Insulin Resistance , Pre-Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome
Insulin resistance is a silent condition that increases the chances of developing diabetes and heart disease. Learning about insulin resistance is the first step you can take toward making lifestyle changes that will help you prevent diabetes and other health problems.
What does insulin do?
diabetes linked?
overweight.
What causes insulin resistance?
Because insulin resistance tends to run in families , we know that genes are partly responsible. Excess weight also contributes to insulin resistance because too much fat interferes with muscles' ability to use insulin. Lack of exercise further reduces muscles' ability to use insulin.
Many people with insulin resistance and high blood glucose have excess weight around the waist , high LDL (bad) blood cholesterol levels , low HDL (good) cholesterol levels , high levels of triglycerides (another fat in the blood) , and high blood pressure , all conditions that also put the heart at risk. This combination of problems is referred to as the metabolic syndrome , or the insulin resistance syndrome (formerly called Syndrome X).
What are the symptoms of insulin resistance and pre-diabetes?
Insulin resistance and pre-diabetes usually have no symptoms. You may have one or both conditions for several years without noticing anything. If you have a severe form of insulin resistance , you may get dark patches of skin , usually on the back of your neck. Sometimes people get a dark ring around their neck. Other possible sites for these dark patches include elbows , knees , knuckles , and armpits. This condition is called acanthosis nigricans.
If you have a mild or moderate form of insulin resistance , blood tests may show normal or high blood glucose and high levels of insulin at the same time.
Do you have insulin resistance or pre-diabetes?
Anyone 45 years or older should consider getting tested for diabetes. If you are overweight and aged 45 or older , it is strongly recommended that you get tested. You should consider getting tested if you are younger than 45 , overweight , and have one or more of the following risk factors:
•Family history of diabetes
•Low HDL cholesterol and high triglycerides
•High blood pressure
•History of gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) or gave birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds
•Minority group background (African American , American Indian , Hispanic American/Latino , or Asian American/Pacific Islander)
Diabetes and pre-diabetes can be detected with one of the following tests:
Complication in Diabetes Under the Main Tab for Complete informations.
Recent post:
