insulin resistance, a cause of type 2 diabetes mellitus characterized by a need for an increased amount of insulin per day to control hyperglycemia and ketosis. It is associated with decreased or ineffective glucose transporter proteins with insulin-sensitive cells or insulin-binding by high levels of antibody. Insulin-resistant states also may occur with acanthosis nigrans, Werner’s syndrome, ataxia telangiectasia, Alström syndrome, pineal hyperplasia syndrome, and various lipodystrophic disorders.
