A complex condition, insulin resistance or impaired insulin sensitivity does not allow your body to respond normally to insulin, which is a pancreatic hormone that is essential for regulating blood sugar levels. While several genetic and lifestyle factors can contribute to insulin resistance, the condition can be temporary or chronic. Also, it is treatable in some cases. Read ahead to know more about insulin resistance meaning, insulin resistance symptoms, its causes, diagnosis, and treatment.
What is Insulin Resistance?
Insulin resistance – also called impaired insulin sensitivity – is a condition when cells in your muscles, fat, and liver do not respond well to insulin. Simply put, insulin resistance meaning states that your body can’t easily take up glucose from your blood due to which the pancreas produces more insulin to help glucose enter your cells and maintain your blood glucose levels. If this insulin resistance increases to a state where cells do not respond efficiently to insulin, it can cause high glucose levels which can translate to prediabetes or diabetes over time.
The following are the risk factors for insulin resistance that can lead to prediabetes:
- Conditions like high blood pressure and abnormal cholesterol levels
- History of gestational diabetes, heart disease or stroke
- Suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Age 45 or older
- Being overweight or obesity
- Family history of diabetes
- Physical inactivity
Insulin Resistance Symptoms
Usually, people having insulin resistance and prediabetes do not display any symptoms, but some may have darkened skin in the armpit or on the back and sides of the neck along with skin tags in these areas, often this condition is known as acanthosis nigricans.
Further, It has been noticed that some people with insulin resistance may already have early changes in their eyes that can lead to retinopathy, which often occurs in diabetics.
Now you have learned about insulin resistance symptoms, read on to know about insulin resistance causes.
Insulin Resistance Causes
While researchers don’t fully understand insulin resistance causes, they think the following reasons can lead to the condition:
- Hormonal disorders such as acromegaly, Cushing’s syndrome and hypothyroidism
- Steroids, some HIV treatments and certain blood pressure medicines
- Inherited conditions including inherited lipodystrophy and myotonic dystrophy
- An inactive lifestyle/lack of physical activity
- Excess weight, obesity or too much visceral fat
- Lack of physical activity
- A diet high in carbohydrates
- Health conditions like nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
- Smoking
- Sleep conditions like sleep apnea
Insulin Resistance Treatment
Notably, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test, A1C test and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) can help diagnose prediabetes. While FPG and OGTT share the blood glucose level at the time of the test, A1C test reflects the average of your blood glucose over the past 3 months.
Further, it is important to note that there is no specific insulin resistance medication available in the market as of now. However, your doctor may prescribe drugs to treat other health issues like high blood pressure or high LDL (bad) cholesterol.
Besides, insulin resistance can be reversed by making the following lifestyle changes and including the prescribed medications by the specialist:
- Consuming insulin resistance diet, including insulin resistance food like non-starchy vegetables (tomatoes, peppers, dark leafy greens and broccoli) and fruits packed with minerals, vitamins and fibre
- Indulging in physical activity
- Losing weight
- Eating fewer processed foods
- Managing stress
- Getting enough sleep
- Quitting smoking
Conclusion
In a nutshell, insulin resistance meaning clearly talks about our body’s inability to properly take up glucose from blood. This is a complex condition that can lead to diabetes if the right actions to manage it are not taken in time. While there is no specific insulin resistance medication available to treat the condition, it can be well-managed by making lifestyle changes like eating healthy food, exercising regularly, sleeping well and managing stress.
