Because metabolic syndrome usually develops long before these diseases materialize, identifying and treating this syndrome in its early stages can often help delay or prevent their onset.

What causes metabolic syndrome?

The exact cause or causes of metabolic syndrome is not known. However, many researchers believe that insulin resistance, in addition to being a component, is a contributing factor. Other contributing factors are age, race, weight, whether you have a history of diabetes and the presence of some other diseases.

What are the symptoms of metabolic syndrome?

Definitions of metabolic syndrome vary depending on where you look. It is often described as the presence of at least three of the following conditions:

• Abdominal obesity
• High blood pressure
• Insufficient HDL "good" cholesterol
• Elevated triglycerides
• Elevated fasting glucose (prediabetes) or insulin resistance

How is metabolic syndrome diagnosed?

Diagnosis of metabolic syndrome can involve a blood pressure reading and assessment of obesity, such as a measurement of the waistline using a tape measure and measurement of body weight using a scale. Physicians may also perform a few simple blood tests to measure levels of:

• Glucose
• Insulin (a hormone that regulates glucose)
• Cholesterol and triglycerides
• Uric acid
• Fibrinogen
• A protein called PAI-1
• Iron (ferritin)