You can't tell by looking at someone whether they have insulin resistance — and you don't have to be overweight to have it. But it sets the stage for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. The good news, CDC says, is that it can be reversed.
Image from CDC's page on insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
How insulin normally works
Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar, and you can't live without it.
- When you eat, food is broken down into sugars that circulate in your blood.
- Rising blood sugar signals the pancreas to release insulin.
- Insulin works like a key, letting blood sugar into your cells, which use it for energy.
- Blood sugar returns to normal.
Insulin also tells the liver to store extra sugar for later; when you haven't eaten for a while, the liver releases it so energy is always available.
When the system breaks down
After too much blood sugar over a long time, the balance can tip:
- Lots of sugar enters the bloodstream.
- The pancreas pumps out more and more insulin to push it into cells.
- Over time, cells stop responding well to insulin — insulin resistance.
- Blood sugar stays high, so the pancreas makes still more insulin.
- Eventually the pancreas can't keep up, and blood sugar keeps rising.
Because high blood sugar damages the body, it stores the extra in the liver and muscles; when they're full, the liver turns the rest into body fat, causing weight gain.
Type 1 diabetes is different. It is thought to be caused by an autoimmune reaction, in which the body attacks itself by mistake. People with insulin resistance don't respond well to insulin; people with type 1 diabetes don't make enough, or any, to survive.
Risk factors
Besides overweight and obesity:
- high blood sugar;
- high triglycerides (a blood fat);
- high LDL ("bad") cholesterol;
- low HDL ("good") cholesterol;
- family history of type 2 diabetes;
- physical inactivity.
If you think you might have insulin resistance, talk to your doctor.
Reversing it
The aim is to make your cells more sensitive to insulin again.
| Step | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Physical activity | Makes you more sensitive to insulin — start now, not after a diagnosis; the earlier, the better |
| Weight loss, if you have overweight or obesity | Relieves strain on the body and increases insulin sensitivity |
| A balanced diet of non-starchy vegetables, fruits, whole grains and lean protein | Lowers blood sugar, so the pancreas releases less insulin |
| Managing stress and getting enough sleep | Helps you reach your health goals |
Sources
Based on "Insulin Resistance and Diabetes," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; a work of the United States government in the public domain.
Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain) · Adapted from www.cdc.gov
1
0
0
0
Comments
