INSULIN RESISTANCE: SYMPTOMS,CAUSES, TREATMENT

Hi today we are going to discuss about a insulin resistance , what are its effect and how to overcome it. So let start:-

What Is Insulin Resistance?

The role of insulin is to allow cells of the body to take in glucose to be used as fuel or stored as body fat.It also means that glucose is more likely to build up in the blood and this can lead to too high blood sugar levels..

Producing too much insulin is known as hyperinsulinemia.

Insulin resistance is the name given to when cells of the body don’t respond properly to the hormone insulin.When the body becomes resistant to insulin, it tries to cope by producing more insulin. People with insulin resistance are often producing too more insulin than healthy people

Insulin resistance is the driving factor that leads to type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes and prediabetes. Insulin resistance is closely associated with obesity; however, it is possible to be insulin resistant without being overweight or obese.

Modern research has shown that insulin resistance can be combatted by treatment methods that reduce how much insulin the body is producing or taking via insulin injections or insulin pumps.

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:

Initially, insulin resistance presents no symptoms. The symptoms only start to appear once it leads to secondary effects such as higher blood sugar levels. When this happens, the symptoms may include:

§  Lethargy (tiredness)

§  Hunger

§  Difficulty concentrating (brain fog)

Other signs that often appear in people with insulin resistance include:

§  Weight gain around the middle (belly fat)

§  High blood pressure

§  High cholesterol levels

If insulin resistance develops into prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, the symptoms will include increased blood glucose levels and more of the classic symptoms of type 2 diabetes.

CAUSES OF INSULIN RESISTANCE

Whilst the exact cause of insulin resistance is still not fully understood, it is well-known which factors can lead to insulin resistance developing.

Insulin resistance can commonly develop if one or more of the following factors apply:

§  If you are overweight or obese

§  Having a high-calorie diet, high-carbohydrate or high-sugar diet

§  Sedentary lifestyle – taking little physical activity

§  Taking high doses of steroids over an extended period of time

§  Having chronic stress

§  Having Cushing’s disease or polycystic ovary disease

In terms of what is happening inside the body that causes insulin resistance, researchers have observed that insulin resistance occurs in people that have:

§  High levels of insulin circulating in their blood

§  Excessive fat stored in the liver and pancreas

§  High levels of inflammation

Diagnosis and Tests for Insulin Resistance

Your doctor will use these things to diagnose insulin resistance:

• Questions. She’ll want to know about your family's medical history.
• Physical exam. She’ll weigh you and check your blood pressure.
• Blood tests. You might get:

o   Fasting plasma glucose test. This test measures your blood sugar after you haven’t eaten for at least 8 hours.

o   Oral glucose tolerance test. First, you'll take the fasting glucose test. Then you'll drink a sugary solution. Two hours after that, you'll take another blood test.

o   Hemoglobin A1c test . This blood test shows your average blood sugar level for the past 2 to 3 months. Doctors use it to diagnose prediabetes or diabetes. If you have diabetes, it helps show whether it's under control. You may need to take the test again to confirm the results.

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

• 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 Treatment and 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.
• Take medications. Your doctor may prescribe a medication called metformin (Fortamet, Glucophage, Glumetza, Riomet) to help keep your blood sugar in check.

Complications of Insulin Resistance

If metabolic syndrome goes untreated, it could lead to:

• Severe high blood sugar
• Severe low blood sugar
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Kidney disease
• Eye problems
• Cancer
• Alzheimer’s disease

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