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Insulin Resistance: What You Need To Know

You might have heard that diabetes is referred to as insulin-dependent or insulin resistant. However, the symptoms and suffering of the patients suffering from both variants remain the same. What is it that sets these two apart then? How can one differentiate one from the other?

Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas for glucose absorption and metabolism. Insulin resistance is a condition where people are not able to use circulating insulin effectively as the cells of the body become resistant to insulin. This leads to difficulty in absorbing glucose and the accumulation of sugar in the blood. However, many people who have insulin resistance have high blood sugar levels but not high enough to be labelled as diabetes. This condition is known as the prediabetes stage.

It is not known exactly why one develops it; however, being overweight or obese are high-risk factors for developing this condition. Other factors that may also cause insulin resistance are genetic and lifestyle factors.

Insulin resistance can be temporary or chronic and can be treatable in some cases. Exercise is one of the fastest and the most effective ways to manage insulin resistance apart from oral anti-diabetic and anti-obesity medications which may be prescribed by your physician to manage the condition.

Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D

Effects of Insulin Resistance:

Insulin resistance initially does not trigger any symptoms. You may be insulin resistant and may not even realize it at all. Sometimes a simple blood glucose test too cannot tell you if you are insulin resistant or not.

The earliest signs and symptoms of insulin are weight gain, particularly around the waistline, which is termed central obesity. A person typically has a fat waistline, a big belly, a fat and thick neck, a double chin, and a fatty hump at the back of the neck but relatively thin arms and legs.

Another symptom which people with insulin resistance have is ‘acanthosis nigricans’. This condition causes dark, thick skin patches in the skin folds like the groin area, armpits, and neck. This condition has no cure. Treating the underlying cause, might lighten the colour and cause the natural skin colour to reappear, but chances are rare.

Other Insurance Resistance Symptoms Include:

Central obesity is the major cause of insulin resistance. Which can further lead to high blood pressure, prediabetes etc (known as metabolic syndrome).Life style changes can prevent metabolic syndrome and further prevent any chronic life style diseases

Dr. Nikhil Yadav, MBBS MD,CCEBDM

Insulin Resistance Causes:

The exact cause for insulin resistance is not known; however, the primary cause has been linked to obesity and being overweight. Excess fat accumulation around the belly causes the fat cells to be deprived of oxygen which ultimately kills them. An inflammatory reaction is set which starts the insulin resistance in the body.

Insulin resistance is identified as an impaired biologic response to insulin stimulation of target tissues, primarily the liver, muscle, and adipose tissue. Insulin resistance impairs glucose disposal, resulting in a compensatory increase in beta-cell insulin production and hyperinsulinemia. Commonest causes include Obesity, overweight, PCOS.

Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD

Is It Reversible?

Losing weight can help reduce the extent of insulin resistance and thereby improve glucose metabolism in the body. This includes a radical shift in dietary and lifestyle habits. The diagnosis of insulin resistance is only a warning signal. It can very often be reversed by adopting healthy lifestyle habits.

Insulin Resistance Tests:

1. The best test to conclude would be HbA1C which tells us about the average blood sugar levels over three months.

2. A fasting blood sugar test would also be advised for checking actual blood sugar levels.

3. A fasting blood sugar test and a series of blood glucose tests after a glucose drink (the glucose tolerance test) along with actual quantification of corresponding blood insulin levels is the most accurate test to confirm insulin resistance at an early stage. A fasting serum insulin level greater than 25mIU/L (or 174pmol/L) is considered insulin resistance. The same levels apply three hours after the last meal/ glucose drink.

Also Read: What Causes Double Chin: Research-Based Insights

How to manage insulin resistance in daily life

Living with insulin resistance can be rather difficult but it is not altogether impossible. One of the many treatments for insulin resistance begins at home by altering your lifestyle habits as mentioned above. These are:

Exercise is a universally recommended lifestyle habit for all people. A religious exercise routine of 30-60 minutes can be the solution for many of the health problems in the world including insulin resistance. Insulin resistance helps sugar move into muscles that go into storage and immediately gives a boost to insulin sensitivity.  

Resistance training either done with the help of resistance bands or dumbbells or kettlebells has been found to be very effective against insulin resistance.  

Contrary to popular belief, you may not be necessarily diabetic in order to suffer from insulin resistance. So, doing a combination of resistance training and aerobic training can significantly reduce your insulin resistance especially, when tracked over a 3-month period.  

Sleep is a highly compromised lifestyle element but a very important one in determining your overall health. Lack of sleep or poor quality of sleep can make you susceptible to health complications such as type 2 diabetes, heart diseases and an array of infections over time. Many studies have been able to successfully establish a connection between increased insulin resistance and low levels of sleep.  

Stress is another silent killer responsible for aggravating many health conditions in people around the world. Not only does chronic stress mess up your mental health but also takes a toll on your physical health.  

Stress is harmful because it triggers the release of the hormones glucagon and cortisol into the body which prompts the body to go into either a fight or flight mode. These two hormones break down the stored sugar and glycogen into glucose which enters one’s bloodstream as a quick form of energy for use by the body.  

Ongoing stress will keep your stress hormones on alert leading you to nutrient breakdown and increased blood sugar. Stress hormones will become you more insulin resistant thus, it is crucial that you keep your stress levels to a minimum by following the below-mentioned tips:

Maintaining a nutritious and filling diet every day is mandatory for a healthy lifestyle and keeping your insulin levels under check. To do this, here are some things you need to do:

When you suffer from insulin sensitivity irrespective of whether you have type 2 diabetes or not, you need to focus on losing a few pounds for your own health benefit., when starting on your weight loss journey, be sure to focus especially on belly fat reduction which has been found to be directly linked with insulin resistance.  

Insulin is a hormone that is responsible for many bodily functions and so you need to be extra careful when you develop insulin resistance. By following the simple lifestyle changes mentioned above, you can improve your insulin sensitivity significantly in a short amount of time. Additionally, do not neglect your doctor’s advice and prescribed medications (if any).  

Read More: 3 Different Type of Diabetes

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