Biomarkers relating to insulin resistance, pre-diabetes, type-2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, atherosclerosis, and cardiomyopathy are provided, as well as methods for using such biomarkers as biomarkers for insulin resistance, pre-diabetes, type-2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, atherosclerosis, and cardiomyopathy. In addition, methods for modulating the respective disorders or conditions of a subject are also provided. Also provided are suites of small molecule entities as biomarkers for insulin resistance, pre-diabetes, type-2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, atherosclerosis, and cardiomyopathy.