Insulin level, glycemia, insulin resistance and β-cell function in relation to the lifestyle of Arctic indigenous people. Are there conditions for diabetes and which type?

Maintaining a nomadic lifestyle helps keep lower insulin concentrations; at the same time, glycemic levels in the groups were similar. In the NP group, there was a high proportion of individuals with low β-cell secretory activity, predominantly men; in the SP group, more individuals were insulin-resistant. Analysis of cases of glycemia ≥5.6 mmol/l confirmed, that hyperglycemia in a nomadic lifestyle was associated with β-cell hypofunction and the absence of obesity; on the contrary, in a sedentary lifestyle, it was associated with increased insulin resistance and obesity.