Get the facts on insulin resistance

Insulin is a hormone produced by your pancreas. Insulin uses your blood glucose as fuel to power cells in your muscles, fat and liver.

When your body’s cells struggle to use insulin your pancreas makes more. Sometimes your pancreas can make enough insulin to compensate for your body’s weak response. When it can’t your blood glucose levels can rise and your health care provider may diagnosis you as having prediabetes, metabolic syndrome or insulin resistance.  

The cause of insulin resistance

While medical experts don’t know all the reasons for insulin resistance (also known as metabolic syndrome and prediabetes), it is more common if you are overweight and aren’t physically active. You also may be insulin resistant if you have high blood sugar levels, high triglycerides, high LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, and low HDL (“good”) cholesterol.

Other risk factors for insulin resistance include:

• a history of gestational diabetes, heart disease or stroke
• a meal plan with a high percentage of carbohydrates
• being age 45 or older
• being Black, Native American, Hispanic/Latinx, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
• having a parent or brother or sister who has diabetes
• high blood pressure and cholesterol
• polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS insulin resistance)
• untreated sleep apnea
• low activity, sedentary lifestyle

Signs of insulin resistance

Your health care provider will usually look for signs in your blood tests to see if you have prediabetes or may be insulin resistant. The most accurate test for insulin resistance is complicated and used mostly for research.

Prevention and treatment of insulin resistance

While some risk factors can’t be changed, many risk factors can have a positive impact on your blood glucose levels. These include:

• eating fewer carbohydrates, especially processed carbs, sugary foods and drinks
• moving more and losing weight
• reducing stress
• getting plenty of sleep.

These simple lifestyle changes can make a meaningful difference. Talk with your health care provider about diabetes care and how to prevent insulin resistance.