What is Insulin Resistance?

Insulin resistance is when cells in your muscles, fat, and liver don’t respond well to insulin and can’t use glucose from your blood for energy. To make up for it, your pancreas makes more insulin. Over time, your blood sugar levels go up.

Insulin resistance increases your risk for progressing to diabetes. You could be insulin resistant for years without knowing it. This condition typically doesn’t trigger any noticeable symptoms.

How does insulin resistance syndrome affect the body?

To make up for it, your pancreas makes more insulin. Over time, your blood sugar levels go up. Insulin resistance syndrome includes a group of problems like obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes.  You might also hear it called metabolic syndrome.

Symptoms

• Insulin resistance does not present with symptoms until it leads to high blood sugar levels, which may cause:
• Darkening of armpits, neck, and groin
• Absence of menstruation
• Lethargy
• Brain fog
• Hunger
• Frequent urination
• Extreme thirst
• Abdominal obesity

Causes

• The exact causes of insulin resistance are not fully understood. Predisposing factors include:
• Chronic stress
• Cushing’s disease
• Sedentary lifestyle – very low physical activity
• Obesity
• High blood pressure
• Steroid use
• Family history of diabetes
• Pregnancy
• Sleep problems
• Infection or severe illness
• Previous diagnosis of gestational diabetes

Prevention

• Physical exercise at least 30 minutes each day
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Eating a balanced diet

Complications

• Diabetes mellitus

If you are interested in optimizing your hormonal health and insulin levels, I would love to help you reach your health goals. Feel free to reach out and check out available appointments here!

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