Inflammation, Diabetes, Ethnicity and Obesity Cohort

Who May Qualify: - Participants will be healthy individuals between the ages of 18-75 years. These cutoffs are designed to allow inclusion of postmenopausal women, and younger/more active patients who are increasingly undergoing bariatric surgery. - Patients with either diabetes type 2 or the metabolic syndrome will be included in the cohort. Who Should NOT Join This Trial: - Participants with chronic kidney disease (\> stage 4) - Autoimmune/inflammatory disease (e.g., Lupus, Ulcerative Colitis, etc.) - Unstable angina, New York (NY) class III or IV congestive heart failure or myocardial infarction within 3 months of entry - Clinically significant liver disease (e.g. Cirrhosis or liver failure) - Weight \> 450 pounds (DXA scan weight limit) - History of organ transplant - Treatment with chemotherapy or radiation therapy at the time of enrollment in study. - Poorly controlled asthma (participants requiring inhaled glucocorticoids and/or oral glucocorticoids) - Current nasal corticosteroid use (within the past month) - Excessive alcohol or substance abuse - Current use of anabolic steroids or testosterone for bodybuilding purposes. Testosterone use is permitted if prescribed for hypogonadism and dose stable for the past 6 months. - Patients actively enrolled in interventional trials involving investigational agents - Pregnant or breast-feeding women - Appears unlikely or unable to participate in the required study procedures as assessed by the investigator, study coordinator or designee. - History of abnormal clotting - Previous bariatric surgery - Anticoagulant use - Methadone medication Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.