Understanding Insulin Resistance

Understanding Insulin Resistance

Insulin resistance occurs when the cells in your muscles, liver, and fats do not respond to insulin. Because of this, the cells are unable to use the glucose present in the blood. Insulin resistance can be caused by several lifestyle and genetic factors.

To gain a better understanding, we must first understand how insulin works in our body. When you eat food, your body converts it into glucose. This glucose then enters the bloodstream, indicating to your pancreas that it should release Insulin. Insulin facilitates the absorption of glucose into your fat, liver, and muscle cells, where it is utilised to generate energy. When blood glucose levels drop due to the glucose being used up, your pancreas stops producing insulin.

However, with insulin resistance, the cells of muscles, liver, and fats are unable to respond to insulin and cannot absorb glucose, which leaves you with a high amount of glucose in the blood. The pancreas produces more insulin to keep the blood sugar in check. This can cause excess insulin levels in the blood (hyperinsulinemia) and weight gain.

Symptoms of Insulin Resistance

Initially, you may not experience any symptoms of insulin resistance, as the pancreas can increase insulin production to keep your blood sugar levels in check. However, as time passes, insulin resistance may become worse and cells in the pancreas may wear out and stop producing enough insulin.

Due to the lack of sufficient insulin, your blood sugar levels may start to rise, giving rise to the following symptoms:

• Frequent urge to urinate
• Increased thirst
• Blurry vision
• Headache
• Delayed wound healing
• Skin and vaginal infections
• In case you notice any of these symptoms, talk to your healthcare provider and get medical help.

Causes of Insulin Resistance

Scientists are still trying to figure out the causes of insulin resistance. However, they have identified several genes that increase the risk of insulin resistance. Other factors include:

• Excess body fat (visceral fat around the belly)
• Lack of physical activity
• Diet (processed food, saturated fats, and high carbohydrate foods)
• Certain medicines (such as steroids, blood pressure medicines, anti-HIV treatments, and psychiatry medicines)

Many hormonal and genetic conditions can lead to insulin resistance. Your doctor can help you find out the cause behind your condition.

Complications of Insulin Resistance

Insulin resistance, if left untreated, can lead to complications like type 2 diabetes. Other complications associated with insulin resistance include:

• Obesity
• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
• Metabolic syndrome
• Cardiovascular disease
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)

Insulin Resistance – Temporary or Permanent

Insulin resistance is not a permanent condition. If you become insulin resistant, your cells lose the ability to respond to insulin. However, this condition can be reversed by making the cells in your body more insulin-sensitive.

How to Reverse Insulin Resistance

With certain lifestyle changes such as the following, you can reverse your insulin resistance:

• Physical activity: Being physically active makes your body more sensitive to insulin and helps you reverse your condition. The earlier you start, the better the outcome.
• Weight loss: Developing a weight loss routine, avoiding foods with high sugar, reducing stress, and getting sufficient sleep can not only help you lose weight but can also help you reverse insulin resistance.
• Healthy diet: Your healthcare provider or nutritionist may suggest dietary changes to help you with the reversal of insulin resistance. Eating whole foods, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains can help you get your blood sugar under control and reverse insulin resistance.

Your doctor can suggest more lifestyle and dietary changes to help you reverse your resistance and develop more insulin sensitivity.

When to See Your Doctor for Insulin Resistance?

Initially, you may not notice any signs of insulin resistance. You start noticing signs and experiencing symptoms only when your condition has progressed. Therefore, if you notice any of the symptoms of insulin resistance given above, you need to consult your doctor and get medical help right away. Simple blood tests may be performed to diagnose the condition and your doctor should be able to help you work on it.

Conclusion

Understanding insulin resistance, its causes, symptoms and how you can manage them is the first step towards reversing it. Self-monitoring is the key to diagnosing this condition early and informing your doctor of the same.

If you notice any signs of insulin resistance, talk to your healthcare provider immediately. It is essential to realise that with proper and prompt intervention, you can bring your life back to normal.