Insulin resistance

by mark on May 9, 2010

Insulin resistance is a very serious condition which can in many cases lead to diabetes and the problems which this brings. In order to understand occurrences of insulin resistance we need to understand exactly what insulin does to the body and what happens when the intake of insulin is affected.

What is insulin?

In simple terms insulin is a hormone which helps to regulate a number of different factors of growth and digestion within the body. The main effect of insulin is to regulate the metabolism of the body and control energy and glucose levels. Insulin allows the body to remove glucose from food, etc. and transfers this to various organs in the body to replenish energy levels and reduce the use of fat as the main energy source within the body. These are just a couple of the very important uses which insulin has within the body but diabetes is actually a major concern when a person becomes insulin resistant.

Insulin resistance

This is a condition whereby the body becomes relatively immune to insulin and its role within normal bodily functions. This can lead to increased blood glucose levels which can increase the potential of type II diabetes. Insulin resistance has different effects on different organs in the body which include:-

Muscle and fat cells

Insulin resistance in muscle and fat cells reduces the uptake of glucose into various areas of the body leaving relatively high levels of glucose in the blood. The impact of high glucose levels in the blood can be damaging to any sufferers and can develop into type II diabetes.

Liver cells

In direct contrast to muscle and fat cells, insulin resistance in liver cells has the opposite effect and results in the liver creating more and more glucose which is released into the bloodstream. This increased level of glucose is not ingested by muscle and fat cells and therefore can be very dangerous.

The pancreas

In the event of insulin resistance occurring in the body the pancreas should be called upon to increase insulin levels to try and overcome resistance in the body. If these increased levels of insulin have no impact upon the bodies ingestion of glucose we could see a permanently increased blood glucose level which is very dangerous.

Symptoms of insulin resistance

There are a number of different symptoms with regards to insulin resistance which include:-

Physical fatigue

Physical fatigue is one of the first signs of insulin issues although unfortunately it can also be associated with a large variety of other medical conditions and can often be overlooked.

Mental fatigue

Many of us will at some point suffer from a form of mental fatigue, whether due to pressures of work or other issues, and much like physical fatigue this can often be overlooked as a symptom.

High blood sugars

There are likely to be millions of people in the UK with high blood sugars who are possibly unaware of the potential dangers awaiting them. The only way that high blood sugars can be confirmed is by visiting your doctor and carrying out the relevant tests.

Bloating of the intestine

The retention of fat around the intestine is one of the major signs of potential diabetes and other insulin related conditions. However, with the obesity epidemic currently underway around the world a number of sufferers may well feel embarrassed about bringing up the subject of excessive body fat.

Lethargic after meals

Lethargy and excessive tiredness after meals is something which many of us will experience in our lifetimes without any connection with insulin resistance. However, taken together with various other potential symptoms they can soon add up to a nightmare scenario.

Excessive fat storage around the abdominal region

There are many people who may be reading this article who suffer from excessive fat storage around the abdominal region that may or may not be suffering from insulin resistance. When you consider this condition together with the obesity epidemic sweeping across the world it can sometimes be difficult to associate the two.

Increased blood triglyceride levels

While it would be wrong to suggest that increased blood triglyceride levels are wholly associated with diabetes and insulin issues, as they are manufactured by the liver, the levels in the blood can be heavily influenced by the food we eat.

Hypertension which can lead to increased blood pressure

Due to the increased levels of glucose in the blood those who are potentially on the verge of developing diabetes type II may well also suffer from hypertension. Hypertension itself is a major problem in the modern world and the connection with insulin conditions can often be missed.

Depression

Yet again, depression is another medical condition which is becoming more and more common across the world. The vast majority of people will be surprised to learn that depression is not always brought on by your lifestyle and can actually be a medical condition.

These are just a small number of potential symptoms for those suffering from insulin resistance which can often individually be associated with different medical conditions but if you have a number of the above symptoms then potentially you may be insulin resistant.

How does the body treat glucose?

While glucose is often talked about in relation to problems with diabetes it is worth pointing out that glucose is necessary for the body to function correctly. It is one of the main sources of energy for the human body and in somebody with a regular metabolism it is regulated by insulin which is released by the pancreas.

In simple terms, any food or drink which is ingested may contain glucose which will immediately increase blood glucose levels. Where there are no problems with regards to insulin resistance or diabetes the body is able to regulate glucose levels by circulating insulin around the body which prompts various cells and organs to ingested glucose from the blood stream. These can then be stored for energy at a later date and immediately reduce blood glucose levels which will then result in a reduced level of insulin in the body.

Common occurrences of insulin resistance

While there are many different situations in which insulin resistance will occur, the main scenario involves those who are overweight and obese. This is a condition known as metabolic syndrome and in many cases is the first step towards type II diabetes. The easiest way to explain the main source of insulin resistance with regards to obesity is the fact that the pancreas is overworked and eventually it is unable to regulate the level of insulin, after meals, to actually reduce glucose levels in the blood. Where the deficiency is high this can lead to diabetic fits which can in some cases be very dangerous.

There are also many drugs and naturally occurring infections which can reduce the intake of insulin and in many cases this can occur naturally with cell walls becoming more and more resistant to insulin the higher the level produced by the pancreas.

Many experts are growing more and more concerned about increased resistance to insulin which is effectively brought on by the obesity epidemic which is sweeping across the world. It seems that many of us do not understand that a reluctance to keep fit, exercise and often over eat can be storing up major problems for the future. Governments around the world have now embarked upon very hard-hitting and very expensive advertising campaigns to make the worldwide population aware of diabetes, obesity and insulin resistance. If we do not start to take notice immediately many fear we will see an epidemic of diabetes type II in the future!

Can insulin resistance be reversed?

The good news for those who may be on the verge of becoming insulin resistant or indeed moving towards a pre-diabetes stage is the fact that physical activity and weight loss can in many cases improve the body’s response to insulin and either delay or reverse the potential move towards full insulin resistance and possible diabetes. By simply walking for 30 minutes a day, five days a week or losing between 5% and 7% of your body weight this will improve your chances of living a longer and healthier life. In many ways diabetes type II is a lifestyle disease which is gripping the world and set to get much worse before it gets better.

Is insulin resistance really a lifestyle disease?

There is a very subtle difference between diabetes type I and diabetes type II in that diabetes type II is effectively a lifestyle disease which is impacting upon more and more people around the world. A general lack of fitness, dieting and exercise has resulted in a massive increase in the number of obese people on the planet with the US especially suffering from this highly damaging disease. However, countries such as the UK are now beginning to see a significant increase in the occurrence of obesity amongst not only older members of the population but ever younger members.

It is impossible to underestimate the dangers that a lack of exercise and unhealthy eating habits can bring to any child or any adult. If you take a step back and consider the situation, the larger your body together with an unhealthy diet the more pressure this places upon various organs around the body and the various natural systems which among others attempt to control blood glucose levels. It is not difficult to see the fact that the larger the body the harder your internal organs need to work and the more potential for medical problems.

The warnings have been there!

While insulin resistance is by no means a new medical condition there have been many warnings over the years that it is increasingly becoming more and more of a problem. As we mentioned above, there are many different reasons why a body may become insulin resistant but one of the major reasons is obesity and a general lack of exercise. Historically maybe not enough financial input has been given into the study of diabetes, insulin and glucose but governments and health agencies around the world have significantly increased research funding of late.

One of the major concerns with regards to insulin resistance, if left to develop for a long time, is that there is no simple drug based solution to completely alleviate the problem.

Conclusion

While instances of both diabetes type I and diabetes type II continue to increase around the world it is diabetes type II which is commonly associated with a specific lifestyle. Insulin resistance is often the first stage in the development of diabetes type II and if caught early enough the onset of diabetes type II can be delayed or even avoided.

As we have mentioned above, insulin resistance effectively means that high levels of glucose ingested into the blood stream are not removed by various cells and organs around the body which can impact upon your health. There are a number of symptoms of this condition although many of these are often associated with other medical conditions or as a medical condition in their own right.

There is no doubt that the unhealthy lifestyle enjoyed by many people around the world is having a major impact upon insulin and diabetes related medical conditions. Governments and health organisations in every corner of the globe have increased their investments in awareness campaigns and research and development into this area with great success in recent times. However, there is no doubt that more work is still required in this specific area as a reduction in insulin resistance sufferers will drastically reduce the number of diabetes type II sufferers in the future.

We have detailed a list of potential symptoms above which we should all be aware of for the future. Even though diabetes type II is in the main wholly treatable and will have a relatively small impact upon everyday life, if left untreated or undiagnosed it can cause major problems. We all need to be aware of the potential problems which our lifestyle, exercise regime and diet can bring in later life.