What insulin resistance means, Symptoms? What is the main cause? What happens during insulin resistance? Is there any cure? How do I know if I’m insulin resistant?, How do you improve insulin resistance, Is insulin resistance the same as diabetes? Your all questions are answered here, Keep Reading.
Table of Contents
What insulin resistance means?
- Insulin is a hormone secreted by the beta cells of the pancreas.
- It decreases blood glucose levels by enhancing the uptake of glucose to various body cells like muscle cells, adipose cells, and liver cells for energy.
- Insulin resistance means when there is decreased ability of cells to respond to insulin hence insulin uptake decreases and levels of glucose in the blood are increased, the condition called Diabetes Mellitus.
What is the main cause of insulin resistance?
Environmental factors
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- Sedentary lifestyle-lack of physical activity.
- Dietary habits- increased intake of carbohydrates
Obesity
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- Obesity increases free fatty acids in the body which can lead to decreased insulin sensitivity.
Polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS) –
- It is a condition in which there is an imbalance of hormones in women of reproductive age resulting in an irregular menstrual cycle.
- Obesity is a common symptom of PCOS that will cause insulin resistance.
High blood pressure
- Hypertensives are at risk of developing insulin resistance.
Family history
- There is an increased chance of diabetes if a parent, twins, or siblings have Diabetes.
Gestational Diabetes
- Increased risk of diabetes in women greater than 26 years.
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What happens during insulin resistance?
Insulin resistance means resistance to the uptake of glucose from the blood to the cells resulting in increased levels of glucose in the blood called hyperglycemia or Diabetes.
Clinical signs of Diabetes
- Increased urination – It occurs due to increased levels of glucose in urine.
- Increased thirst
- Increased appetite.
- Decreased wound healing.
Complications of Diabetes
Kidney Diseases
- If diabetes is not controlled, it can lead to various kidney problems that result in kidney failure that may require Dialysis.
Nerve damage
- Increased levels of glucose affect nerves, especially nerves of the leg resulting in pain followed by numbness, and a tingling sensation.
Heart disease
- It increased the risk for myocardial infarction (heart attack), stroke (less blood supply to organs), and angina (chest pain).
- It can lead to Atherosclerosis -The hardening of an artery.
Eye problems –
- It can damage the eye’s blood vessels which can lead to total vision loss.
- It can also result in Glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye that can damage the optic nerve present in the eye)and Cataract( clouding of the lens in the eye)
Can insulin resistance be cured?
It can be cured depending upon the stage by adopting a healthy lifestyle and diet. Start by following these steps
- Daily walking for 30 minutes
- Decreased intake of carbohydrate
- Physical exercise
How do I know if I’m insulin resistant?
Some people are insulin resistant without any noticeable symptoms so it is better to check your blood glucose levels every 2 months.
These are some noticeable symptoms of insulin resistance
- Increased belly fat.
- Patches of dark, dry skin on armpits, groin region.
- Increased urination – It occurs due to increased levels of glucose in urine.
- Increased thirst
- Increased appetite.
- Decreased wound healing.
- Dry mouth – This can occur due to increased thirst.
- Feeling lethargic and tired.
How do you improve insulin resistance?
Insulin resistance can be improved by taking these small steps.
Exercise –Daily walking for 30 minutes
Take healthy food – fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, nuts, beans, etc.
And Lastly, Insulin resistance can be corrected by using medications. The doctor may prescribe you a medication Such as Metformin (FORTAMET, GLUMETZA) This will decrease the levels of glucose in the blood by inhibiting the synthesis of glucose from the liver hence helping you to overcome your insulin resistance.
Please note, Correction of initial insulin resistance is easy with respect to the resistance of later stages.
Is insulin resistance the same as diabetes?
Insulin resistance means when there is decreased ability of cells to respond to insulin hence insulin uptake decreases and levels of glucose in the blood are increased which can lead to Type 2 Diabetes.
- Obesity is associated with insulin resistance which results in Diabetes. Therefore, both are interlinked with each other.
- Type 1 diabetes is a condition in which there is the destruction of beta cells in the pancreas that produces the insulin hormone.
- People with type 1 diabetes need a high dose of insulin to keep their blood sugar in control.
Insulin resistance in PCOS
- Polycystic ovary syndrome is a condition in which there is an imbalance of hormones in women of reproductive age resulting in an irregular menstrual cycle, acne, infertility, and being less sensitivity to insulin.
- Obesity is a common symptom of PCOS that will cause insulin resistance.
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