Insulin Sensitivity
The degree to which cells respond to insulin signalling, the inverse of insulin resistance. Higher insulin sensitivity means cells efficiently take up glucose in response to lower insulin levels. Weight loss, exercise, and certain peptide drugs improve insulin sensitivity.
Technical Context
Insulin sensitivity is the inverse of insulin resistance and can be measured by: euglycaemic-hyperinsulinaemic clamp (M-value: glucose disposal rate at steady-state insulin — gold standard), frequently sampled IVGTT with minimal model analysis (Si index), HOMA-S (100/HOMA-IR), Matsuda index (from OGTT data), and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI). Factors improving insulin sensitivity: weight loss (5-10% body weight loss can improve insulin sensitivity by 25-50%), exercise (both acute and chronic effects through AMPK activation and GLUT4 upregulation), reduced visceral adiposity, reduced inflammatory cytokines, and improved sleep quality. GLP-1 RA-induced weight loss of 10-20% produces substantial insulin sensitivity improvement — this is partly why some patients with type 2 diabetes achieve diabetes remission (HbA1c <6.5% off diabetes medications) after significant weight loss with these agents.