[How to explore insulin sensitivity in man?]

Abstract

The two most widely used methods for studying insulin sensitivity in man are the euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp and the intravenous glucose tolerance test with minimal model assessment. The glucose clamp is the reference method, well validated and easy to interpret, which allows various extensions to the basic experimental procedure in order to obtain more valuable information on the specific effects of insulin on the various aspects of glucose metabolism. However, it is time-consuming and labour-intensive. In contrast, the intravenous glucose tolerance test is easier to perform, but its interpretation is much more difficult and requires a modeling approach called the "minimal model". If the intravenous glucose tolerance test probably represents a good screening test, mainly on a population basis, the glucose clamp still remains the gold standard method to study insulin sensitivity in man.