| Definition : A constellation of conditions that place people at high risk for coronary artery disease. These conditions include type 2 diabetes , obesity , high blood pressure , and a poor lipid profile with elevated LDL (“bad”) cholesterol , low HDL (“good”) cholesterol, elevated triglycerides . All of these conditions are associated with high blood insulin levels. The fundamental defect in the metabolic syndrome is insulin resistance in both adipose tissue and muscle . Drugs that decrease insulin resistance also usually lower blood pressure and improve the lipid profile. |