A lipid panel blood test measures the cholesterol and triglyceride levels in your blood. There is absolutely a link between insulin and lipids, which are a type of fat. Triglycerides are especially responsive to insulin; elevated triglyceride levels go hand-in-hand with elevated glucose levels and are often one of the first signs of insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes. Dietary changes, calorie control and exercise can help lower high triglyceride levels and decrease your risk of serious health problems.
Insulin Resistance
Your pancreas produces the hormone insulin to help transport substances from your bloodstream into your cells. Insulin is released in response to glucose, your body's primary energy source. Glucose is made from the food you consume, particularly simple carbs such as sugar. The faster your glucose levels rise, the more insulin your pancreas produces. Sometimes your pancreas can't keep up with the demand for insulin, or your body stops using insulin effectively -- a condition called insulin resistance. Genetics can cause insulin resistance, but being overweight and sedentary contribute to its occurrence. Insulin resistance is often a precursor to type 2 diabetes and increases your risk of heart disease.
Triglycerides and Insulin Resistance
Insulin moves glucose into your cells for use as energy. Glucose not used right away is moved to your liver and becomes glycogen, which is stored in your muscle tissue for use as energy when glucose isn't readily available. If you don't have enough muscle mass, excess glycogen is transformed into triglycerides and stored in your fat cells. It's insulin that moves triglycerides from your bloodstream and into your fat cells. Without insulin, a lipid profile will show elevated triglyceride levels, as the fat continues to circulate in your bloodstream. The danger here is that triglyceride deposits will build up in your arteries, much like LDL cholesterol, narrowing blood vessels and restricting oxygen and other nutrients from vital organs.
Insulin, Triglycerides and Weight Gain
Once you correct your insulin resistance, either through diet and exercise or by taking additional insulin, you will gain weight. When your body is using insulin correctly, more glucose enters your cells -- which usually results in a lot of excess glucose becoming glycogen, which then becomes triglycerides. With insulin available, triglycerides are moved into your fat cells instead of staying in your bloodstream. The more triglycerides that get moved into your fat cells, the more weight you gain. You can avoid this weight gain by not eating more calories than you need and exercising every day to use more glucose.
Insulin and Weight Loss
Although gaining weight is common once you start taking insulin, it's important that you change your diet to maintain a healthy body weight. Body fat interferes with the way your body uses insulin -- the heavier you get, the more insulin you may need. Increase your body's sensitivity to insulin by keeping glucose levels stable. Although you may not need to follow a low-carb diet, you do need to limit added sugars and foods that rapidly increase blood sugar. Choose high-fiber carbohydrates such as vegetables, whole grains, legumes and fruit. Practice portion control and meet with a dietitian to design an eating plan that works for you.
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