Why do cells become resistant to insulin

Insulin resistance comes in degrees. The more insulin resistant a person with type 2 is, the harder it will be to manage their diabetes because more medication is needed to get enough insulin in the body to achieve target blood sugar levels. Insulin resistance isn't a cause of type 1 diabetes, but people with type 1 who are insulin resistant will need higher insulin doses to keep their blood sugar under control than those who are more sensitive to insulin. As with type 2, people with type 1 may be genetically predisposed to become insulin resistant, or they may develop resistance due to being overweight.

Some research indicates that insulin resistance is a factor in cardiovascular disease and other complications in people with type 1. While fighting an invisible foe can feel frustrating and discouraging, know that you are not alone. There are effective tactics to combat insulin resistance. Losing weight, exercising more or taking an insulin-sensitizing medication can help you get back to good blood sugar control and better health.

Log in menu Manage Account Search. Donate now. Insulin Resistance. Understanding Insulin Resistance. What is insulin resistance? What causes insulin resistance? What does it mean for your health? What can you do about it? Obesity being significantly overweight and belly fat , an inactive lifestyle, and a diet high in carbohydrates are the primary causes of insulin resistance. Some women develop insulin resistance while they are pregnant. This is called gestational diabetes. Certain diseases are associated with insulin resistance.

That includes heart disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease , and polycystic ovary syndrome. Your doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms, your personal and family medical history, evaluate your weight, and take your blood pressure. Diagnosing insulin resistance requires a blood test. This might be done through a small finger prick or by having a small needle inserted into a vein to take a sample of blood. You will often be required to fast avoid eating or drinking anything except water 8 hours before the test.

The blood sample will be sent to a lab for testing. It will test your fasting blood sugar. Your doctor also may have the lab check your cholesterol levels from the same blood sample. People with insulin resistance often have high cholesterol. The American Academy of Family Physicians AAFP recommends blood glucose screening of all pregnant women for gestational diabetes after the 24th week of pregnancy.

Also, the AAFP recommends blood glucose screening for adults age 40 to 70 years who are overweight or obese and may be at risk of heart disease.

You cannot prevent or avoid risk factors such as race, age, and a family medical history. Choose healthy carbohydrates. For example, eat whole grain bread instead of white bread, drink water instead of soda, and reduce your intake of sugary foods. If you have or have had gestational diabetes, insulin resistance typically goes away after you give birth.

However, you are at greater risk of being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes when you are older. That should be a warning to change your diet and lifestyle early so that you can delay it for as long as possible. Diet, weight loss, and exercise can improve insulin resistance.

However, most people need medicine as well. Insulin resistance is a hallmark of two very common conditions — metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Metabolic syndrome is a group of risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other problems. Its symptoms include high blood triglycerides, blood pressure, belly fat, and blood sugar, as well as low HDL good cholesterol levels You may be able to prevent metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes by stopping the development of insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance is strongly associated with heart disease, which is the leading cause of death across the globe Additionally, insulin resistance has been linked to an increased risk of developing major depressive disorder MDD Interestingly, you can often completely reverse this condition by changing your lifestyle in the following ways:.

Most of the habits on this list also happen to be associated with good health, a long life, and protection against disease. Insulin resistance may be reduced or even reversed with simple lifestyle measures, such as exercise, healthy eating, and stress management.

Notably, low-carb diets may fight metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes — and this is partly mediated by reduced insulin resistance 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , However, when carb intake is very low, such as on a ketogenic diet , your body may induce an insulin-resistant state to spare blood sugar for your brain.

This is termed physiological insulin resistance and is not harmful Low-carb diets reduce the harmful insulin resistance linked to metabolic disease, though they may induce a harmless type of insulin resistance that spares blood sugar for your brain.

Yet, you can improve this condition with simple lifestyle measures, such as losing fat , eating healthy food , and exercising. Preventing insulin resistance may be among the most powerful ways to live a longer, healthier life.

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