Hyperinsulinism: Prevention

To prevent hyperinsulinism, attention must be paid to reducing individual risk factors.

Behavioral risk factors

  • Diet
  • Consumption of stimulants
    • Tobacco (smoking)
  • Physical activity
    • Lack of physical activity (lack of exercise).
  • Psycho-social situation
    • Sleep deprivation
    • Stress
  • Overweight (BMI ≥ 25; obesity).
  • Android body fat distribution, that is, abdominal/visceral, truncal, central body fat (apple type) – high waist circumference or waist-to-hip ratio (THQ; waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)) is presentWhen measuring waist circumference according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF, 2005) guideline, the following standard values apply:
    • Men < 94 cm
    • Women < 80 cm

    The German Obesity Society published somewhat more moderate figures for waist circumference in 2006: < 102 cm for men and < 88 cm for women.

  • Intentional overdose of insulin (= hypoglycaemia factitia; clinical picture in which there is a deliberate lowering of blood sugar (hypoglycemia) by targeted self-administration of blood sugar-lowering agents (mainly sulfonylureas)).