How Can I Resist?

Metabolic Syndrome and Insulin Resistance are two different terms for the same thing and they are a precursor to diabetes.  It is estimated that 1 in 3 people in the United States has pre-diabetes or diabetes.

Insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome is when insulin does not work as well as it should and your body produces more and more to get the same job done.

High amounts of insulin can cause:

·         weight gain (especially around the middle)

·         high triglycerides

·         high uric acid

·         hardening of the arteries

·         high blood pressure

Tests for insulin resistance are not well developed.  The best way to know if you might have insulin resistance is if you have two or more symptoms.  The symptoms are:

·         waist circumference greater than 40 inches for men or 35 inches for women (at largest place)

·         systolic BP higher than 130 or diastolic BP higher than 80

·         fasting glucose over 100

·         triglyceride over 150

·         HDL under 40 for men and 50 for women

·         skin tags

The problem with insulin resistance other than the risks above is that at some point, your pancreas (where insulin is produced) cannot keep up and will not be able to produce enough insulin.  That is when your blood glucose levels start to go up and you go from insulin resistance to pre-diabetes and diabetes.

It is not doom and gloom.  In fact, there is more to be optimistic about than ever before.  There are large amounts of proof that insulin resistance, pre-diabetes, and diabetes even if you have had it for decades can be reversed, cured, or put into remission.

Thank you for reading.  I will be starting a once-a-month blog just on metabolic health and diabetes in addition to the regular blog starting the first Monday in December so please keep a look out for that.