Biochemical and Physiological Assessment of Inflammation, Insulin Resistance, and Cardiovascular Risk among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Background: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic condition that is associated with insulin resistance, chronic hyperglycemia, and systemic inflammation. These abnormalities account for much of the cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and early identification of metabolic and inflammatory abnormalities are key to good disease management.

Objective: To evaluate biochemical markers of inflammatory, insulin resistance and physiological cardiovascular risk factors in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus patients and healthy controls.

Methods: This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at Sheikh Zayed Medical College and Hospital, Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan, and Aziz Fatima Medical and Dental College, Faisalabad, Pakistan, from March 2024 to March 2025. One hundred and thirty individuals were recruited, of whom ninety were patients with T2DM, and forty healthy controls. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, fasting insulin, lipid profile, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were assessed. HOMA-IR (Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance) was used for the estimation of insulin resistance.

Results: Patients with T2DM exhibited significantly higher body mass index, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, HbA1c, fasting insulin, and HOMA-IR values compared with controls (p<0.001). Inflammatory biomarkers including hs-CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α were markedly elevated among diabetic patients. Significant dyslipidemia was observed, characterized by increased total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and reduced HDL cholesterol. HOMA-IR had strong positive relationships with inflammatory markers and cardiovascular risk indicators.

Conclusion: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) has been linked to significant inflammation, insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk. Biochemical and physiological evaluation could help to identify risk at an early stage and to optimize the prevention of cardiovascular complications.