Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has an increasing worldwide incidence. Insulin resistance is a key pathophysiological process in the development of hyperglycemia in patients with T2DM. Disruption of circadian synchrony leads to insulin resistance. Animal studies and post-mortem human brain studies suggest that the master brain clock in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) plays a role in the development of insulin resistance. Up to now, no-one has investigated whether the in vivo activity rhythm of the SCN is affected in patients with insulin resistance. The investigators hypothesize that the master brain clock has an important role in the development of human insulin resistance.
In this observational cohort study the investigators will determine the activity rhythm of the suprachiasmatic nucleus in humans with progressive stages of insulin resistance, using advanced functional brain imaging (7 Tesla functional MRI).