Insulin resistance is one of the most common metabolic disorders and is one of the main factors behind type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistance occurs when cells become resistant to insulin. This means that insulin doesn’t do its job properly, causing an increased level of glucose in the bloodstream.
Insulin resistance is a condition where your cells don’t respond normally to insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps control sugar levels in your bloodstream. If your cells aren’t responding properly to insulin, then your blood sugar level may rise higher than normal. This can lead to diabetes and other health problems.
Table of Contents
Two Types of Insulin Resistance
Peripheral
Peripheral insulin resistance refers to the inability of insulin to reach its target tissues.
Peripheral insulin resistance may occur due to an overproduction of insulin by the pancreas. This leads to hyperinsulinemia, which results in increased blood flow to the liver and muscles.
Central
Central insulin resistance refers to the failure of insulin to stimulate insulin receptors in the brain.
Central insulin resistance may occur due to a decrease in the number of insulin receptors on the surface of the cell membrane. This decreases the ability of insulin to bind to these receptors.
In addition to causing insulin resistance, high levels of insulin in the bloodstream can lead to fatty liver disease. Fatty liver disease is characterized by excessive accumulation of triglycerides in the liver. It can result in inflammation and scarring of the liver.
Fatty liver disease can lead to cirrhosis, which is a condition where scar tissue replaces normal liver tissue. Cirrhosis can eventually lead to liver cancer.
What causes insulin resistance?
There are several factors that contribute to insulin resistance. Some of these include:
• Genetics
• Aging
• Being overweight
• High stress
• Lack of sleep
• Eating too much processed food
• Too little exercise
• Certain medications
• Excess belly fat
• Drinking alcohol
How do I know if I’m insulin resistant?
If you’re insulin resistant, you may notice one or more of the following symptoms:
• Frequent urination
• Fatigue
• Bloating
• Muscle cramps
• Nausea
• Lowered mood
• Depression
• Excessive thirst
• Feeling cold
• Dry skin
• Dizziness
• Hyperglycemia
• Shaking hands
• Sweating
Can I reverse insulin resistance?
Yes, you can reverse insulin resistance. The key is to change your diet and lifestyle habits so that they improve your overall health. It’s important to eat a balanced diet full of whole foods and avoid processed foods.
It’s also important to get regular physical activity. Exercise can help lower your blood pressure and increase your metabolic rate.
In addition, you should try to manage your stress levels. Stress can cause your body to release cortisol, a hormone that can cause insulin resistance.
Finally, you need to take care of your mental health. Maintaining good emotional health can help prevent depression and anxiety.
The bottom line is that you can reverse insulin resistance if you adopt a healthier lifestyle.
How Does Insulin Resistance Affect Your Health?
When insulin resistance occurs, the body cannot properly utilize glucose for fuel. As a result, glucose builds up in the bloodstream causing an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
Insulin resistance is often referred to as pre-diabetes because it precedes type 2 diabetes. In fact, many people who develop type 2 diabetes never had pre-diabetes. So, if you’re overweight, eat healthy foods and exercise regularly, you may be able to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes Type 2 diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion or action.
It is estimated that over 90% of patients with type 2 diabetes have insulin resistance.
In addition, there is evidence that insulin resistance may precede the development of type 2 diabetes.
Complications from insulin resistance
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or use insulin properly (insulin resistance). Insulin helps your cells absorb glucose, which is the main source of energy in your blood. Without adequate insulin, glucose builds up in your bloodstream, causing damage to many parts of your body.
High Triglyceride Levels
Triglycerides are fats found in blood. High triglyceride levels can be a sign of insulin resistance, which is a precursor to diabetes. In fact, people who have high triglycerides are at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those with normal triglyceride levels.
Low HDL Cholesterol
HDL stands for High Density Lipoprotein, and it’s a type of fat found in the blood. Low HDL cholesterol means having too little HDL cholesterol in your blood. This condition is called atherosclerosis, and it’s a major risk factor for heart disease.
High LDL Cholesterol
High LDL cholesterol (also known as bad cholesterol) is a risk factor for heart disease. In fact, high LDL cholesterol is considered a major risk factor for coronary artery disease, the leading cause of death in the United States.
Fatty Liver
The most common cause of fatty liver disease is insulin resistance. This condition occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin, causing fat cells to grow abnormally large. Fatty liver disease is usually associated with obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.
High Blood Pressure
The most common cause of high blood pressure is insulin resistance. Insulin resistance occurs when the body doesn’t respond properly to insulin, which regulates blood glucose levels. This results in elevated blood glucose levels, which in turn raises blood pressure.
Other Diseases
Other Complications that are possible from Insulin resistance are indirect. In other words, Insulin resistance leads to Type 2 Diabetes, and Type 2 Diabetes then leads to other diseases. Other diseases caused by Type 2 Diabetes are,
- Stroke
- Blindness
- Heart attack
- Kidney failure
- Amputations
In conclusion, insulin resistance is a condition where your cells aren’t able to properly use the glucose that enters their bloodstream. This causes your blood sugar levels to rise, which leads to higher than normal amounts of fat entering your liver. Over time, this can lead to serious health problems like diabetes and heart disease.
The good news is that insulin resistance can be reversed through lifestyle changes like diet and exercise. By cutting back on refined carbs and increasing your intake of fiber-rich foods, you can help lower your blood sugar levels and reduce the amount of fat that ends up in your liver. In turn, this will help prevent the onset of these diseases.