The Problem of Insulin Resistance
Insulin resistance is an alarming trend that is occurring in the United States and Europe. It is sometimes referred to as impaired glucose tolerance. When blood sugar levels remain too high, the usual amount of insulin secreted by the pancreas may not be enough to unlock the key to cell entry. When cell receptors become resistant to stimulation by insulin, blood sugar rises even more, and the pancreas is forced to secrete even more insulin. Insulin levels can continue to rise, keeping the body in fat storing mode and preventing use of fat for energy.
Insulin resistance is considered to be pre-diabetes. This condition is a cause of many health problems. More than half of the cases of heart disease in the western world may be due to insulin resistance. Vascular disease and stroke, Alzheimers’ dementia, many types of cancer, arthritis, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, kidney disease, blindness, and nerve damage are caused or worsened by high blood sugar and high insulin levels.
If you want to lose weight, you must control your levels. You can increase your sensitivity to insulin if you follow our advice. When you improve your insulin sensitivity, your blood sugar remains stable instead of going up and down like a yo-yo. When you can lower your insulin you can burn fat, have more energy, and lose weight.
Do you have insulin resistance?
You probably do if you have belly fat. Abdominal obesity – the famous apple shape – can be the first clue that you may have insulin resistance. Measuring your waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, blood pressure, and your lipid (cholesterol) profile will also provide clues. Fasting blood sugar is the most commonly used lab test. Your doctor can check a 2-hour glucose tolerance test or measure your fasting insulin levels to further evaluate this problem. Take our quiz to see if you have symptoms of insulin resistance.
| Measurement | Suggests insulin resistance |
|---|---|
| Waist circumference ~ or ~ Waist/hip circumference |
Female > 35 inches Male > 40 inches Greater than 0.8 |
| Lipids HDL Triglycerides |
Less than 35 Greater than 150 |
Fasting blood sugar |
Greater than 109 * (Diabetes is greater than 126) |
| Blood pressure | Greater than 130/80 |
| * If your fasting blood sugar is greater than 126 or if a random blood sugar is greater than 200, your meet the criteria for diabetes. Repeat this testing to confirm. You must follow up with your doctor very closely in order to manage this deadly problem. | |
In fact, if you have 3 or more of these problems, you have met the criteria for a newly recognized medical diagnosis called metabolic syndrome. If you have metabolic syndrome, then you are at high risk for diabetes, heart attack, stroke, dementia, and some types of cancer.
Recent data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) from the year 2000 showed that there are about 47 million Americans that meet the criteria for metabolic syndrome! This accounts for approximately 22% of the adult population of the U.S. Obviously, the Standard American Diet (SAD) and lifestyle is unhealthy, despite our access to a variety of food, well-trained medical providers, and vitamins and other supplements.
Insulin resistance can be overcome!
If you have insulin resistance, whether or not you have progressed to diabetes, you must follow a healthy calorie-controlled diet and perform regular exercise to save your health. Insulin resistance can be improved or even eliminated with weight loss and a healthy lifestyle. Even if you have a family history of diabetes, you can avoid diabetes yourself – but only if you continue to exercise, eat right, and maintain a healthy weight. Read more about techniques to control insulin.