What is Insulin Resistance

What Is Insulin Resistance And How Do We Reverse It?
What is insulin resistance exactly and how do we reverse insulin resistance if we see it cropping up in our life? These are actually very important questions especially for those at high risk for developing diabetes either due to weight issues, or genetics. Insulin resistance is fairly simple in layman’s terms but very complex biologically. In layman’s terms insulin resistance is when the body slowly stops responding to insulin and as a result stops filtering glucose from the blood.

Without going into extreme detail, the pancreas responds to circulating blood glucose levels by producing insulin. The idea is that insulin in the bloodstream metabolizes the glucose in the bloodstream into the cells of the body, effectively reducing blood sugar levels and keeping the body healthy. Certain foods we eat increase our blood sugar levels and as a result we feel lethargic. We want to take a nap; think Thanksgiving. The pancreas then secretes insulin to metabolize the blood sugar and keep us kicking. This process is disrupted by insulin resistance when the body resists the insulin and blood sugar levels remain elevated.

Patients who are at risk for developing type-2 diabetes typically have genetic predispositions for it and/or they have physical traits that encourage insulin resistance such as excess weight and low physical activity levels. In these people blood glucose levels are often higher than average due to the previously stated reasons. Eventually if you have risk factors for diabetes and you start noticing signs of insulin resistance you should really start acting to reduce insulin resistance to lower your risk for developing type-2 diabetes.

Signs of Insulin Resistance
The next logical questions are how to recognize the signs of insulin resistance and what do you do about it? The most common symptom of insulin resistance is fatigue. Because it is the most common symptom it is also the most dangerous symptom because it feeds a worsening degree of insulin resistance by tiring the patient out. One of the main causes of insulin resistance is excessive weight and low activity levels. If you feel fatigued due to insulin resistance then I can guarantee you that getting up to exercise will be even more challenging than it was when you were healthy. Fatigue compounds the problem of insulin resistance by making the cure (exercise) more difficult to achieve.

Additional insulin resistance symptoms include mental fatigue and forgetfulness. Creativity is often decreased, and hypoglycemia and moody attitudes are other notable symptoms. Sometimes you will not necessarily feel tired throughout your day but you will feel extreme fatigue right after eating. This is a sign that your blood sugar levels increase more than normal and it could be a sign of insulin resistance.

Look for these symptoms in your life and speak with your doctor if you are concerned. You may find that reversing insulin resistance before the problem escalates is easier than you think. If you continue to wait until the problem gets worse you may find that your risks for developing type-2 diabetes get out of hand.

Reverse Insulin Resistance
As I previously said, there are many ways that you can identify insulin resistance before the problem gets advanced and there are many things you can do to reverse insulin resistance if you put in the time and effort. The best ways to reverse insulin resistance are to get physically active through exercise and limit your caloric consumption. Decrease your weight and your symptoms will likely decrease. You can also try eating a diet which encourages insulin sensitivity. Eat more fiber, chromium, and decrease the amount of refined carbohydrates that you consume on a daily basis. This is a good start and should help you start reversing insulin resistance before it becomes a more serious problem.