Phenotypic Assessment of Insulin Resistance and Insulin Secretory Capacity

This is a pilot study to examine the prevalence of metabolic risk factors (impaired insulin release and impaired insulin sensitivity) for type 2 diabetes mellitus in children and adults from a population that is at high risk for this disease. We hypothesize that at least one of these pre-diabetic traits will be evident in a large proportion of relatives of known type 2 diabetic children as compared to a control group of subjects without a family history of type 2 diabetes. By isolating these traits, it will be possible to determine the relative contributions of genes and environment to each trait and to identify those at risk for subsequent development of type 2 diabetes by virtue of having one trait. Ultimately, those individuals at risk, especially those with impaired insulin release, would hopefully benefit from intervention to prevent the weight gain that will 'unmask' their underlying pancreatic dysfunction and thus prevent or retard the development of type 2 diabetes.