CCL2 and Insulin resistance: We have been able to demonstrate a significant decrease in surrogate markers for systemic inflammation and cardiovascular risk, including intima-media-thickness, insulin resistance, endothelial function, hsCRP, MMP-9, or MCP-1 with pioglitazone, while other anti-diabetic drugs resulting in an equal improvement of metabolic control had no such effects in diabetic patients [18, 19, 35].