Abstract: Objective To explore the relationship between obese children with benign acanthosis nigricans and insulin-resistant and type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods Levels of glucose,insulin,and glucose/insulin ratio were measured on fasting blood specimens,and anthropometric parameters including waist/hip ratio,fat mass,body fat percentage and body mass index were examined in 42 obese children with benign acanthosis nigricans,60 cases of simple obesity and 20 healthy children controls.Glucose tolerance tests were performed in groups of obese children with benign acanthosis nigricans and simple obesity,respectively.Results Two of 42 obese children with benign acanthosis nigricans were diagnosed as type 2 diabetes mellitus.The rate of abnormal glucose tolerance and levels of blood sugar during 60 min and 120 min after glucose tolerance were significantly higher in acanthosis nigricans children than those in simple obesity (P<0.01).Anthropometric parameters and insulin level in fasting blood were significantly higher in acanthosis nigricans than those in simple obesity (P<0.01)and healthy controls (P<0.01),respectively.Fasting glucose to insulin ratio (FGIR) was significantly lower in acanthosis nigricans than that in simple obesity (P<0.01) and healthy controls (P<0.01),respectively.Conclusion Children with benign acanthosis nigricans are closely associated with obesity,hyperinsulinemia,insulin resistance,and are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Key words: Child, Acanthosis nigricans, Insulin resistance, Diabetes mellitus,non-insulin-dependent