Hyperinsulinemia and cardiovascular risk.

Tissue insulin resistance and compensatory hyperinsulinemia cause early atherosclerosis and an increased cardiovascular risk for the non-insulin dependent diabetic individual. Evidence now indicates that a large and likely unrecognized number of individuals are insulin resistant and hyperinsulinemic and therefore share this risk. Ongoing investigation of this phenomenon may produce changes in the methods for earlier identification of these individuals and in the treatment of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease and may expand the areas in which nursing intervention can alter outcome.