagnostic categories of impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance but is a band of glucose concentrations and a temporal phase over a continuum extending from conventional normal glucose tolerance to overt type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistance and defective glucose sensing at the β-cell are the central pathophysiologic determinants that together cause hyperglycemia. Regardless of the cellular origin of insulin resistance, excessive tissue fat utilization is a consistent metabolic mechanism. Although genetic influences affect β-cell function, becoming overweight is the main acquired challenge to insulin action. The phenotype of prediabetes includes dyslipidemia and higher arterial blood pressure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pisa School of Medicine, Via Roma, 67, 56100 Pisa, Italy. ferranni@ifc.cnr.it
authors.forename: Ele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ferrannini
authors.forename: Amalia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gastaldelli
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Iozzo
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D005934:Glucagon / Q000378:metabolism; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D011236:Prediabetic State / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids; D005934:Glucagon; D005947:Glucose