What is “insulin resistance”? What are the symptoms? Check if you are at risk.

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Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body becomes less responsive to the hormone insulin, which controls blood sugar levels. As a result, insulin does not work effectively, so the body must produce more insulin to control blood sugar levels.

What is "insulin resistance"? What are the symptoms? Check if you are at risk.

The dangers of insulin resistance

  • Increases the risk of type 2 diabetes
  • Increases the risk of cardiovascular disease
  • Increases the risk of high blood pressure
  • Increases the risk of dyslipidemia

It is worrying that insulin resistance often has no obvious symptoms, so regular blood sugar testing by your doctor is very important.

Risk groups for insulin resistance

  • People who are overweight or obese, especially those with accumulated fat around the abdomen.
  • People with a family history of diabetes
  • People with high blood pressure
  • People with abnormal blood fats
  • People who do not exercise much

Causes of insulin resistance

The main cause of insulin resistance is high blood sugar levels over a long period of time.

The mechanism is as follows

  1. When you eat, your body breaks down carbohydrates into sugar (glucose).
  2. Blood sugar stimulates the pancreas to release insulin.
  3. Insulin works by transporting sugar from the bloodstream into cells to be used for energy.
  4. If the body receives too much sugar from โปรโมชั่น ufabet food over a long period of time, the pancreas needs to produce more insulin to control blood sugar levels.
  5. Long-term high insulin levels affect muscle, fat, and liver cells, making them insulin resistant.
  6. When cells become resistant to insulin, blood sugar levels rise, requiring the body to produce more insulin.
  7. This cycle continues.

Insulin resistance should be monitored by a doctor.

If you have insulin resistance, it is important to see your doctor to monitor your condition regularly. Your doctor will regularly measure your blood sugar or hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c or A1C) levels to assess your risk of developing diabetes.

The initial symptoms of diabetes include:

  • Very thirsty
  • Frequent hunger even after eating
  • Frequent urination, nocturnal urination
  • It feels like needles are prickling your hands or feet.
  • Feeling more fatigued than usual
  • Frequent infections
  • Blood test results show high blood sugar levels.

In addition, some people with insulin resistance may develop calluses, which are thick, dark patches of skin that often appear on the back of the head, groin, and armpits. The cause of calluses is unclear, but some doctors believe that insulin affects certain skin cells, causing them to grow abnormally.

There is no cure for hyperpigmentation, but if the condition is caused by another medical condition, your doctor may treat the condition to return your skin color to normal. In cases where there are no symptoms, your doctor will often use blood test results to diagnose prediabetes or diabetes.