Insulin resistance develops when your body does not process insulin correctly, whereas some diabetics do not produce insulin at all. If you have insulin resistance, you are at increased risk of developing diabetes in the future. Your body does produce insulin but it doesn't use it appropriately. Symptoms of insulin resistance can be similar to those experienced by diabetics. If you have insulin resistance, you are at increased risk of developing hypertension or heart disease.
Causes
According to the U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, or NIDDK, scientists have linked a specific gene to the development of insulin resistance. There are other risk factors as well. Being obese, having a large waist circumference or having high levels of triglycerides or cholesterol can place you at risk of developing insulin resistance.
Symptoms
It is possible for people with insulin resistance to be completely asymptomatic. In severe cases, you may develop acanthosis nigricans, a condition that manifests itself as dark skin patches on the back of the neck, knees and knuckles. High blood lipids, or fat, is another symptom. Your doctor can diagnose high blood lipids with a complete blood panel. Blurred vision can also signal insulin resistance. Too much glucose, or sugar, in your blood can cause the lens of your eye to swell, distorting vision. If you have insulin resistance, you may gain weight. This is because your body cannot properly convert glucose to energy and so it is stored as fat. Women with insulin resistance may develop irregular menstrual periods, excessive hair growth or acne, all symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS. Insulin resistance is a risk factor for developing PCOS, a condition where a woman develops small cysts along the outside of her ovaries.
Diagnosis
If you suspect that you have insulin resistance, ask that your physician perform a blood test, a fasting glucose test or a glucose tolerance test. Unfortunately, these tests may not accurately diagnose insulin resistance. In the March 2001 issue of "American Family Physician," Dr. Gouthan Rao writes that diagnosing insulin resistance is more difficult than diagnosing diabetes. The most accurate measurement of insulin resistance is the euglycemic clamp test, but it is very expensive and usually not performed in a physician's office.
Pre-Diabetes
If you have insulin resistance, you are at risk of developing what physicians term pre-diabetes. According to the NIDDK, people with pre-diabetes are likely to develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years. If you develop pre-diabetes, you are also at higher risk of developing heart disease.
Risk Factors
Certain people are at higher risk of developing insulin resistance than others. African Americans, Native Americans, Pacific Islanders and Asians are more likely to develop insulin resistance than whites. If you are not physically active, have a family history of diabetes or are currently being treated for hypertension, you are also at greater risk. Women with polycystic ovary syndrome or who have recently given birth to a high birth weight baby are also at greater risk.
Treatment
The good news is that insulin sensitivity is a condition that can be reversed. Weight reduction is imperative. According to Dr. Rao, insulin sensitivity can improve just a few days after caloric restriction. Also, increasing your level of physical activity and increasing the amount of dietary fiber you eat each day can also help improve insulin sensitivity.
References
- NIDDK: Insulin Resistance
- "American Family Physician"; Insulin Resistance Syndrome; Goutham Rao, M.D; March 2001
