The insulin hormone is responsible for regulating the blood sugar and entering it into the cells to produce energy, and insulin resistance is a common condition worldwide and leads to several health problems and serious complications if not managed.

Insulin resistance

Insulin resistance is a condition that causes the cells in the liver, muscles, and fat to not respond properly to insulin, and therefore, the blood sugar doesn’t enter the cells as supposed, which makes it build up in the blood. As a result, the pancreas has to produce bigger amounts of insulin to regulate the accumulated blood sugar, and this condition is called hyperinsulinemia. If the cells remain heavily resistant to the insulin, this causes hyperglycemia.

Insulin resistance could occur for anyone and at any age, and it could be a temporary or chronic condition.

Causes and risk factors leading to insulin resistance

Research is still going on to discover how insulin resistance is developed, but there are many factors that increase its risk, such as:

• Elevated fat levels in the body, especially in the abdomen, which are called visceral fats.
• Having too much of foods that are high in carbohydrates and saturated fats in addition to processed food.
• Not exercising enough and a sedentary lifestyle.
• Certain medications, such as steroids, HIV medications, and blood pressure drugs.
• Certain health conditions, such as high blood cholesterol, metabolic syndrome, obesity, PCOS, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (non-alcoholic fatty liver).
• Some hormonal conditions, such as Cushing syndrome, hypothyroidism, and acromegaly.
• Some genetic conditions, such as myotonic dystrophy, Werner syndrome, Alstrom syndrome, and inherited lipodystrophy.
• Having a first-degree relative (like parents) with diabetes.
• A history of gestational diabetes.
• Smoking.
• Sleep disorders like sleep apnea.
• Being older than 45 years old, and the risk of insulin resistance is usually higher in men than women. However, the risk in women increases after menopause.

Symptoms of insulin resistance

In case of insulin resistance, the pancreas produces more insulin to manage the elevated blood sugar, and therefore there won’t be symptoms. However, with time, pancreatic cells might become unable to produce enough insulin, and therefore, the blood sugar would elevate, and if it continues to elevate, the following symptoms might manifest:

• Tiredness.
• Increased thirst and hunger.
• Unexplained weight loss.
• Increased urination.
• Getting yeast infections.
• Blurred vision.
• In case the blood sugar remains elevated for a long time, this might cause prediabetes, which might not cause any symptoms for a long time, even years, but it could cause certain symptoms in some cases, such as darkened skin in the armpits and behind the neck (acanthosis nigricans), skin tags (small noncancerous growths), and eye problems like diabetes-related retinopathy.
• If insulin resistance isn’t managed, it could lead to type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, obesity, elevated blood cholesterol and triglycerides, and heart disease.

Diagnosis of insulin resistance

There isn’t a specific test for insulin resistance, and the diagnosis is usually done by:

• Physical examination.
• Medical and family history.
• Symptoms and signs.
• Lab tests.

Treatment of insulin resistance

• Insulin resistance can be treated if it isn’t related to certain factors, like genetics, and the treatment can also be hard when the condition is age-related. The treatment is mainly done by changing the lifestyle to a healthier one, having healthy and balanced food, and exercising regularly.
• Some medications, depending on the symptoms.
• Insulin resistance can be prevented by following a healthy lifestyle if it isn’t genetic-related.