The relationship between insulin resistance and degree of diabetic retinopathy in a Latino populatio

Insulin resistance and diabetic retinopathy are both conditions that are prevalent among the Latino population. Research conducted among Japanese and European populations have suggested that the progression of retinopathy may be associated with the level of insulin resistance. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between insulin resistance and the degree of diabetic retinopathy in a Latino population.;Data for this study were obtained from the Genetics of Latino Diabetic Retinopathy study. Linear regression analysis showed that there was a statistically significant relationship between insulin resistance and the degree of retinopathy, after adjusting for various confounding factors. The findings suggest that lifestyle changes that influence insulin resistance may play a significant role in the prevention and/or moderation of diabetic retinal disease progression, specifically within the Latino population. Further study should be conducted using a larger sample size.