How are CRP and adiponectin levels and diabetes risk associated?

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a marker of systemic inflammation. Adiponectin is a hormone from fat that protects against insulin resistance and atherosclerosis. An association seems to exist between higher CRP levels and an increased risk^[1] of diabetes by roughly 26% for each log mg/L increase in CRP. For each log μg/mL increase in adiponectin, there’s a 28% decrease^[2] in diabetes risk. However, it should be noted that this is a correlation, and not causation. The specifics of the relationship between diabetes and inflammation are still being teased out. So it’s not a good assumption to think that anything that lowers CRP or raises adiponectin must lower risk of diabetes. In fact, some researchers^[3] have argued that high CRP and inflammation may in fact be an effect, and not a cause, of insulin resistance. The case is not yet closed on the matter.