It may be of great help to know why and where insulin is needed in human body and how it works before talking about insulin resistance. The digestion process converts the starch present in food into a simple form of sugar called Glucose, which is then released into the bloodstream. A certain level of glucose in the bloodstream triggers the pancreas to produce a hormone called insulin. This insulin hooks up itself to the molecules called insulin receptors present on the outer surface of cells in muscles. These insulin receptors start signals inside the cells to absorb the glucose from the blood, convert it into the energy, and hence help in controlling the level of glucose or sugar present in the blood. Insulin Resistance is not a name given to a particular disease. In fact, it is a stage of decreased response of body to insulin. In its simple form, it is a state when body produces insulin but cannot use it. Therefore, muscle cells cannot convert the glucose present in the bloodstream into energy. This increases the level of both glucose and insulin in the blood. This further helps in setting up a stage for many diseases and disorders. The following is a list of diseases and disorders:
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome
• High blood pressure
• Abnormal cholesterol levels
• Heart disease
• Type 2 diabetes
• Obesity
The causes behind the development of insulin resistance are not completely known. The following is a list of some of these reasons:
• Genetic factors: Scientists assume that there are genes responsible for the presence of insulin resistance. These genes makes a person more likely to develop the state of insulin resistance and other diseases like diabetes and heart disorders.These genes affect the parts of muscle cells called insulin receptors and create disorders in biochemical signals within the cells to start glucose consumption.
• Obesity: Obesity or accumulated undesired fat in body muscles interrupt the process of using insulin by muscles cells. It can also lower the quantity of receptors present on cell’s outer surface and responsible for using insulin.
• Lack of physical activeness: Near about 95% of the total Glucose present in the bloodstream is consumed by cells in body muscles with the help of insulin. Physical inactiveness decreases the ability of muscles to utilize glucose and insulin properly.
• Aging: Aging is a natural process. With the time, human body organs get old and cannot work properly. The same is also true for the parts responsible for glucose transport.
There is no any single lab test useful in diagnosing of insulin resistance, as it is not a disease rather a state. Treatment of insulin resistance syndrome is actually treating different disorders it causes. Normally pharmacologic therapy is used to decrease the degree of resistance. It is better to keep watch on your body state so that you can consult doctor at the appropriate time.
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