The Importance of Leptin in Managing Patients with Dysglycemia & Metabolic Syndrome

Nearly one-fourth of all Americans age 20 or older are obese, meaning that they are 30 or more pounds over their ideal weight. Obesity is linked to 5 of the 10 leading causes of death in the United States, including diabetes. Nationwide, costs of obesity are estimated at nearly $100 billion. Over the past several years there have been numerous research papers correlating leptin and obesity. However, few people, including health care professionals, realize the importance leptin plays in regulating blood sugar in the body, and why it is important to test for leptin when treating patients that have blood sugar regulation disorders such as type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.