University of Copenhagen’s Breakthrough Discovery on Insulin Resistance Could Transform Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis and Treatment

University of Copenhagen’s Breakthrough Discovery on Insulin Resistance Could Transform Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis and Treatment

(IN BRIEF) A team of researchers from the University of Copenhagen has revealed groundbreaking findings about insulin resistance, showing that it varies widely on a molecular level even among healthy individuals and those diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. This discovery challenges the traditional binary classification of diabetes and suggests that personalized, targeted treatments could be possible before the disease develops. Using proteomics, the researchers identified molecular changes that could allow for earlier detection and more effective treatments tailored to each individual. These findings offer hope for advancing precision medicine in the management of type 2 diabetes.

(PRESS RELEASE) COPENHAGEN, 28-May-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have uncovered groundbreaking insights into insulin resistance, which could revolutionize the way type 2 diabetes is diagnosed and treated. The discovery highlights the need to move beyond the traditional binary categorization of individuals as either healthy or diabetic by revealing unique “molecular fingerprints” that reflect varying degrees of insulin sensitivity in every individual.

In a new paper published in the prestigious journal Cell, the team discovered that insulin resistance varies significantly at the molecular level, even among those considered healthy, as well as those diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Surprisingly, some individuals with type 2 diabetes were found to respond to insulin more effectively than those without the condition. This finding challenges the longstanding classification of diabetes as an all-or-nothing condition and calls for a more nuanced approach that takes individual differences into account.

“We observed a substantial variation in insulin sensitivity, even among individuals deemed healthy, and some people with type 2 diabetes respond better to insulin than those without the condition,” said Associate Professor Atul Deshmukh, a senior author of the study from the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research (CBMR) at the University of Copenhagen. “Our study underscores the importance of recognizing individual variability rather than fitting people into two rigid categories.”

The research was conducted in collaboration with Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and Steno Diabetes Center in Denmark. Using advanced proteomics, a technique that analyzes protein changes, the team investigated how insulin affects muscle tissue. The analysis of muscle biopsies from over 120 individuals revealed that certain proteins consistently change as insulin resistance progresses. These molecular changes could provide a more reliable method of detecting people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes even before symptoms appear.

“Atul Deshmukh emphasizes, ‘By identifying the proteins that change with insulin resistance, we can lay the foundation for more targeted treatments, potentially even before the disease takes root.’ This insight into the molecular mechanisms could pave the way for precision medicine tailored to each individual’s unique insulin sensitivity.”

In addition to helping with earlier detection, the study also showed that these molecular markers can be used to predict how well a person’s body handles insulin. “By combining detailed clinical data with these molecular signatures, we can significantly improve our understanding of insulin resistance, creating opportunities for more personalized and effective treatments,” said Jeppe Kjærgaard Northcote, the first author of the study.

The research represents a major step toward precision medicine in managing type 2 diabetes, offering new hope for earlier, more personalized interventions.

Read the study “Personalized Molecular Signatures of Insulin Resistance and Type 2 Diabetes”.

Media Contacts:

Atul Shahaji Deshmukh
Associate Professor
+45 71 46 62 21
atul.deshmukh@sund.ku.dk

Professor Anna Krook
+46 85 24 87 824
anna.krook@ki.se

William Brøns Petersen
Communications Adviser
+45 93 56 55 80
william.petersen@adm.ku.dk

SOURCE: University of Copenhagen