[Atherosclerosis in subjects with mild hyperglycemia].

We have evaluated quantitatively the thickness of intimal plus median wall of the carotid arteries (IMT) in subjects with mild hyperglycemia determined by the OGTT recommendation criteria of Japanese Diabetes Association, consisting of IGT and non IGT. IMTs of IGT and non IGT hyperglycemic subjects were significantly thicker than those of normal volunteers with any decade and were quite comparable with those of diabetics. Accumulation of risk factors of atherosclerosis linearly increased IMT in subjects with mild hyperglycemia. IMT of subjects with hyperglycemia and hyperin-sulinemia after OGTT was significantly higher than that with relatively hypoglycemia and hypoinsulinemia. IMT was inversely related with insulin resistance but not with endogenous insulin secretory ability. These data indicate that insulin resistance is one of major risk factor for advancing carotid arteriosclerosis in subjects with mild hyperglycemia.