What is insulin resistance?
Well, usually food is
absorbed into the bloodstream in the form of sugar, and then this increase in
the blood sugar signals the pancreas to release a hormone called insulin.
Insulin clings onto the cells and then removes sugar from the bloodstream so
that it can be used for energy.
In the case of
insulin resistance, the body’s cells do not respond to the insulin as
effectively as it should, which means that the sugar is not used for energy,
which means that the body then stores it in the cells as fat.
The 5 Signs of Insulin Resistance
Some signs and
symptoms of insulin resistance can vary from one person to the next, but the 5
most common and most concerning signs are:
1. High blood pressure
It is not yet known
exactly how and why this occurs, but studies have clearly shown that the higher
the blood pressure, the worse the insulin resistance.
2. High cholesterol levels
It is typical that
people with insulin resistance have high levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) and
low levels of good cholesterol (HDL).
3. Heart disease
Having problems like
atherosclerosis (the hardening of the arteries) and other heart problems can be
a bright, flashing red light for insulin resistance and should be of big
concern.
4. Obesity
Insulin resistance
and obesity go hand-in-hand. This can usually be seen by large amounts of
excess body fat, especially around the belly. Obesity and insulin resistance
works in a vicious cycle where obesity can lead to insulin resistance, and vice
versa.
5. Kidney damage
Protein in the urine
is a sign that kidney damage has occurred, although this is usually not the
first sign of insulin resistance.
How Is Insulin Resistance Diagnosed?
There is no set or
simple test to diagnose insulin resistance. However, here are some of the
factors that your doctor would consider when diagnosing insulin resistance:
- Blood pressure of 130/85 or higher
- A waist size of 100cm or more in men and 88cm or more in women.
- Triglycerides levels higher than 2.2mmol/L.
- A HDL (good cholesterol) level of less than 1.3mmol/L for men and 1.5mmol/L for women.
- Fasting blood glucose levels of 5.5mmol/L or higher.
How to Treat Insulin Resistance
The key is to get to-
and then maintain a healthy weight through the right diet and exercise. These
lifestyle changes can also reduce the risk for diabetes and heart disease. There
are some blood sugar supplement that can help to reduce the incidence of
diabetes in people at very high risk. But lifestyle changes have been shown to
have the greatest benefit for decreasing the risk for diabetes.
How to prevent Insulin resistance
Although insulin
resistance is manageable and curable, the best way is to prevent it from the
start. Here are some tips on how to do exactly that:
Exercise – Work out
for at least 30 minutes a day, for at least five days a week.
Weight – Get to and
maintain a healthy weight
Diet – A healthy,
balanced and caloric restricted diet is recommended.
Insulin Resistance And How To Prevent It
Reviewed by Chibuzor Aguwa
on
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
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