ABSTRACT Objective This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence and clinical predictors of subclinical atherosclerosis in asymptomatic, young adult women with type 1 DM. Subjects and methods The study included 45 women with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) (aged 36 ± 9 years) who underwent carotid Doppler ultrasound evaluation to determine the carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) and to assess the occurrence of carotid artery plaques. Insulin sensitivity was assessed by estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR), and metabolic syndrome (MS) was defined by the World Health Organization criteria. Results The cohort had a mean age of 36 ± 9 years, diabetes duration of 18.1 ± 9.5 years, and body mass index (BMI) of 24.6 ± 2.4 kg/m2. MS was present in 44.4% of the participants. The CIMT was 0.25 ± 0.28 mm, and the prevalence of carotid artery plaques was 13%. CIMT correlated positively with hypertension (p = 0.04) and waist-to-hip ratio (r = 0.37, p = 0.012). The presence of carotid artery plaques correlated positively with age (p = 0.018) and hypertension (p = 0.017). eGDR correlated negatively with CIMT (r = -0.39, p = 0.009) and carotid plaques (p = 0.04). Albuminuria showed a correlation trend with CIMT (p = 0.06). Patients with carotid artery plaques were older, had a higher prevalence of hypertension, and lower eGDR. No correlation was found between CIMT and carotid plaques with diabetes duration, MS, BMI, cholesterol profile, glycated hemoglobin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, or fibrinogen. Conclusion Insulin resistance, central obesity, hypertension, and older age were predictors of subclinical atherosclerosis in asymptomatic, young adult women with type 1 DM.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a relação entre composição corporal, síndrome metabólica (SM) e resistência insulínica (RI) no diabetes tipo 1 (DM1). SUJEITOS E MÉTODOS: Quarenta e cinco mulheres com DM1 (36 ± 9 anos; índice de massa corporal 24,6 ± 4,4 kg/m²) foram submetidas à análise de composição corporal e RI por meio de densitometria por dupla emissão de raios-X e taxa de disponibilização de glicose estimada (eGDR), respectivamente. Vinte mulheres (45%) apresentavam SM, conforme critérios da Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS). RESULTADOS: Mulheres com SM apresentaram maior gordura central e menor eGDR do que as sem SM (41,9 ± 2,0 vs. 33,7±1,8%; p = 0,004 e 4,99 ± 0,40 vs. 8,37 ± 0,39; p < 0,0001). A gordura corporal total e a gordura periférica não diferiram entre os grupos. A gordura central foi inversamente correlacionada com eGDR (r = -0,33; p = 0,03). CONCLUSÃO: Deposição de gordura central em mulheres jovens não obesas com DM1 esteve associada com SM e RI. Avaliação da composição corporal pode ser importante na identificação de pacientes com risco metabólico elevado.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to determine the relationship between body fat composition, metabolic syndrome (MS), and insulin resistance in type 1 diabetes (DM1). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty-five DM1 women (36 ± 9 years; body mass index 24.6 ± 4.4 kg/m²) had body composition and insulin resistance determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and estimated glucose disposal ratio (eGDR), respectively. Twenty patients (45%) had MS according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. RESULTS: Women with DM1 and MS had increased central fat and lower eGDR than women without MS (41.9 ± 2.0 vs. 33.7 ± 1.8%; p = 0.004 and 4.99 ± 0.40 vs. 8.37 ± 0.39; p < 0.0001, respectively). Total body fat and peripheric fat were similar between the groups. Central fat negatively correlated with eGDR (r = -0.33; p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Central fat deposition in young non-obese DM1 women was related to MS and insulin resistance. Thus, body fat composition analysis might be important to identify DM1 patients with increased metabolic risk.