Causes of Insulin Resistance

Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas to regulate sugar levels in the body. The hormone helps in converting sugar into energy from carbohydrates consumed in daily diet.

Insulin resistance happens when there is excess glucose in the body, which is not manageable by the insulin produced. This excess glucose could lead to type 2 diabetes. Therefore, many diabetic patients must learn how to inject insulin to avoid any complications.

Insulin resistance is also when your body fat, muscles, or liver start resisting the artificial insulin introduced into the body in case of an existing condition of diabetes. In such cases, patients must be aware of their insulin delivery devices and consult their endocrinologist for further guidance.

Causes of Insulin Resistance

A few causes of insulin resistance include:

• Obesity?—?Being overweight means having fat accumulated in various parts of the body, especially the belly. The excess belly fat causes insulin resistance, as insulin is not able to be processed by the body.
• Genetics?—?If any close family member has a propensity for resisting insulin in the body, i.e., if there is a history of diabetes in the family, genetics could prove to be the reason for insulin resistance.
• Physical Inactivity?—?Physical inactivity causes weight gain, which is harmful to the body. It also reduces the levels of healthy HDL cholesterol and increases toxic levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides.
• Unhealthy Diet?—?An unhealthy diet comprising primarily of carbohydrates and high sugar content is a sure way to reduce insulin resistance in the body.
• Lack of Sleep?—?Lack of adequate, quality sleep is one of the causes of insulin resistance. When the body does not get proper sleep, the hormones in the body are affected, and this could lead to the body in resisting insulin.

Symptoms of Insulin Resistance

Being aware of the signs of insulin resistance can assist patients in getting the appropriate treatment on time. Some of the more common symptoms to watch out for include:

• High Metabolic Syndrome?—?If three or more out of high triglycerides, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL), High blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high fasting blood sugar are present in the body; it loses the ability to process insulin.
• Skin Darkening?—?In case of severity in insulin resistance, a person might develop darkening of the skin around the neck, elbows, knees, or armpits. This skin darkening condition is called acanthosis nigricans.
• Hypertension?—?Sometimes, alleviated blood pressure could be caused by increased glucose levels in the body.

How Can Insulin Resistance Be Managed?

In the case of type 2 diabetes, medications are prescribed along with lifestyle changes if the sugar levels are at manageable levels. Insulin therapy, with the help of insulin delivery devices, is advised if the sugar levels go beyond acceptable levels and keep fluctuating.

However, in the case of type 1 diabetes, learning how to inject insulin is required as the body’s insulin production is compromised.

Conclusion

The best way to rule out insulin resistance is to get the sugar levels tested regularly with the help of insulin delivery devices. Healthy lifestyle patterns like eating nutrition-rich food, reducing carbohydrates in your diet, and keeping yourself fit are a few ways to manage insulin resistance and diabetes.