Insulin is an important hormone secreted from beta cells of the organ called pancreas. Insulin plays an important role in many metabolic events, primarily sugar metabolism. After this hormone is released into the blood, it ensures that the sugar in the blood is taken up by the body cells (especially the liver and muscle cells). Excess glucose in the blood is converted to glycogen in the liver and stored as fat in the muscle tissue. Insulin is an anabolic hormone that prevents the breakdown of fats and proteins. Sometimes, for different reasons, our cells cannot or hardly detect the insulin secreted into the blood. The flow of metabolic events is disrupted. This is the name of the condition called insulin resistance. In insulin resistance, the body has to secrete more insulin hormone from the pancreas in order to realize the metabolic events it wants and needs. Excess secretion of insulin increases the fat mass in the body. This increase also means an increase in the tissue that creates the resistance, which further increases the existing insulin resistance. After a point, the pancreas can no longer secrete enough insulin, and at the end of the vicious cycle, the patient becomes diabetic. If insulin resistance is not controlled, the point reached is type 2 diabetes.
Causes of Insulin Resistance
Genetic predisposition takes the lead among the causes of the disease. However, unhealthy diet and sedentary lifestyle cause the disease in patients without genetic predisposition. Insulin resistance is seen quite frequently in the following groups. People over the age of 40 who are overweight, have a large waist circumference, People with polycystic ovary disease, diabetes during pregnancy or giving birth to a large baby, People with high blood pressure, high blood lipids in their family, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, people taking certain medications (beta blockers, cortisone) regularly or frequently, those with diseases such as Cushing’s, acromegaly, those with fatty liver, gout, sleep-apnea syndrome, these patient groups should be frequently screened and followed up.
These patients are due to fluctuations in blood sugar; They apply to the doctor with complaints such as difficulty concentrating, feeling of heaviness after meals, fatigue, craving for sweet food, intolerance to hunger, easy weight gain, inability to lose weight, and fat around the abdomen. In the blood tests performed, the homa-ir value, which indicates insulin resistance, is high, and this is accompanied by elevated liver function tests, uric acid levels, and impaired lipid profile.
Insulin resistance is one of the most important components of the health problem called metabolic syndrome. This health problem brings with it serious cardiovascular disease, cerebral circulation diseases, diabetes and many organ cancers.
Treatment approach in Insulin Resistance
Although risk groups are a priority, the general population should be educated about healthy nutrition and being active and lifestyle changes should be provided. People in the risk group should follow up at the frequency determined by their physicians, and drugs should be used in patients whose lifestyle changes are not sufficient.
