A method for determining progression, onset, or efficacy of treatment of diabetes characterized by an adipocyte imbalance in a patient, comprising: determining a level of a peptide in a biological fluid sample obtained from said patient; wherein said peptide is selected from the group consisting of: a first heterodimer comprising a first mer unit and a second mer unit, wherein said first mer unit has at least about 90% identity with SEQ ID NO:5 and wherein said second mer unit has at least about 90% identity with SEQ ID NO:6, and wherein said first mer unit and said second mer unit are linked via a disulfide bond; a first homodimer comprising a first mer unit and a second mer unit, wherein said first mer unit has at least about 90% identity with SEQ ID NO:6 and wherein said second mer unit has at least about 90% identity with SEQ ID NO:6, and wherein said first mer unit and said second mer unit are linked via a disulfide bond; a second heterodimer comprising a first mer unit and a second mer unit, wherein said first mer unit has at least about 90% identity with SEQ ID NO:1 and wherein said second mer unit has at least about 90% identity with SEQ ID NO:6, and wherein said first mer unit and said second mer unit are linked via a disulfide bond; a third heterodimer comprising a first mer unit and a second mer unit, wherein said first mer unit has at least about 90% identity with SEQ ID NO:2 and wherein said second mer unit has at least about 90% identity with SEQ ID NO:6, and wherein said first mer unit and said second mer unit are linked via a disulfide bond; a dimer of said first heterodimer; a dimer of said first homodimer; a dimer of said second heterodimer; a dimer of said third heterodimer; and correlating the level of said selected peptide with said progression of onset of a or efficacy of treatment of diabetes. determining a level of a peptide in a biological fluid sample obtained from said patient; wherein said peptide is selected from the group consisting of: a first heterodimer comprising a first mer unit and a second mer unit, wherein said first mer unit has at least about 90% identity with SEQ ID NO:5 and wherein said second mer unit has at least about 90% identity with SEQ ID NO:6, and wherein said first mer unit and said second mer unit are linked via a disulfide bond; a first homodimer comprising a first mer unit and a second mer unit, wherein said first mer unit has at least about 90% identity with SEQ ID NO:6 and wherein said second mer unit has at least about 90% identity with SEQ ID NO:6, and wherein said first mer unit and said second mer unit are linked via a disulfide bond; a second heterodimer comprising a first mer unit and a second mer unit, wherein said first mer unit has at least about 90% identity with SEQ ID NO:1 and wherein said second mer unit has at least about 90% identity with SEQ ID NO:6, and wherein said first mer unit and said second mer unit are linked via a disulfide bond; a third heterodimer comprising a first mer unit and a second mer unit, wherein said first mer unit has at least about 90% identity with SEQ ID NO:2 and wherein said second mer unit has at least about 90% identity with SEQ ID NO:6, and wherein said first mer unit and said second mer unit are linked via a disulfide bond; a dimer of said first heterodimer; a dimer of said first homodimer; a dimer of said second heterodimer; a dimer of said third heterodimer; and correlating the level of said selected peptide with said progression of onset of a or efficacy of treatment of diabetes. a first heterodimer comprising a first mer unit and a second mer unit, wherein said first mer unit has at least about 90% identity with SEQ ID NO:5 and wherein said second mer unit has at least about 90% identity with SEQ ID NO:6, and wherein said first mer unit and said second mer unit are linked via a disulfide bond; a first homodimer comprising a first mer unit and a second mer unit, wherein said first mer unit has at least about 90% identity with SEQ ID NO:6 and wherein said second mer unit has at least about 90% identity with SEQ ID NO:6, and wherein said first mer unit and said second mer unit are linked via a disulfide bond; a second heterodimer comprising a first mer unit and a second mer unit, wherein said first mer unit has at least about 90% identity with SEQ ID NO:1 and wherein said second mer unit has at least about 90% identity with SEQ ID NO:6, and wherein said first mer unit and said second mer unit are linked via a disulfide bond; a third heterodimer comprising a first mer unit and a second mer unit, wherein said first mer unit has at least about 90% identity with SEQ ID NO:2 and wherein said second mer unit has at least about 90% identity with SEQ ID NO:6, and wherein said first mer unit and said second mer unit are linked via a disulfide bond; a dimer of said first heterodimer; a dimer of said first homodimer; a dimer of said second heterodimer; a dimer of said third heterodimer; and correlating the level of said selected peptide with said progression of onset of a or efficacy of treatment of diabetes.