The signs of insulin resistance syndrome includes:
- Impaired fasting blood sugar, impaired glucose tolerance, or type 2 diabetes. This occurs because the pancreas is unable to turn out enough insulin to overcome the insulin resistance. Blood sugar levels rise and pre-diabetes or diabetes is diagnosed.
- High blood pressure. The mechanism is unclear, but studies suggest that the worse the blood pressure, the worse the insulin resistance.
- Abnormal cholesterol levels. The typical cholesterol levels of a person with insulin resistance are low HDL, or good cholesterol, and high levels of another blood fat called triglycerides.
- Heart disease. The insulin resistance syndrome can result in atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and an increased risk of blood clots.
- Obesity. A major factor in the development of insulin resistance syndrome is obesity — especially abdominal obesity or belly fat. Obesity promotes insulin resistance and negatively impacts insulin responsiveness in a person. Weight loss can improve the body’s ability to recognize and use insulin appropriately.
- Kidney damage. Protein in the urine is a sign that kidney damage has occurred, although not everyone uses this component to define insulin resistant syndrome.
How Is Insulin Resistance Syndrome Diagnosed?
There is no simple test to diagnose insulin resistance syndrome. Rather, your doctor may suspect the syndrome if you have three of the following:
- A waist size of 100cm or more in men and 88cm or more in women
- Increased levels of triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood)
- Low HDL, or “good,” cholesterol level (Less than 40 mg/dL for men and 50 mg/dL for women)
- High blood pressure of 130/85 or higher, or being treated for high blood pressure
- Fasting blood glucose levels of 6mmol/dL or above, or being treated for diabetes
The current epidemic of obesity in children also puts them at risk for the development of insulin resistance syndrome.
What is the Treatment for Insulin Resistance Syndrome?
Getting to and maintaining a healthy weight as well as increasing physical activity can help the body respond better to insulin. These lifestyle changes can also reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease.
The Manna Blood Sugar Support supplement can reduce the incidence of diabetes in people at very high risk. But lifestyle changes have been shown to have the greatest benefit for decreasing the risk of diabetes.
Is Insulin Resistance Syndrome Preventable?
Yes. If you follow a healthy lifestyle, you may be able to prevent insulin resistance syndrome and the associated diseases. Here are some tips to prevent insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome:
- Exercise. Try walking 30 minutes a day for at least five days a week (exercise can be divided into three separate periods of 10 minutes each)
- Get to and maintain a healthy weight
- Eat correctly. A healthy balanced and caloric restricted diet is recommended.
I weigh 103 kg and I do have a fat belly. I am on lantus insulin 15 units at night. I also take glucophage 850 mg one twice daily. My biggest problem is exercise. I have a job where I sit all day I have very little exercise. Walking is almost impossible for me as I have back problems and I cannot walk far. I try to walk down two flights of stairs where I live and if possible walk up the stairs as well. This I do very little.`
Swimming is great exercise for people with bad backs.
Hi Hazel. You can start small by going for short walks or if you can swim, that would also be less problematic on your back. Yoga for beginners is also very effective and people who are not the fittest can also paticipate as it is not an agressive type of exercise.
hi, i weigh 135kg, have high blood pressure and insulin resistance. excersizing for me is also quite a problem. my ankles ‘seize’ and this gets very painful. also if i do too much it feels as if my heart is going to jump out my chest.
i think doing what you can when you can is important. thats what i do to as i also have a job where i sit all day.
Good luck and just keep moving when you can!
Hi Hazel. Two years ago my brother weighed 100Kg. According to his BMI he was obese and tried to counter this by going to the gym regularly. He loved hotel food, fast food and all things sweet. Until he had a knee injury. The doctors told him he needed knee surgery and was told that unless he looses weight (about 20kgs), his knee could take several years to heal. Since he could no longer go to the gym, he went to see a nutritionist. He was put on a FOOD FOR BREAKFAST meal plan. He lost a little over 20kgs in 18 months and has maintained his weight at about 78-80kgs. Note that this was achieved WITHOUT any exercise at all!!! I’ll share his meal plan. BREAKFAST: Mixed vegetables with Soya chunks OR Chicken OR Fish OR Beans and a small portion of starch/carbohydrate. LUNCH: Packed from home – Mixed Veggies and a fruit. DINNER: Mixed Veggies and fruit – no protein allowed at night. He also DRINKS PLENTY OF WATER throughout the day, something he never used to do!!! If he MUST eat out, he orders a chicken salad OR Soup with rice or buns. He says that being on a high vegetable diet for all meals has caused ALL his sugar cravings to completely disappear. He no longer has a sweet tooth. He also used to have a weakness for starchy foods but this has been reversed. He now only craves lots of vegetables, fruit and water!!! His knee is doing fine and he should be ready to go back to the gym in a couple of months. May be you could try this? I started this meal plan in Feb and have lost 2kgs (i also have a job where i sit all day). All the best
I also have a sit-down job, a hectic schedule, 2 small children aged 5 and 6 and no energy to take the streets at night to get in a brisk walk of 10 to 30 minutes as I am generally to tired to do so.
I am however trying to get in as much excersice in my normal work day as possible. Instead of phoning people to come see me in my office, I get up from my chair and inform them in person to come to my office. I also take the stairs each morning to go to my office although a open lift is like a magnet to me…In the after the same senario goes. I also try to drink 3-4 cups of hot water which help with the metabolism and a high vibre diet.
The result of this is a more slender me and feeling much younger than my age…
Ouch! from this point I guess the steps needed are very small, but ALL in the right direction.
From my limited understanding the typical route is to go on a high fiber, high protein diet with loads of vegies, & significant carbs *(bread, potatoes, rice) only up till lunch time, & exercise as much as possible. I’ve seen details on the suck in your belly button to the utmost to the count of 10 whilst on all 4s etc.