About 40% of Americans ages 18 to 44 have insulin resistance, a medical condition that increases the risk of type 2 diabetes. However, insulin resistance rarely presents obvious symptoms, making it easy to overlook. Even so, understanding what’s going on inside your body is key to making informed decisions and protecting your health.
At Russak Personalized Medicine, our team works with people of all ages to manage insulin resistance and prevent prediabetes from progressing. Read on to discover why insulin resistance occurs, when it becomes prediabetes, and how to reverse it.
Insulin resistance occurs when the cells in your body don’t respond to insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps glucose (sugar) move from your blood to your cells, where it’s used for energy.
Everyone needs some blood sugar to function, but if you’re insulin-resistant, that sugar can build up in your bloodstream, causing your pancreas to make more insulin to compensate. Over time, that process can lead to other health problems, including weight gain, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes.
Unfortunately, insulin resistance doesn’t always present symptoms, so it often goes unnoticed.
Insulin resistance can evolve into prediabetes if you don’t manage your blood sugar. Prediabetes means your blood sugar is abnormally high, but not high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes.
The best way to determine if you’re at risk of prediabetes is to undergo an A1C test, also called a glycated hemoglobin test. This test measures your average blood sugar. The results indicate whether you have or are at risk for diabetes. For example, an A1C between 5.7% and 6.4% indicates prediabetes.
Learning you have prediabetes can be worrisome, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll develop diabetes. Rather, it’s a warning sign that your metabolism is being strained. Taking steps to lower your blood sugar can prevent nerve and blood vessel damage and reduce your risk of heart disease.
The good news is that insulin resistance is often reversible with healthy lifestyle changes. Small changes to your routine can make a significant difference and help stabilize your blood sugar. You can:
If you’re carrying extra weight, shedding a few pounds can also help. One study found that losing just 5-7% of your body weight (the equivalent of 7.5 pounds for someone weighing 150 pounds) can reduce your risk of diabetes.
Insulin resistance rarely presents symptoms, but it can lead to serious complications if ignored. If you’re concerned about your blood sugar or have a history of diabetes in your family, a quick blood test can help determine your risk and guide next steps.
To schedule a diabetes consultation, contact us today. Call our office in Greenwood Village, Colorado, or book your visit online. We offer in-person and telehealth visits.
