Authors: Debbie A Lawlor, Abigail Fraser, Shah Ebrahim, George Davey Smith
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.0040263
Abstract Summary
In older women without diabetes, insulin resistance—not blood sugar levels—emerges as the key cardiovascular risk factor. A study of 3,246 British women aged 60-79 found that elevated fasting insulin strongly predicted heart disease and stroke, while fasting glucose and HbA1c showed no association. This challenges current diagnostic focus on glucose thresholds alone.
Why Brain? 🧠
In older women without diabetes, insulin resistance—not blood sugar levels—predicts heart disease and stroke risk, suggesting current glucose-based screening may miss at-risk individuals.
The image is AI-generated for illustrative purposes only. Courtesy of Midjourney.
