Insulin Resistance (IR)
What is insulin resistance?
Insulin is a hormone that is released by the pancreas whenever you eat food, especially carbohydrates/sugars. It helps the body use or store blood sugar in the muscles, adipose tissue, and liver. When this mechanism becomes impaired or overwhelmed, the pancreas releases more insulin to meet the demands of energizing the cells while trying to control blood glucose levels.
The body builds up a tolerance to insulin making it less effective and more resistant. As this continues the pancreatic function will not be able to the meet the demands for insulin, which leads to increased glucose or hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia. This rise in glycemic levels will lead to prediabetes and later Type 2 diabetes.
The essential process: Food is eaten, pancreas makes and releases insulin to all cells (not the brain), cells resist the insulin, sugar continues to circulate in the body and is stored as fat, causing fatigue and hunger, and cycle starts again.
What are the common risk factors for insulin resistance?
Insulin resistance is an acquired condition, through
Sedentary lifestyle
Increased weight
Obesity
Advanced age
A diet high in carbohydrates
Gestational diabetes
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
Sleep apnea
Genetic predispositions
It is theorized that accumulation of extra fat tissue causes physiologic stress, inflammation, and other cellular changes.
What are the symptoms of insulin resistance?
Skin tags
Belly fat
Increased thirst or hunger
Fatigue
Increased urination
Waist line >35 inches
Blood pressure becomes elevated
Fasting glucose >95
Elevated fasting triglycerides
HDL cholesterol <50
Dark skin patches called acanthosis nigricans
Menstrual irregularities and hyperandrogenemia
How is IR diagnosed?
Fasting blood glucose
A1C
OGTT-I: Oral Glucose Tolerance Test with Insulin
What treatments are available for insulin resistance?
Increasing your physical activity to 30min’s a day for at least 5 days a week.
Eating a diet of protein, good fats (nuts, olive oil, avocado) and fiber. Rule of thumb: 30gms of carbohydrates each meal and no more than 110gms each day for non-pregnant women.
Anti-inflammatory supplements: Omega 3s, Vitamin B complex, Vitamin C with bioflavonoids. Also beneficial is: Turmeric, Vitamin A and Vitamin D.
Medications: Metformin has been found to help to improve insulin action utilization in elevated insulin concentrations.
Other insulin lowering agents can be used depending on a case-by-case patient basis and severity of insulin resistance.
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