Insulin Resistance
Insulin resistance is when your body cells don’t respond to blood glucose, resulting in higher glucose levels in circulation. Failure of glucose utilization predisposes to type 2 diabetes and other health conditions like stroke, heart disease, and cancer.
Insulin resistance can be a silent enemy; you could have insulin resistance for years without knowing it and eliciting any symptoms.
How Insulin Resistance leads to Diabetes?
Insulin hormone is released when glucose levels increase in the blood. Insulin helps cells utilize glucose for energy production and metabolism. When cells don’t respond to insulin, glucose levels remain high in the blood, producing more insulin. Over the years, beta cells of the pancreas have worn out and cannot produce optimum insulin levels. This results in persistent high glucose levels in circulation, leading to Diabetes.
What risk factors contribute to Insulin Resistance?
Insulin resistance is more linked with lifestyle and diet
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Obesity and high belly fat
- High carbohydrate diet
- Family history of insulin resistance or Diabetes.
- Hormonal disorders like Cushing’s’ syndrome
- Age
- Underlying medical conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome and fatty liver disease.
- Medications like steroids, HIV, and antipsychotic drugs.
Symptoms of Insulin Resistance:
The following symptoms may indicate insulin resistance:
A larger waist above 36 inches in women or above 40 inches in men may tell that you are at risk of developing insulin resistance. Other symptoms include:
- Constant thirst and hunger
- Feeling hungry even after a meal
- Feeling tingling or sensation in hands
- Fatigue and tired more than usual.
- Frequent urination
- Increased susceptibility to infection
- Dark velvety patches on the skin
Is there any cure for Insulin Resistance?
Treatment of insulin resistance requires a combination of lifestyle changes and medications.
Exercise for at least 30 minutes a day is recommended. One can choose brisk walking, running, gym, or swimming.
Manage your weight through diet. Add fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, fish, legumes, and protein sources in the serving.
Certain medicines which treat Diabetes are also effective against insulin resistance; metformin is considered an effective drug in that regard.
If you are going through insulin resistance affecting your masculinity and routine tasks. Worry not! We are here to help you battle this silent killer. Contact us nowfor consultations, queries, and details.