Insulin resistance plays a key role in the development of type 2 diabetes. Skeletal muscle is the major storage site for glucose following a meal and as such has a key role in maintenance of blood glucose concentrations. Insulin resistance is characterised by impaired insulin-mediated glucose disposal in skeletal muscle. Multiple mechanisms can contribute to development of muscle insulin resistance and our research has demonstrated an important role for loss of microvascular function within skeletal muscle. We have shown that insulin can enhance blood flow to the microvasculature in muscle thus improving the access of glucose and insulin to the myocytes to augment glucose disposal. Obesity, insulin resistance and ageing are all associated with impaired microvascular responses to insulin in skeletal muscle. Impairments in insulin-mediated microvascular perfusion in muscle can directly cause insulin resistance, and this event can occur early in the aetiology of this condition. Understanding the mechanisms involved in the loss of microvascular function in muscle has the potential to identify novel treatment strategies to prevent or delay progression of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Biomedical and Clinical Sciences
Research Group:	Clinical sciences
Research Field:	Endocrinology
Objective Division:	Health
Objective Group:	Clinical health
Objective Field:	Clinical health not elsewhere classified
UTAS Author:	Keske, MA (Dr Michelle Keske)
UTAS Author:	Premilovac, D (Dr Dino Premilovac)
UTAS Author:	Bradley, EA (Miss Eloise Bradley)
UTAS Author:	Dwyer, RM (Dr Renee Ross)
UTAS Author:	Richards, SM (Dr Stephen Richards)
UTAS Author:	Rattigan, S (Professor Stephen Rattigan)
ID Code:	97966
Year Published:	2016 (online first 2014)
Web of Science® Times Cited:	47
Deposited By:	Menzies Institute for Medical Research
Deposited On:	2015-01-22
Last Modified:	2017-11-03
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