Insulin Resistance

What is insulin resistance?

Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body doesn’t respond appropriately to insulin, a hormone that moves sugar from the blood into body cells to stabilize blood sugar levels. Overweight and obesity are common causes of insulin resistance, which can develop into Type 2 diabetes when not addressed. 

In addition to Type 2 diabetes, other conditions linked to insulin resistance include heart disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and metabolic syndrome. 

See the Transcend Total Body Rejuvenation team if you’re at risk of insulin resistance to get screened and treated for your condition before it leads to complications. 

Does insulin resistance cause any symptoms?

It’s common to have no symptoms with insulin resistance until the condition worsens and turns into prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes. When this happens, symptoms of high blood sugar may include:

• Frequent urination
• Increased thirst
• Blurry vision
• Being hungrier 
• Headaches
• Slow-healing sores or cuts
• Skin or vaginal infections
• Skin tags
• Darkened skin patches

See the Transcend Total Body Rejuvenation team at the first sign of new or worsening symptoms — or if you have insulin resistance risk factors. 

What are the risk factors for insulin resistance?

Examples of insulin resistance risk factors include:

• Overweight and obesity
• Excess body fat, particularly around your midsection
• Lack of physical activity
• Unhealthy diet high in processed foods
• Family history of insulin resistance or diabetes
• Aging
• Some medications
• Cushing’s syndrome, hypothyroidism, and other hormone disorders
• Genetic or inherited conditions 

More than 84 million (one in three) adults in the United States have prediabetes, a condition that can develop because of untreated insulin resistance. 

How is insulin resistance diagnosed?

Diagnosing insulin resistance is often difficult because if your pancreas produces enough insulin, you won’t have high blood sugar or other symptoms. However, once the condition worsens to prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes, a blood test can diagnose high blood sugar.

The Transcend Total Body Rejuvenation team might also order a lipid panel. They review your medical history, symptoms, medications, and lifestyle. Your provider also weighs you, determines your body mass index (BMI), and completes a physical exam if needed. 

How is insulin resistance treated?

Treating insulin resistance involves making lifestyle modifications, particularly weight loss in overweight or obese individuals. 

Transcend Total Body Rejuvenation offers the following insulin resistance treatments:

• Nutrition counseling
• Medically supervised weight loss
• Weight loss medications
• Hormone treatments
• Exercise recommendations

If you’re overweight or obese, losing just 7% of your body weight can reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes by nearly 60%. 

It’s helpful to eat a nutritious diet low in refined carbohydrates and added sugars but rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, plant-based fats, lean protein foods (fish, poultry, etc.), legumes, nuts, seeds, and other plant foods. Limit red meat and animal fats as much as possible.

Schedule an insulin resistance evaluation at Transcend Total Body Rejuvenation by calling the office or booking an appointment online today.