Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery of polypeptide biomarkers excreted into the blood stream (serum or plasma) and/or urine from adipocytes and their use to determine the existence of metabolic syndrome (prediabetic) and/or diabetic conditions (including type 2 diabetes) including insulin resistance and/or glucose intolerance, their use to monitor the state of metabolic syndrome or diabetes toward a state of control and/or cure of the disease state or condition and their use to monitor the long-term health of the patient by determining the existence of metabolic syndrome (prediabetic conditions insulin resistance and/or glucose intolerance) or the existence of type 2 diabetes and to identify potential antidiabetes agents. Methods of identifying potential agents to be used in the treatment of metabolic syndrome and/or type2 diabetes and assays for assisting in the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome and/or type 2 diabetes are additional aspects of the invention.