Insulin resistance is a disorder in sugar metabolism. The pancreas must produce more insulin because it is more poorly absorbed by the cells and they are “resistant,” so to speak.
What is insulin resistance?
Insulin resistance is related to diabetes. It is also known as prediabetes. Diabetes is taking on an increasingly important role in industrialized nations. Much responsibility is attributed to diet, including a lack of exercise. Insulin resistance forms the preliminary stage of diabetes. More and more insulin is needed to process the same amount of sugar in the body. The pancreas can keep blood sugar levels normal for years, but insulin levels are already elevated. When the pancreas is no longer able to compensate after many years of overload, diabetes develops. Permanent overweight promotes insulin resistance. Body fat in the abdominal region is said to be of particular importance.
Causes
The main cause of insulin resistance is due to a diet high in sugar and fat in combination with too little exercise. Simple carbohydrates such as table sugar and white flour cause blood glucose levels to rise rapidly. The pancreas tries to regulate the blood sugar level back into the normal range. The constant intake of simple sugars makes the body insensitive to insulin, so that this is the beginning of a vicious circle. Stored fats lead to free fatty acid increases, which in turn stimulate the liver to produce more sugar. This sugar is more difficult for the muscles to break down. The cause is therefore not the sugar intake alone, but is significantly promoted by too many and bad fats. Since movement burns sugar and fats, a lack of movement leads further to the fact that the body can work worse with the materials, and/or a far higher load of the metabolism is the result. Obesity caused by excessive calorie intake in the form of simple sugars in combination with little or no exercise thus represents the main pillar of insulin resistance. Subordinate factors are smoking and permanent stress – the body reacts with “stress control”. It tries to do this by producing more adrenaline, and in the process also makes more sugar available to enable “escape”. With aforementioned factors, the probability of developing insulin resistance increases many times.
Symptoms, complaints and signs
Initially, insulin resistance often does not cause specific symptoms. For this reason, it is often not diagnosed until serious complications arise. The symptoms resemble those of diabetes: dry skin, visual disturbances, and impaired wound healing. Possible accompanying symptoms are fatigue, concentration disorders and fatigue. Physical and mental performance is impaired, and sufferers often have difficulty concentrating. If the muscles are involved, insulin resistance can cause dysfunction of the muscles as well as pronounced muscle weakness. In addition, short-term weight loss may occur, often accompanied by deficiency symptoms. Weight gain may occur in the abdominal region. As a result of the high blood sugar level, a strong feeling of thirst usually sets in, followed by an increased urge to urinate. Other signs include an elevated idl cholesterol level and a lowered hdl cholesterol level. This systemic complex is also known as metabolic syndrome and indicates insulin resistance. Externally, the disorder is usually not recognizable. However, typical signs of the disease may appear, i.e. weight problems, pale skin and sweating. In the long term, untreated insulin resistance can cause massive consequential damage. Both the cardiovascular system and the organs themselves are affected, in which functional disorders can occur as a result of the elevated blood glucose level.
Diagnosis and course
Diagnosis is made by an oral glucose tolerance test. For this, fasting blood glucose is first measured and then a sugary solution is drunk rapidly. An elevated fasting blood glucose can be a first indication of manifested insulin resistance. After taking the glucose solution, blood is drawn from the patient at specific intervals.Now we look at the blood glucose values and how much insulin was released. For this purpose, there is a comparative value, the so-called HOMA-IR. This calculates the ratio of insulin to glucose. Values greater than 2.0 indicate insulin resistance, and values of 2.5 and above are considered to indicate insulin resistance. Values at 5.0 are regularly found in type 2 diabetics. If insulin resistance remains untreated, it gradually worsens and eventually leads to diabetes or metabolic syndrome with accompanying symptoms such as hypertension and severe obesity.
When should you go to the doctor?
People who suddenly gain a lot of weight for no apparent reason should see a doctor. If overweight or obesity occurs, help is needed. If sufficient exercise or sports activities do not result in improved health or weight loss, a doctor should be consulted. If there is a general feeling of illness, emotional problems, malaise or increased irritability, medical tests should be initiated to determine the cause. If there are changes in the musculature, a decrease in the physical performance capabilities or abnormalities in the metabolism, a visit to the doctor should be made. In case of disturbances of the heart rhythm, high blood pressure or persistent palpitations, a doctor should be consulted. To avoid a life-threatening condition, examinations of the heart activity are necessary. If sleep disturbances occur without the presence of other health problems or other diseases, if there are irregularities in breathing as well as a significant loss of well-being, a doctor should be consulted. Skin changes, discoloration or blemishes should also be examined and treated. Restrictions in range of motion, disturbances in mobility, or problems coping with the demands of everyday life are indications that should be followed up. A visit to the doctor is recommended as soon as the complaints persist over a longer period of time, there is an increase in the existing symptoms or they increase in intensity.
Treatment and therapy
Treatment of insulin resistance is achieved by long-term dietary changes. Special diets are controversial, as they are difficult for sufferers to maintain over the long term. It is better to switch the affected person to a whole-food, but low-fat diet with complex carbohydrates such as whole grains and vegetables. It is important not only to reduce simple sugars many times over, but also to be sparing with fats, especially animal fats. The second important treatment column represents the admission of more movement. In principle all perseverance kinds of sport are suitable. Very overweight people should work towards a steady weight reduction with both forms of treatment and pay attention to their daily calorie intake. Since insulin resistance can also occur in people who are not very overweight, the first priority is not to reduce weight, but to improve the overall metabolic situation through better nutrition and exercise. In addition, insulin resistance can be treated with medication. Metformin, which has its center of action in the liver and ensures that less sugar is produced there, is used here in particular. This lowers the blood sugar level and relieves the pancreas. Other drugs include insulin sensitizers, which improve sensitivity to insulin in cells, and acarbose, which inhibits a sugar conversion process in the intestine.
Outlook and prognosis
There is no prospect of a cure for insulin resistance. It is a health disorder that requires long-term therapy. This is imperatively dependent on the patient’s cooperation in addition to medical care. If the guidelines are followed, a significant improvement in health is possible. Sufferers can achieve significant relief from existing symptoms by changing their daily diet as well as their current lifestyle. With a balanced and healthy food intake, sufficient exercise and the avoidance of excess weight, it is possible in many cases to achieve freedom from symptoms in everyday life. A good quality of life with the disease is thus achieved.As soon as the current lifestyle is maintained, an increase in complaints and thus a worsened prognosis can be expected. In addition, there is a risk of suffering secondary diseases. With diabetes, for example, the affected person develops a chronic disease that can have far-reaching consequences. Patients who adhere to the treatment plan and have achieved freedom from symptoms can relapse at any time. As soon as the healthy lifestyle is not permanently maintained, the symptoms of insulin resistance return. In addition, the risk of organic damage increases. The liver and pancreas suffer dysfunction and can lead to irreparable disorders.
Prevention
Insulin resistance is prevented by a healthy lifestyle with plenty of multiple sugars, such as whole grains and legumes, and vegetables. In addition, keep intake of simple sugars and white flour very low, and reduce fat intake. Necessary fats should consist largely of vegetable oils. Plenty of exercise contributes to better metabolism of sugars and should therefore be done regularly.
Follow-up
Insulin resistance is a disorder of carbohydrate metabolism and can lead to serious health problems such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Long-term monitoring and follow-up are therefore advisable even when symptoms are not present. Various studies show that insulin resistance can be slowed down or completely reversed by appropriate lifestyle changes. Exercise and sport are the most important elements in resensitizing the body’s cells to the body’s own insulin. Light but regular exercise through walking, swimming or other light sports is sufficient. Furthermore, a diet aimed at avoiding blood sugar spikes is important to prevent premature pancreatic fatigue and diabetes. Complex carbohydrates, such as those found in vegetables, fruits and whole grains, are preferable to simple carbohydrates, especially sugar and white flour. Glyx diets, which classify foods according to their glycemic index, are recommended in this context. Intermittent fasting also helps regulate insulin levels and reduce insulin resistance, according to various studies. Since patients with insulin resistance have a greatly increased risk of developing diabetes, blood glucose should be monitored by a physician at regular intervals. If blood glucose levels are elevated, medication may be necessary.
What you can do yourself
Insulin resistance is the precursor to diabetes mellitus. In this disorder, more and more insulin is gradually needed to process the same amount of sugar in the body. At some point, the pancreas is finally overloaded and the affected person becomes diabetic. But it doesn’t even have to get that far. Insulin resistance is one of the disorders in which the patient himself can do a great deal to improve his condition. Diabetes and its precursors belong to the typical diseases of civilization, which are strongly influenced by lifestyle. Insulin resistance is attributed, for example, to severe obesity, especially a high concentration of fat in the middle of the body, and chronic lack of exercise. As soon as insulin resistance is diagnosed, overweight people must first reduce their body weight. This is usually not easy, which is why patients should turn to professional help. With the help of a nutritionist, they can identify and eliminate the worst dietary sins. In many cases, animal products such as meat, sausage and fatty cheese must be replaced with healthier alternatives. However, switching to a predominantly plant-based diet rich in vitamins and fiber is also a question of motivation. In addition to the nutritionist, membership in a self-help group can also be a great support here. Many of those affected are also unable to get up the courage to do sports regularly. Membership in a sports club or a gym is a good strategy for getting over oneself and integrating sport into everyday life on a regular basis.