WCIRDC Program Objectives

The program is designed to evaluate both clinical and basic science aspects of Diabetes, obesity, and CVD, focusing on insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, fat cell, adipokines, the gut, the brain, and energy metabolism.  The goal is to understand pathophysiology, and develop appropriate comprehensive clinical management plans.

Upon completion of this meeting, participants should be able to: 

• Understand the comprehensive approach to the treatment of obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia and the prevention of CVD, including nutrition management.
• Explain the role of IR and hyperinsulinemia in CVD, liver disease, PCOS, congestive heart failure (CHF), and the development of certain cancers.
• Understand the potential role of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) in lipid abnormalities, the endothelium, and vascular pathology.
• Discuss the role of the mitochondria and their related proteins, in particular humanin, in metabolic abnormalities, aging, and the development of plaques and atherosclerosis.
• Understand the interaction between fat, bone, and glucose, and its potential relationship to IR and diabetes.
• Understand the sortillin pathway as a target for reducing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and CVD risk.
• Recognize the role of the hyperstimulated beta-cell in obese adolescents, as a prelude to diabetes.
• Be aware of calcium scoring as a predictor and potential follow-up of CVD in cardiometabolic syndrome and diabetes.
• Describe the impact of chronic kidney disease (CKD) on cardiometabolic risk and CVD.
• Understand the role of the gut-brain dopamine axis, taste and visual stimulus in Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS), leading to overeating and obesity.
• Relate the potential relationship of IR to circadian rhythm, sleep disorders, the brain, incretin hormones and metabolic disorders.
• Educate the participants about the effects of incretins on diabetes, obesity and effects beyond glucose homeostasis.

TARGET AUDIENCE: This course is designed for endocrinologists, cardiologists, gastroenterologists, oncologists, internists, diabetologists, OBGYNs, pediatricians, dieticians, nurses, registered nurses, and any health care professional who is interested in insulin resistance and the interaction of multiple metabolic mechanisms, and the effect on health and society, as well as in potential treatment and prevention.