Researchers have uncovered new insights into how our bodies respond to insulin, revealing that insulin resistance varies significantly between individuals—even among those considered healthy. This breakthrough could transform how doctors diagnose and treat type 2 diabetes, allowing for more personalized care.
In a new study published in Cell, a team from the University of Copenhagen found that every person has a unique molecular profile—what they call a “molecular fingerprint”—for how their body reacts to insulin. This challenges the current view that people either have normal insulin function or suffer from type 2 diabetes.
“We saw major differences in insulin sensitivity, even among healthy people. In fact, some people with type 2 diabetes responded better to insulin than those without the disease,” said Associate Professor Atul Deshmukh from the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research. “We need to stop placing people in two boxes and start recognizing these individual differences.”
The research was a joint effort with Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and the Steno Diabetes Center in Denmark.
Precision Medicine for Type 2 Diabetes
Using advanced proteomics—the large-scale study of proteins—the team examined how insulin affects muscle tissue. They analyzed muscle biopsies from more than 120 participants and found that certain proteins consistently changed as insulin resistance increased.
These protein patterns, or molecular signatures, may help identify people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes long before symptoms appear. Today’s diagnostic tools often detect the disease only after damage has already occurred.
“We’re laying the groundwork for precision medicine—treatments tailored to each person based on their unique biology,” said Anna Krook, Professor at Karolinska Institutet and co-lead author of the study.
Predicting Insulin Response with Greater Accuracy
The study also showed that these molecular fingerprints can predict how well a person processes insulin, offering a more detailed view of their metabolic health than standard tests.
“When we combine this rich clinical data with the molecular signatures, we can better understand each person’s level of insulin resistance,” said Jeppe Kjærgaard Northcote, the study’s first author. “This knowledge can help us design more effective, personalized treatments.”
The findings mark a major step forward in the move toward individualized care in diabetes, where one-size-fits-all approaches may soon give way to targeted strategies based on a person’s unique molecular makeup.
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