Although both conditions are related to insulin production, insulin resistance and insulin shock are two different phenomena. Insulin resistance occurs when the cells in your body do not respond to insulin, which causes a rise in blood sugar. Insulin shock, also known as hypoglycemia, occurs when the cells in your body do respond to insulin, causing a dangerous drop in blood sugar levels. Both conditions are associated with diabetes.
Insulin Resistance
Your body breaks food into glucose, which enters the bloodstream. Your pancreas releases insulin in response to the rise in blood sugar. If you are healthy, the insulin stimulates the cells to use the sugar for energy. If you are insulin-resistant, your muscles, liver and fat cells do not respond to the insulin. Because you are not able to use all the sugar in your blood, your sugar levels rise, and your pancreas has to release more insulin in a vicious cycle. Insulin resistance is sometimes caused by genetic factors. It can also be caused by excess weight and a sedentary lifestyle. Prolonged insulin resistance can lead to type 2 diabetes.
Insulin Shock
Under normal circumstances, your pancreas releases just enough insulin to deal with the level of sugar in your blood. Hypoglycemia happens when sugar is used up too quickly, glucose is released into the bloodstream too slowly or too much insulin is released into the bloodstream, according to the consumer health website PubMed Health. Hypoglycemia is common in people with insulin-dependent diabetes, because their bodies no longer make insulin. Those with insulin-dependent diabetes must measure their blood sugar levels and administer insulin several times a day. If they miscalculate the amount of insulin needed or do not eat enough, blood-sugar levels to drop. The lowest safe blood sugar level is 70 mg/dL.
Insulin Resistance Symptoms
Those with insulin resistance may have no outward symptoms. In severe cases they may develop dark patches on the neck, elbows, knees and armpits. In most cases, a doctor will diagnose the disease through laboratory testing, such as a fasting glucose test or a glucose-tolerance test.
Insulin Sock Symptoms
Insulin shock has obvious symptoms that require immediate care. Someone experiencing insulin shock may exhibit a cold sweat, irritability or aggression and unclear thinking. He may tremble and have double vision or a headache. Dizziness, memory loss and hallucinations may also be present. Hunger is another symptom of insulin shock, and eating something with at least 15 g of carbohydrate, such as three glucose tablets or 1 tbsp. of sugar, may relieve the symptoms. In severe cases, he may faint, have a seizure or go into a coma. If administering glucose tablets or sugar does not resolve the symptoms, seek immediate medical care.
