BACKGROUND
Both insulin resistance and decreased insulin secretion have been known to be defects causing type 2 diabetes. However, decreased insulin secretion rather than insulin resistance has been suggested to be a more important factor in development of type 2 diabetes in Korea. Thus, we undertook this study to evaluate insulin resistance and beta cell function in Korean type 2 diabetes patients. METHODS: Retrospectively, we applied HOMA model to 1,233 type 2 diabetes pateints (575 males and 658 females) and assessed HOMA(beta cell) function and HOMA(IR). RESULTS: The HOMA(IR) of Korean male was 2.6 (0.05~39.53) and that of Korean female was 3.1 (0.04~53.54), and the HOMA(beta cell) of male was 22.3 (0.2~873.8)%, and that of female was 30.6 (0.37~1738.3)%. There was no significant difference. There was no significant correlation between HOMA(IR) and age and duration of diabetes, but there was significant correlation between HOMA(beta cell) and BMI, 0 min, 30 min insulin level and 0 min C-peptide level in oGTT. In the group of high HOMA(IR) than lower HOMA(IR), HOMA(beta cell) have more strong correlation with age at dignosis, BMI, duration of diabetes, FBS, 0 min and 60 min insulin, 0 min C-peptide and 24 hour urine C-peptide. CONCLUSION: In comparison with HOMA Model of San Antonio Heart Study, the HOMA(beta cell) and HOMA(IR) of Korean were lower, so the HOMA(beta cell) and HOMA(IR) may be different between ethnic groups. And further prospective analysis for the evaluation of insulin resistance and insulin secretion defect with HOMA model should be done in Korean type 2 diabeties.