What is insulin resistance?

Writer_ Essam El Din Metwally Mohamed

Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body's cells do not respond normally to the hormone insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps transport glucose (sugar), from the blood into cells, where it is converted to energy.

Insulin resistance makes it more difficult for your body to control its blood sugar level. When you eat, your blood sugar rises. Normally, this triggers your pancreas to release insulin, which causes your liver, muscles and fat cells to absorb the glucose in your blood.

As a result of insulin resistance, these tissues become resistant to the effects of insulin, so they cannot absorb glucose effectively and instead it builds up in the bloodstream. This can lead to high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) and also Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Insulin resistance may also be associated with hypertension (high blood pressure), heart disease and stroke because increased glucose levels can damage artery walls more easily than normal.

Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body's cells have trouble responding to insulin, a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar. Insulin resistance can lead to prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. It also raises the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Insulin resistance happens when your pancreas produces more insulin than your body needs to control blood sugar levels after eating. The pancreas releases insulin into the bloodstream, where it travels through the bloodstream to cells that need it. Inside those cells, insulin attaches itself to a receptor on the cell surface. This activates an enzyme called glucose transporter 4 (GLUT 4), which allows sugar to enter the cell.

Insulin resistance occurs when there's too much fat inside these cells, preventing GLUT 4 from working properly. The pancreas tries to compensate by producing more insulin, but eventually this causes cells throughout the body to become resistant to its effects over time

Insulin resistance is a condition that causes the body to produce insulin but not use it effectively. The result can be an elevation in blood glucose levels, or hyperglycemia.

In general, insulin resistance is characterized by high blood sugar levels and can lead to diabetes. Insulin resistance can also lead to other health problems such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and metabolic syndrome.

The following factors may play a role in developing insulin resistance:

Genetics – Some people are simply born with genes that predispose them to develop diabetes or other health problems related to insulin resistance.

Age – As we age, our bodies become less sensitive to insulin. This means that more of the hormone must be produced in order for the body to function properly.

Excess weight – Obesity is associated with insulin resistance because fat tissue produces hormones called adipokines that interfere with normal insulin function, causing glucose levels to rise above normal ranges.

Medications – Certain medications such as corticosteroids can affect the way your body uses insulin, leading to increased sugar levels in your

What does the research say about the treatment of insulin resistance?

The first step in treating insulin resistance is to lose weight, as this is the most effective way to reverse insulin resistance.

A low-carbohydrate diet (which also reduces inflammation) and exercise can also help improve insulin resistance.

Medications such as metformin and thiazolidinediones are often prescribed to treat insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. However, these drugs have many side effects. For example, metformin causes diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain in some people; thiazolidinediones increase LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels and may cause fluid retention and weight gain.

There are several treatments for insulin resistance. The most common are:

Exercise. Exercise is the most important thing you can do to improve your health. It can help lower blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. It can also reduce body fat, which is closely linked to insulin resistance.

Diet changes. A low-carb diet that emphasizes vegetables and lean proteins might help control insulin resistance in people who have obesity or type 2 diabetes, but there's not enough evidence to know for sure. More research is needed on this topic, as well as on diets for people with prediabetes, who don't yet have full-blown diabetes but may be at risk of developing it later on.

Medications. Several medications are used to treat insulin resistance and prediabetes, including metformin (Glucophage), pioglitazone (Actos) and liraglutide (Victoza).

In the end, keep your healthy life, friends