Unusual forms of insulin resistance

Abstract

Insulin resistance is an important feature in the pathogenesis of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Some rare patients have syndromes associated with a severe form of insulin resistance, usually involving acanthosis nigricans and, in premenopausal females, hyperandrogenism. This review discusses two of the causes of insulin resistance: mutations in the insulin receptor gene and autoantibodies directed against the insulin receptor.