Insulin Resistance & Diabetes

Insulin resistance may be one of the key drivers of many — if not most — of today’s chronic diseases.

So How Should It Work?

Insulin is an important hormone that controls many bodily processes and challenges with this hormone are at the heart of many modern health conditions.
Insulin resistance, in which your cells stop responding to insulin, is incredibly common.
Simple lifestyle measures can dramatically improve this condition.
Insulin is an essential hormone that controls your blood sugar levels.
Insulin is made in your pancreas and helps move sugar from your blood into your cells for storage. When your pancreas senses high blood sugar, it makes more insulin to overcome the resistance and reduce your blood sugar.

Insulin:

• Regulates glucose balance in the body
• Controls fat metabolism
• Signals for the processes that move glucose into the cells for energy purposes
• Causes any excess glucose to be stored in adipose tissue as fat
• Suppresses glucagons & growth hormones, which regulate the burning of fat (stored fats)

Insulin resistance is when cells in your muscles, fat, and liver don’t respond well to insulin and can’t use glucose from your blood for energy. Over time, your blood sugar levels go up. Insulin resistance syndrome includes a group of problems like obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes.

Prediabetes is the condition of having abnormal levels of glucose, or sugar molecules, in the blood; insulin resistance refers to the mechanism by which one develops that condition. They’re not two different conditions; they’re cause and effect — insulin resistance is a prediabetes state.

Insulin resistance might develop into type 2 diabetes. 
Insulin resistance, prediabetes, and Type 2 diabetes can be managed, and in many cases reversed, by the right lifestyle changes. Medication may also be prescribed.

BALANCED HEALING is able to assist you in improving this condition with simple lifestyle measures, nutritional advice and natural supplementation. PREVENTING INSULIN RESISTANCE may be among the most powerful ways to live a longer, healthier life.

How Do You Know If You Are Insulin Resistant?

Raised insulin and blood sugar levels are key symptoms of insulin resistance. Other symptoms include excess belly fat, high blood triglycerides, and low HDL (good) cholesterol levels.

The Effects of Insulin Resistance

• Extreme thirst or hunger.
• Feeling hungry even after a meal.
• Increased or frequent urination.
• Tingling sensations in hands or feet.
• Feeling more tired than usual.
• Frequent infections.
• Evidence in blood work.

Signs & Symptoms That Suggest you have progressed from Prediabetes to Type 2 Diabetes:

• Increased thirst.
• Frequent urination.
• Fatigue.
• Blurred vision.

Insulin Resistance vs Sensitivity

Insulin resistance and insulin sensitivity are two sides of the same coin. If you have insulin resistance, you have low insulin sensitivity. Conversely, if you are sensitive to insulin, you have low insulin resistance.
While insulin resistance is harmful to your health, insulin sensitivity is beneficial. Insulin resistance occurs when your cells stop responding to the hormone insulin. This causes higher insulin and blood sugar levels, potentially leading to type 2 diabetes.

Related Conditions

Insulin resistance is linked to metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes, which are among the world’s biggest health problems.
Metabolic syndrome is a group of risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other problems. It’s sometimes called insulin resistance syndrome, as it’s closely linked to this condition. Its symptoms include high blood triglycerides, blood pressure, belly fat, and blood sugar, as well as low HDL (good) cholesterol levels.

Relationship To Heart Health

Insulin resistance is linked to various ailments, including heart disease, NAFLD (Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease), PCOS (Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome), Alzheimer’s disease, and cancer.

Natural Science-Backed Ways To Boost Your Insulin Sensitivity

Reduce Intake Of Added Sugars

Fructose found in added sugars in processed foods is linked to a higher risk of insulin resistance. Foods that contain high amounts of added sugar are also high in fructose. Natural sugars are found in sources like plants and vegetables, both of which provide lots of other nutrients.

Try a Supplement

Certain supplements have been shown to increase insulin sensitivity

• Chromium: A mineral involved in carb and fat metabolism. Studies have found that taking chromium picolinate supplements in doses of 200–1,000 mcg could improve the ability of insulin receptors to reduce blood sugar.
• Magnesium: A mineral that works with insulin receptors to store blood sugar. Studies have found that low blood magnesium is linked to insulin resistance. Taking magnesium may help increase insulin sensitivity.
• Berberine: It lowers plasma insulin levels and is used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes associated with insulin resistance and may benefit polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), patients. It may be used as monotherapy or in combination with other pharmaceutically prescribed treatments.
• Resveratrol: A polyphenol found in the skin of red grapes and other berries. It may increase insulin sensitivity, especially in those with type 2 diabetes, but its function is poorly understood.

As with all supplements, there is a risk they may interact with your current medication. PLEASE CONSULT WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER before commencing any other natural treatments.