Dynamic PET imaging reveals heterogeneity of skeletal muscle insulin resistance.

PURPOSE: Skeletal muscle insulin resistance (IR) often precedes hyperglycemia and type 2 diabetes. However, variability exists within different skeletal muscle types and can be influenced by 3 primary steps of control: glucose delivery, transport, and phosphorylation. We performed dynamic positron emission tomography imaging studies to determine the extent to which heterogeneity in muscle type and control of insulin action contribute to IR. METHODS: Thirteen volunteers from normal weight to obese underwent dynamic positron emission tomography imaging of [15O]H2O, [11C]3-O-methylglucose, and [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose, measuring delivery, transport, and phosphorylation rates, respectively, in soleus and tibialis anterior muscle during a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp. Subjects were classified as insulin-sensitive (IS) or insulin-resistant (IR) based on the median systemic glucose infusion rate needed to maintain euglycemia.