Treatment For Insulin Resistance

 Treatment For Insulin Resistance

Insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome - a common occurrence. According to studies, 21% of the population is affected in Europe, and 34% in the USA. Adolescents and those over 50 are at risk when the body is most damaged. 

What is this disease and what is its risk?

Insulin is responsible for blood sugar, which is important for the full functioning of all systems and organs. Insulin resistance occurs when the body's processes are not carried out, resulting in a considerable increase in glucose levels.

In this case, the pancreas produces more peptide hormones because its purpose is to prevent sugar levels from sticking. She has to work “in two shifts and without days,” which inevitably leads to all sorts of problems.

In addition, there is another problem - the cells become resistant to insulin, causing its effect to drop to a minimum. Insulin resistance can turn into a physical condition that can lead to severe hyperglycemia and diabetes mellitus.

The disease is not initially visible. Drowsiness, fatigue, anxiety, or aggressive behavior, as well as other negative sensations, can become symptoms of other health problems, but they are already an "alarm bell", indicating that something is clearly wrong in the body.

Common symptoms of insulin resistance:

  • Decreased mental activity,
  • Frustration,
  • Constant hunger
  • High blood pressure
  • Bloating, other gastrointestinal problems,
  • High blood sugar and triglycerides.

In severe forms, the resistance appears in the form of acanthosis - black pigmented spots on the ankles, knees, elbows, and sometimes the back of the head. Acanthosis indicates that the disease has developed chronically.

The manifestation of the above symptoms, including pigmentation on the patient's skin, may be observed for two or more years. But if you do not treat the problem at all, continue an unhealthy lifestyle, problems can lead to death.

It is almost impossible to diagnose metabolic syndrome at an early stage. Tests also show nothing but a slight increase in the level of insulin in the blood. But it is a necessity for the disease, which can be immediately noticed by an experienced physician.

The most accurate diagnostic method is the clamp test, officially called Noma. It helps to calculate the insulin resistance index, which allows telling whether the patient is suffering from this disease with a 97.9% probability. To fix the result, the clamp test was assigned for three consecutive days.

Glucose testing for blood sugar is of no less importance. This is done immediately before the determination of the noma index and is done on an empty stomach as in all analyzes. Only after obtaining the final data from the laboratory, will the physician prescribe treatment.

Doctors all over the world are attempting to address one of their patients' most pressing questions: "What causes the onset of insulin resistance?"

To date, a number of reasons have been found for cells not responding adequately to insulin. These include:

Genetic defects arise as a result of abnormal development of the baby's body within the womb. Some of the syndromes that can be detected during pregnancy also determine the presence of resistance in the baby.

Immune system pathologies in which antibodies appear to block insulin receptors. The principle of their action has not yet been fully studied. Some endocrine disorders and tumors, significant amounts of hormones, antagonists of insulin such as GH (growth hormone), cortisol, glucocorticoid.

Improper nutrition and es arrears. In obese people, the risk of metabolic syndrome is 40% higher than in overweight people.

Improper lifestyle, lack of exercise, sedentary work, constant stress.

Experts say that taking drugs with corticosteroids or growth hormones can affect insulin resistance due to the abuse of bad habits. Metabolic syndrome is sometimes one of the symptoms of serious diseases, occurring in the context of problems with the work of the cardiovascular or endocrine systems.

What is the risk

What are the effects of insulin resistance? Should I sound the alarm when I see such a diagnosis in the medical record? However, panic attacks are not the best solution. But metabolic syndrome is really dangerous and needs immediate treatment.

It disrupts the functioning of all systems and organs in the body, but most of all affects the reproductive and circulatory systems. 

Studies show that the disease can lead to ovarian spherocytosis, impotence, and the inability to experience orgasm in women.

Insulin resistance can also trigger Alzheimer's disease and other brain problems. At high pressure, metabolic syndrome is particularly dangerous and can lead to the development of atherosclerosis and later to many problems related to heart attack, stroke, and blood clots.

The most major risk factor for this diagnosis is the presence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, which necessitates insulin injections and a strict diet. If you do not inject in a timely manner, you may die. As a result, ignoring the disease's symptoms or delaying treatment is difficult.

Treatment and prevention

Insulin resistance prevention and treatment are complex. Changing lifestyle, eating the right diet, or taking medication alone is not enough - all must be done at once.

First of all, treatment is to deal with overweight, which is a major factor in metabolic syndrome. For this, daily physical activity is increased and a special diet with a minimal number of calories is created. Getting rid of cigarettes and alcohol is equally important, as it suppresses the metabolic rate of all carbohydrate and glucose compounds.

People with metabolic syndrome should eat a healthy diet, which is an important part of the therapy process. It is preferable to choose goods with a low glycemic index, as they gradually raise blood sugar levels and erase hunger for a long period.

  • Fruit,
  • Vegetables,
  • Greens,
  • Cereals
  • Nuts,
  • Legumes,
  • Dairy products,
  •  Low-fat fish and meat.

For a balanced diet, the diet includes healthy medications with vitamins and minerals based on easily digestible fiber. You can drink natural infusions, which are not worse than medicines but have no side effects. For example, decoctions based on blueberries and birch bark.

It is worth removing harmful products from the menu:

  • Sugar and everything sweet
  • Spicy, very salty dishes,
  • Chocolate,
  • Pieces of bread,
  • Bread, pasta,
  • Fatty foods
  • Carbonated sweet drinks
  • Potatoes, carrots,
  • Food from Fast Foods.

It is critical to keep fat intake to a minimum. Their daily quota should not exceed 10% of their overall calorie intake. Fats, as well as the goods listed, can have a negative impact on health and drastically raise blood glucose levels, posing a risk to people who have metabolic syndrome.

Drugs

In complex cases, medications to fight high blood sugar, lower cholesterol and normalize blood pressure are prescribed.

For this purpose, several types of drugs are used:

Thiazide diuretics, aimed at reducing the thickness of blood vessel walls

Biguanides containing metformin, used for residue

Clinids used to lower blood sugar after eating,

Sulfonylureas increase cells' sensitivity to insulin.

Only in unusual instances are the latter appropriate when effective emergency treatment is required. This is owing to the fact that sulfonylureas produce changes in plasma protein levels, which is a significant side effect.

Insulin resistance is a condition marked by a rise in blood sugar and the body's erroneous response to the insulin generated. The condition has the potential to cause various complications, the worst of which is second-degree diabetes mellitus.

Insulin resistance - treatment for insulin resistance

Insulin resistance, in fact, is when the body cells do not respond to a hormone called insulin and therefore cannot absorb sugar, so the main step is to select certain foods and exclude others to regulate glucose metabolism. 

Because the hormone is not utilized appropriately, this results in an increase in blood glucose and, at the same time, an increase in blood insulin.

Glucose metabolism is closely related to insulin production from beta cells of the pancreas. The cells in our body contain insulin receptors located on the cell membrane, which allow them to activate the mechanism of transport and absorb sugar through the cells.

Causes: Excessive secretion of insulin or genetic defect

However, in some cases, cells may not respond to insulin:

Excessive insulin production: When insulin is overproduced from the pancreas for a variety of reasons, for example, improper diet can cause blood sugar to remain stable.

Genetic defect: When the receptors on the surface of a cell are genetically defective or destroyed by antibodies




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