What is Insulin Resistance?
The deterioration in the biological response in many structures of the body, such as liver, muscle, and adipose tissue, against the insulin hormone, is expressed as insulin resistance. When insulin resistance develops, the blood sugar level remains high and more insulin begins to be synthesized from the pancreas. When insulin resistance develops, insensitivity to insulin occurs in many structures of the body, and glucose in the blood cannot be converted into energy.If not intervened insulin resistance can lead to serious complications. For this reason, better to consult a doctor after the development of insulin resistance.
If not intervened insulin resistance can lead to serious complications.
How Does Insulin Resistance Happen?
Insulin resistance is also considered a metabolic syndrome. If the cells in the muscles, fat, and liver in the body do not respond to insulin as they should; Glucose in the blood cannot be used to provide energy. This leads to insulin resistance. This syndrome is seen frequently in one of three people on average. To regulate blood sugar the pancreas begins to generate more insulin as the blood sugar level rises and breaks down the cell resistance.
Therefore, the blood glucose value increases gradually over time. When no precautions are taken; Many medical problems such as obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes can occur.
What Are Insulin Resistance Risk Factors?
Those who are more likely to develop insulin resistance are mostly individuals with family members with insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes problems. Insulin resistance development is mostly caused by genetic factors. In addition, individuals who have adopted a sedentary lifestyle, are overweight and continue to take in excess calories, and do not exercise can develop insulin resistance due to environmental factors. The most AFFECTED by insulin resistance are Muscle Fat and liver
What are the Causes of Insulin Resistance?
The causes of insulin resistance are given below:
• Excess abdominal fat may contribute to the development of insulin resistance.
• If the ratio of your weight to height is taken according to the body mass index formula, if you are obese, the obesity problem may cause insulin resistance.
• Adopting a sedentary lifestyle may eventually contribute to the development of insulin resistance.
• Carbohydrate-based diets are among the causes of insulin resistance.
• Gestational diabetes can lead to insulin resistance.
• Insulin resistance may develop due to diseases such as fatty liver and polycystic ovary syndrome not caused by alcohol.
•Diabetes is more likely to develop if there is a family history of the disease.
• People who smoke heavily are more prone to develop insulin resistance.
• Ethnicity can be counted among the causes of insulin resistance.
• One of the most prevalent reasons for insulin resistance is advanced age. The development of insulin resistance is frequently encountered, especially in individuals over the age of 45.
•Insulin resistance is caused by hormonal imbalances such as Cushing's disease and acromegaly.
• It is known that some drugs such as steroids, antipsychotics, and HIV drugs cause the development of insulin resistance.
• Sleep problems, especially sleep apnea, can lead to insulin resistance.
What Are the Symptoms of Insulin Resistance?
While insulin resistance develops, most people may not realize the presence of insulin resistance. There are no obvious symptoms. The surest way to detect the presence of insulin resistance is to check the blood sugar level. Testing should also be done to check for certain conditions such as high blood pressure, low good cholesterol levels, and high triglycerides so that insulin resistance can be detected. According to the test results, experts can diagnose insulin resistance. The conditions that can be counted among the symptoms of insulin resistance and in which at least three should appear are as follows:
.A waist measurement of 80 cm in women and 90 in men are the possibility of developing insulin resistance.
• Insulin resistance can be suspected if the blood pressure value is 130/80 or higher.
• A fasting sugar level above 100 mg/dl is among the symptoms that can be attributed to insulin resistance.
• Insulin resistance development should be suspected in cases where the fasting triglyceride level is 150 mg/dl.
• If the HDL cholesterol level is below 40 mg/dl in men and 50 mg/dl in women, the possibility of insulin resistance should also be considered.
• Spotting on the skin, dark and velvety skin spots called acanthosis nigricans are among the symptoms of insulin resistance.
• There are difficulties in losing weight.
• Eating fast and getting hungry quickly occur.
• Sleep suppression may be experienced after meals.
• Menstrual irregularity can be seen.
What are the Diagnostic Methods of Insulin Resistance?
In order to diagnose insulin resistance, the patient's history is taken and the medical history of the family is examined in the first place. The body mass index value is then calculated by taking the height and weight into account.. Finally, since blood pressure is also associated with insulin resistance, blood pressure is measured and it is checked whether there is a potential for insulin resistance. If a conclusion is reached that there is a potential for insulin resistance, then a blood test is required. These tests are listed below:
• Fasting plasma glucose test: It is a test that should be done after eating nothing for a minimum of 8 hours. With the test, blood glucose values are measured.
•The oral glucose tolerance test is administered following the fasting glucose test. After the fasting glucose test is done, a sugary solution is given and the blood test is done 2 hours after drinking this solution.
• Hemoglobin A1c test: It is recognized as a test for determining the typical blood sugar level. Doctors can also do this test to diagnose prediabetes or diabetes. Thanks to this test, individuals with diabetes can also be detected.
How Does Insulin Resistance Progress To Type 2 Diabetes?
In individuals who develop insulin resistance, the body produces extra insulin from the pancreas to compensate for this. After this situation, which is a temporary reaction of the pancreas, the cells begin to be fed with blood sugar, and the blood sugar level is under control. The pancreas, on the other hand, is unable to keep up with the current condition. For this reason, if the individual does not start dieting or exercising, blood sugar continues to rise until prediabetes occurs even though it is high. The results that should be seen in blood tests for the diagnosis of prediabetes are as follows:
• The fasting plasma glucose level should be between 100 and 125 mg/dl.
• The oral glucose tolerance test scores should be between 140 and 1199 mg/dl.
• It is determined whether the hemoglobin A1c test results are between 5.7 and 6.4 percent.
If it is determined that the individual is in the prediabetes stage and at the same time it is observed that he cannot control this stage correctly; Diabetes 2 can be diagnosed. However, the values that the test results should reach are as follows:
• If the fasting plasma glucose test result is above 125 mg/dl, type 2 diabetes is diagnosed.
• Diabetes 2 diagnosis can be made if the oral glucose tolerance test is over 200 mg/dl.
• When the result of the hemoglobin A11c test is above 6.5%, type 2 diabetes is diagnosed.
What are the Treatment Methods for Insulin Resistance?
To overcome insulin resistance, a variety of lifestyle modifications must be implemented. Proper nutrition and exercise is a method that can be used to reverse insulin resistance and prevent type 2 diabetes. In addition, the ideal weight of the person who develops insulin resistance is also necessary to prevent insulin resistance. However, if the individual's lifestyle changes are not effective in preventing the development of insulin resistance; In order to reduce the risk of diabetes, heart and vascular diseases, blood sugar can be controlled with medication. For this, it is necessary to use the drugs prescribed by the doctor.
How to Find the Ideal Weight Range to Prevent Insulin Resistance?
The ideal weight range is determined by the body mass index. It is a value obtained by dividing your weight by the square of your height. When dividing by the square of your height, you need to take your weight in kg. Height should be calculated in meters in the formula and written in its place. The evaluation of the body mass index results is as follows:
• If the result after the body mass index calculation is lower than 18.4 BMI, you are considered under your ideal weight.
• If you have a BMI value between 18.5 and 24.9, you have reached the ideal weight according to your height. It is the body mass index value range that should be in order to prevent insulin resistance.
• When you have a BMI of 25 to 29.9, your weight is greater than your height. You need to reach your ideal weight by losing weight with a suitable diet under the control of a dietitian.
• A BMI range of 30 to 34.9 is the first-degree obese category, and if weight is not lost while in this category, heart diseases can be caught in the future.
• BMI values of 35 to 44.9 are reference points for second-degree obesity. In addition to cardiovascular diseases, the risk of developing insulin resistance is high, so it is necessary to lose weight in a controlled manner.
• When a BMI of 45 and above is found, those in this category are defined as third-degree obese. It is the range in which the probability of developing serious disorders is quite high.
How to Lose an Ideal Weight to Overcome Insulin Resistance?
In order to prevent the development of insulin resistance, the person should pay attention to being at their ideal weight. Your ideal body weight should be determined by looking at your body mass index and you should decrease this weight in a controlled way. With certified nutritionists, dietitians, and specialist doctors, you should give importance to physical activity in addition to falling to the appropriate weight for your height. You should pay attention to walking for a minimum of 30 minutes during the day and brisk walking at least 5 days a week. You should take care to take vitamins and minerals at the same time by consuming foods containing carbohydrates, protein, and fat in a balanced way. With the changes you will make in your lifestyle, you can reduce your risk of developing diseases such as heart diseases, as well as preventing the formation of insulin resistance by falling to your ideal weight.
What Complications Can Occur When Insulin Resistance Is Not Treated?
If no treatment is applied for insulin resistance that occurs in the body, medical problems that may develop are as follows:
• Blood sugar can rise to very high levels.
• There may be hypoglycemia.
• There is a risk of having a heart attack.
• Paralysis or partial paralysis can occur.
• Kidney diseases can be seen.
• Eye-related problems such as vision problems may occur.
• Cancer can be caught.
• It increases the risk of Alzheimer's.
• Prediabetes problems may occur in those who have excess adipose tissue and who do not apply a treatment for it despite the development of insulin resistance.
• There is a possibility of conversion to type 2 diabetes.
What kind of diet should people with insulin resistance follow?
Before applying a diet for insulin resistance, you need to check whether you are in the ideal weight. You should follow a diet focused on reaching your ideal weight and preventing the development of insulin resistance. There is no need to consume special foods for this. It is sufficient not to consume unhealthy fats, to reduce meat and processed starches, to consume less sugar, and to prefer healthy foods. Instead of sudden weight-loss diets, a diet should be made with healthy and long-term programs. Meals should not be skipped to prevent the development of insulin resistance. Since the fat around the abdomen and waist increases the risk of developing insulin resistance, if there is fat in these areas, a program should be created to melt these fats first.
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