Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body's cells do not respond to the action of insulin, so insulin cannot achieve its biological effect. Insulin is present in these patients in concentrations that are otherwise effective in healthy people.
In order to counteract the resistance of the cells, the body creates even greater amounts of insulin, so its level in the blood increases and hyperinsulinemia occurs.
How do we know if we are insulin resistant?
Insulin is a hormone produced by the β cells of the islets of Langerhans of the pancreas. Its basic role in the body is to control the metabolism of carbohydrates (sugar), fats and proteins.
Unfortunately, the truth is that anyone can become insulin resistant, even skinny people. Everyone is threatened by this danger, because we live in a society that has quick access to a lot of refined carbohydrates (white bread, sugar, pasta, potatoes, carbonated drinks like Coca-Cola, industrially - chemically treated food to which fructose has been added). In fact, the vast majority of us are insulin resistant to some degree. The difference is only to what extent. The more we eat refined and industrially treated food, the more insulin we need to break it down. The more insulin there is in the bloodstream, the less the cells react to it.
As we age, this constant exposure depletes the body's ability to tolerate refined carbohydrates and reduces our sensitivity, that is, the sensitivity of our cells to insulin. If you suffer from high cholesterol, triglycerides, or high blood pressure, you should check your insulin resistance, regardless of age and weight.
If you have high blood pressure, it is very likely that you also have insulin resistance. Medicines for high blood pressure do not cure insulin resistance, they only mask the symptoms. At first glance and without a blood test, insulin resistance can be recognized by several things. Someone has all the listed symptoms and signs, and someone does not.
Pay attention to the following things:
- Obesity, where the body mass index BMI is greater than 25. This is not an absolute indicator of the disorder, because thin people often suffer from insulin resistance. - Fat focused on and around the stomach, big belly, fatty deposits on the stomach, chest, around the internal organs - Constant sleepiness, especially after meals and frequent yawning - Chronic lack of energy and feeling tired despite abundant meals - Forgetfulness, depression, lethargy - Hanging growths on the skin, like hanging warts, around the neck, under the armpits, under the breasts - Constant need for sweets even after meals - Sudden drop in sugar - It is difficult to lose weight even when a person is on a diet, but on the other hand, it is easy to gain weight
Who can develop insulin resistance?
The risk for the occurrence of this syndrome is high in people who have a family history of type 2 diabetes or suffer from another type of diabetes, high blood pressure, or are overweight. Women who are built in the shape of an apple, as well as women who gain weight primarily around the waist, are prone to this syndrome. To assess your risk, measure your waist at the narrowest part (do not tuck in your stomach) and the widest part of your hips. Divide these measurements and if the ratio is greater than 0.8 for women (1.0 for men), it indicates that the abdomen is too fat and there is a risk of insulin resistance.
Women who have been diagnosed with dyslipidemia, especially those with low HDL levels and high triglycerides, are also at risk. If you divide the value of triglycerides by the value of HDL cholesterol and get 3.0 or more - there is a high probability that there is insulin resistance.
Also, skin changes known as acanthosis nigricans, where there are warty dark spots on the neck and armpits, in 90% of cases indicate insulin resistance.
The good news is that insulin and glucose levels can be influenced very easily: through lifestyle, exercise and diet.
If you have been diagnosed with insulin resistance, there are many things you can do to eliminate or reduce it, you just need to contact your doctor.
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