A resistance to the hormone insulin, resulting in increasing blood sugar. The hormone insulin helps control the amount of sugar (glucose) in the blood. With insulin resistance, the body’s cells don’t respond normally to insulin. Glucose can’t enter the cells as easily, so it builds up in the blood. This can eventually lead to type 2 diabetes.Insulin resistance typically has no symptoms. Weight loss and exercise can help reverse insulin resistance.
Symptoms of Insulin Resistance :
You can’t tell that you have insulin resistance by how you feel. You’ll need to get a blood test that checks your blood sugar levels. Likewise, you won’t know if you have most of the other conditions that are part of insulin resistance syndrome (high blood pressure, low “good” cholesterol levels and high triglycerides) without seeing your doctor.
Some signs of insulin resistance include:
- A waistline over 40 inches in men and 35 inches in women.
- Blood pressure readings of 130/80 or higher.
- A fasting glucose level over 100 mg/dL.
- A fasting triglyceride level over 150 mg/dL.
- A HDL cholesterol level under 40 mg/dL in men and 50mg/dL in women.
- Skin tags.
- Patches of dark, velvety skin called acanthosis nigricans.
Risk Factors and Causes of Insulin Resistance:
Things that can make this condition more likely include:
- Obesity, especially belly fat
- Inactive lifestyle
- Diet high in carbohydrates
- Gestational diabetes
- Health conditions like nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and polycystic ovary syndrome
- A family history of diabetes
- Smoking
- Ethnicity it’s more likely if your ancestry is African, Latino, or Native American
- Age it’s more likely after 45
- Hormonal disorders like Cushing’s syndrome and acromegaly
- Medications like steroids, antipsychotics, and HIV medications
- Sleep problems like sleep apnea
How Insulin Resistance Progresses to Type 2 Diabetes?
When you have insulin resistance, your pancreas makes extra insulin to make up for it. For a while, this will work and your blood sugar levels will stay normal.
Over time, though, your pancreas won’t be able to keep up. If you don’t make changes in the way you eat and exercise, your blood sugar levels will rise until you have prediabetes. Your doctor will look for these blood test results:
- Fasting plasma glucose test: 100-125
- Oral glucose tolerance test: 140-199 after the second test
- Hb A1c results of 5.7% to 6.4%
If you aren’t able to manage prediabetes, you’ll be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes when your test levels reach:
- Fasting plasma glucose test: 126 or higher
- Oral glucose tolerance test: 200 or higher after the second test
- A1c results of 6.5% or above
Insulin Resistance Reversal & Prevention:
You can take steps to reverse insulin resistance and prevent type 2 diabetes:
- Exercise. Go for at least 30 minutes a day of moderate activity (like brisk walking) 5 or more days a week. If you’re not active now, work up to that.
- Get to a healthy weight. If you’re not sure what you should weigh or how to reach a weight loss goal, ask your doctor. You may also want to talk with a nutritionist and a certified personal trainer.
- Eat a healthy diet. Think fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, beans, fish, legumes, and other lean protein.
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Dr. Vidur SN Vithal BHMS; DNHE; MD (Hom.)
Internationally Renound Homoeopath & Nutritionist
