Insulin Resistance
The purpose of this page is to explain to you what insulin resistance is, that it is linked to many other health conditions, what to look for to suspect if you have insulin resistance.
Definition-
"Insulin stimulates glucose to enter into tissue, and its ability to do so varies greatly among individuals. In insulin resistance, tissues have a diminished ability to respond to the action of insulin. To compensate, the pancreas secretes more insulin.
Insulin resistance can be linked to diabetes, hypertension, abnormal cholesterol, cardiovascular disease (heart attacks and strokes) and other abnormalities. These abnormalities constitute the insulin resistance syndrome. Because insulin resistance usually develops long before these diseases appear, identifying and treating insulin-resistant patients has potentially great preventive value.
Obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, lipid disorders, and heart disease are common in most Western societies and are collectively responsible for an enormous burden of suffering. Many people have more that one and sometimes all of these conditions, leading to the theory that the coexistence of these diseases is not a coincidence, but that a common underlying abnormality allows them to develop. In 1988 it was suggested that the defect was related to insulin, and the insulin resistance syndrome was first described. It is estimated that this syndrome affects 70-80 million Americans." American Family Physician-March 2001
When to suspect insulin resistance- There is no simple and practical test that can detect insulin resistance. Therefore physicians use the below list to know when to suspect insulin resistance.
- Family history of diabetes
- Hypertension -(1/2 of patients with hypertension have insulin resistance)
- Intense carbohydrate cravings, sweet tooth, or “highs and lows” after too many carbs
- History of gestational diabetes or history of babies weighing more than 9lbs.
- Weight gain the first year after pregnancy
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Obesity- The pattern of obesity is extremely important. There is a strong relationship between abdominal obesity and the degree of insulin resistance independent of total body weight.
- History of new onset of obesity or worsen of obesity during midlife- i.e. “I never had a weight problem till I hit 40” or “I didn’t use to have to work near this hard to lose weight”
- A history of change of where your body distributes fat. Holding more weight around your middle than you use to. “I never use to have such a thick waist.”
- Also I suspect insulin resistance when I see a mismatch in weight loss and a great journal, i.e. a documented month of hitting the target approach and only losing 2-3 lbs. This tells me that something additional must be contributing to weight problems.
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