Insulin Resistance
As its name suggests, insulin resistance is an impaired sensitivity to insulin. The condition occurs when the liver, muscles, and fat cells fail to respond appropriately to insulin. Insulin is a pancreatic hormone that regulates blood glucose levels in the body. The disorder can either be acute or chronic. In some cases, the disease is treatable so long as it’s diagnosed early.
For many reasons, the liver, fat, and muscle cells may not respond as they should to the insulin, meaning they cannot store glucose from the blood efficiently. In response, the pancreas produces more insulin, leading to a disorder called hyperinsulinemia. If the pancreas can make adequate insulin and overcome the weak reaction of cells to the insulin, blood glucose should remain at a healthy level. However, if the cells are too resistant, it will result in higher blood glucose. If left untreated, it may eventually lead to diabetes.
Insulin resistance affects everyone. You don’t necessarily need to be a diabetic person to be at risk. It can also be a temporary or a long-term condition. Generally, the main contributors to it are excess body weight, smoking, and physical inactivity.
