Some Ideas On How To Reverse Insulin Resistance

By Carolyn Bailey


Diabetes is a common metabolic condition resulting from the deficiency of a hormone known as insulin. There are two types of the condition; types 1 and 2. The former is due to an absolute deficiency of the hormone while the latter comes about when the body cannot utilize the hormone. This is what is commonly referred to as insulin resistance. There are several things that can be done to reverse insulin resistance.

Low levels of insulin hormone or the presence of hormonal resistance result in abnormal utilization of glucose in the body. When this happens over a long period of time, short term and long term complications may ensue. If the problem is identified early and prompt interventions undertaken, these complications can be safely averted. Current interventions mainly involve making changes to lifestyle practices.

Carbohydrates are made up of sugars of varying complexities. When subjected to digestive processes these carbohydrates are broken down to less complex sugars and eventually to glucose. This results into a direct increase in the level of blood glucose. Persistently elevated sugar levels are a well-documented cause of insulin receptor resistance and subsequent progression to diabetes. Reducing the amount of carbohydrate in your diet and increasing that of fruits and vegetables is, therefore, among the most important interventions.

Apart from the macronutrients, dietary changes should also consider a number of micronutrients. Such include, among others, calcium, multivitamins, fish oil, chromium and magnesium. Magnesium, in particular, is very important as regards the digestion of fats. It reduces the deposition of digested fats to adipose tissues which in turn reduces the risk of hormonal resistance. The mechanisms involved for many of the other elements remain largely obscure.

Just as is the case with many metabolic conditions, physical exercise plays a vital role here. The benefits of regular exercise are mainly two fold. The first benefit is the fact that intense physical activity promotes utilization of glucose (as the muscles contract) which in turn reduces the levels in the blood. The other major benefit is the fact that such activities help in the breakdown of fat cells in adipose tissues.

Mental health should not be ignored even as one focuses on achieving good physical health. Psychological stress has been associated with fluctuations in the levels of blood glucose. Stress also causes weight gain due to increased cortisol levels. There is a need to have scheduled relaxation activities such as hypnosis, yoga, meditation and massage to prevent excessive stress.

The effect of constant inadequate sleep is similar to that of tress. Cortisol is also produced in large amounts in this instance and the hormone causes an increased levels of metabolism and subsequent increases in the levels of blood sugar levels. At the same time, the hormone promotes the deposition of fat in the abdominal region leading to central obesity. Central obesity is among the main risk factors of hormonal resistance.

In the event that lifestyle interventions fail to achieve favorable results, more aggressive therapies need to be considered. Such will include, for instance, the use of oral hypoglycemic agents. Drugs that are used for this include, among others metformin, glipizide and glibenclamide all falling under different classes. In most occasions, the drugs are used in combination.




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