This document has been written in order to provide some basic information about insulin resistance and its associated conditions. Where necessary we have supplemented the information with website addresses, and links to certain articles.
WHAT IS INSULIN RESISTANCE?
Insulin resistance is a condition in which some tissues (like muscles) in your body do not respond to insulin as they should - they are resistant to insulin. This results in an increase in the levels of insulin in your blood, which is responsible for most of the problems associated with insulin resistance (e.g. high blood pressure, cholesterol problems).
WHAT CAUSES INSULIN RESISTANCE?
Two things:
- a genetic predisposition (insulin resistance and the conditions it causes - type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and PCOS - tend to run in families.)
- a less than favourable lifestyle, with loads of starchy food and not enough exercise.
WHY IS INSULIN RESISTANCE IMPORTANT?
Many reasons:
- It is very common - it affects at least one in four people.
- about 50% of people who are significantly overweight have insulin resistance.
- about 50% of people with high blood pressure have insulin resistance.
- It is very dangerous - insulin resistance is the underlying cause of conditions such as metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
- It makes weight loss almost impossible. The irony of this is that weight loss is one of the few interventions that can significantly improve the outcome of the condition.
WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT INSULIN RESISTANCE?
1. IDENTIFY those people who are at risk of having the condition. People who are overweight, have high blood pressure, or have a family history of type 2 diabetes fall into this broad category. For a more complete questionnaire, go to www.insulinresistancesite.com/questionnaire.html
2. DIAGNOSE insulin resistance and its associated conditions.
- Insulin resistance is a clinical diagnosis, and cannot be diagnosed with any simple, reliable test. Currently an increased waist:hip ratio is the best predictor of a diagnosis of uncomplicated insulin resistance.
- Insulin resistance causes three conditions:
Type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and PCOS.
Once any of these is diagnosed, it is possible to definitively diagnose insulin resistance as the underlying cause. The first two are fairly straightforward to diagnose ( see www.insulinresistancesite.com/checklist.html ), but PCOS can be a problem in this respect.
3. TREAT the insulin resistance in a holistic way.
- Conditions such as metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and PCOS will most likely require medication; and it is always a good idea to know what you are taking and why you are taking it.
- Treat the underlying insulin resistance with an appropriate lifestyle intervention program: a low carbohydrate diet and regular exercise work wonders. Medications such as metformin, Actos and Avandia are also very useful - they increase the sensitivity of tissues to insulin, thereby decreasing insulin resistance.
4. SCREEN family members for insulin resistance and its
associated conditions.
Insulin resistance is primarily a genetic illness, and good screening with early intervention can prevent or delay the onset of conditions such as type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome - and in this way prolong wellness, and ultimately, life.
Dr Guin Van Niekerk is the author of "Why Fat Sticks: An Introduction to Insulin Resistance"
For more information go to http://www.insulinresistancesite.com or join our support group ==>"About Insulin Resistance" at Google groups.
