Triglyceride-Glucose Index in the Prediction of Prediabetes

Prediabetes is a metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance long before the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and represents a key opportunity for intervention and prevention of T2DM. The triglyceride-glucose index (TGI) has been identified as an accessible marker of insulin resistance with potential diagnostic value. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the TGI in predicting prediabetic status in nondiabetic adults. A case-control study was conducted using retrospective data from 663 nondiabetic adults treated at an outpatient care center in Guayaquil between 2019 and 2023. 221 cases with Prediabetes and 442 controls matched for age and sex were selected. Nonparametric tests, binary logistic regression, and ROC curve analysis were applied. TGI was significantly associated with OR: 2.83 [95 % CI 1.94–4.14]. A TGI cutoff point ≥8.54 had a sensitivity of 75.1%, specificity of 58.1%, and negative predictive value of 0.82. The combination of TGI with overweight/obesity and albumin levels