What is insulin resistance?
Insulin; It is an important hormone that is secreted from the pancreas gland, has an effect on lowering blood sugar, decreases adipose tissue and increases protein production. Insulin allows the sugar in the blood to leave the blood and enter the cell. Insulin, which is high in the blood, first puts blood sugar into the cells, but if more energy enters the body than the cells can take, insulin can no longer do this job. The inability of the insulin hormone to be effective enough even though it is found in excess in the blood is called insulin resistance.
What causes insulin resistance?
In order for insulin to be effective in the body, it must bind to receptors on the cell membrane, enter the cell and exert its effect. Conditions that prevent insulin from binding to receptors or reduce its effect on the cell after binding cause insulin resistance. These are generally genetic predisposition, being overweight, cortisone drug treatments, increased waist circumference, aging and a sedentary lifestyle and diet (fast food, carbohydrate-rich, ready-packaged foods, frozen foods, ready-made fruit juices, carbonated drinks, foods using corn sugar). , consumption of refined foods) can cause insulin resistance.
What are the hormonal diseases that cause insulin resistance?
Diseases such as ovarian cysts, growth hormone deficiency or excess, excessive secretion of cortisol and adrenaline hormone secreted in response to stress, excess milk hormone, less or more work of the thyroid gland, high parathormone, male and female hormone deficiencies, insulin resistance may result.
Can healthy people have insulin resistance?
About 25% of healthy people may have insulin resistance.
When should insulin resistance be suspected?
Inability to lose weight despite diet and exercise, fatigue, weakness, feeling hungry, late satiety, feeling of hunger 2-3 hours after meals, morning fatigue, fatigue after lunch, sleepiness, tremors in the hand, cold cold sweats Insulin resistance should be suspected in cases of fainting and the desire to eat sweets (get up at night and eat something sweet), the presence of obese and diabetic people in the family of the person who gradually gains weight, or in cases of hormonal disorders mentioned above. In these patients, an increase in fat can be seen especially around the abdomen.
Which diseases cause insulin resistance?
is guilty of many diseases such as insulin resistance, diabetes, stroke, cardiovascular diseases, atherosclerosis, hypertension, fatty liver, lipid elevations, polycystic ovary disease and infertility. It has also been determined that there is a link between Alzheimer’s (dementia) and insulin resistance.
Does insulin resistance cause cancer?
There are many studies that found a relationship between insulin resistance and obesity and cancer. In these people, increased insulin-like growth factor in the blood may predispose to cancer. It has been observed in many scientific studies that it increases the risk of cancer of the esophagus, large intestine, pancreas, breast, uterus, ovaries, prostate, kidney, bladder, thyroid and lymph.
How is insulin resistance calculated?
HOMA-Index is calculated with fasting blood glucose and insulin hormone levels measured after 10-12 hours of fasting. People with a HOMA index >2.5 have insulin resistance.
How is insulin resistance treated?
Lifestyle changes and regular exercise can improve insulin resistance in the vast majority of patients. A low glycemic index diet (foods that do not raise blood sugar or raise it slowly) is very important. Drugs that break insulin resistance (metformin, etc.) can be added to the treatment in required patients. Regular exercise and losing weight are the most important factors that break insulin resistance.
What happens if insulin resistance is not treated?
Obesity, High blood pressure, high triglyceride (blood fats) in the blood, high uric acid and belly fat, fatty liver, cyst in the ovaries (polycystic ovary disease), tendency to blood clots, decrease in HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) and urinary excretion Increased protein excretion (microalbuminuria) may be associated with it. Cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes are very common in these people.
