Diabetes is a dangerous, destructive, and often painful disease.
That’s why it’s important to recognize the symptoms of insulin resistance - the root
cause of pre-diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, and nerve damage, and reverse it!
It's estimated that as many as 1 in 3 people have low insulin sensitivity.
So what is Insulin Resistance?
It's a condition when cells in your muscles, fat, and liver don’t respond well to insulin,
and have trouble absorbing glucose from your blood for energy.
To make up for it, your pancreas makes more insulin, and over time, your blood sugar levels
go up.
One obvious sign that you are insulin resistant, is a fasting glucose level over 100 mg/dL.
In today's video, we look at the top 8 symptoms of insulin resistance, and the things you
can do to reverse it today!
It's important NOT to take insulin resistance lightly, as this condition increases your
chance of developing heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
Insulin resistance syndrome is also called Metabolic Syndrome.
As always, this video is educational, and does not constitute medical advice; we are
not doctors.
Number 8.
Brain fog
Studies have found a link between insulin resistance in the brain and neurological disease,
such as Alzheimer’s.
Insulin plays a critical role in learning and memory.
When brain cells are unable to absorb nourishment, their function is reduced, resulting in brain
fog and potentially loss of memory and cognition.
Number 7.
High cholesterol
If you have a fasting triglyceride level over 150 mg/dL, and a HDL cholesterol level under
40 mg/dL in men, and 50 mg/dL in women, you could be insulin resistant.
There is a link between chronically high LDL cholesterol and diabetes.
Insulin resistance is associated with increased LDL, and lowered HDL cholesterol levels.
Research has found that low HDL increases the risk of a cardiovascular event - such
as heart attack and stroke.
Number 6.
Constant Hunger
Leptin is a hormone created in adipose (fat) tissue, that is closely linked with insulin
in sensing how much sugar is in the blood.
When it reaches a certain level, leptin production increases to tell your brain to stop eating.
Leptin and insulin directly regulate each other.
If there’s an imbalance with insulin or cells become resistant to it, leptin production
can decrease and you constantly feel hungry.
Growing evidence suggests that a deficiency in leptin or low leptin sensitivity can result
in the development of insulin resistance and impaired glucose metabolism.
To balance insulin and leptin, avoid inflammatory foods, and eat more anti-inflammatory foods.
Watch our video, "Top 13 foods that cause inflammation", by clicking the link above
or below.
Number 5.
Hypertension
If you have blood pressure readings of 130/80 or higher, you could be insulin resistant.
Insulin resistance has been repeatedly established, as a contributor to high blood pressure.
When uptake of insulin is reduced, absorption of salt by the kidneys is affected, resulting
in sodium overload and consequently, hypertension.
When cells are resistant to insulin, and insulin production remains at a normal rate, insulin
accumulates in the blood.
This condition is called hyperinsulinemia.
Many studies have associated hyperinsulinemia with hypertension, although the causes may
vary.
Some suggest that hypertension due to other causes lead to insulin resistance; others
have found the reverse to be true.
All studies agree on ONE thing - high blood pressure is an indicator of insulin resistance.
When insulin sensitivity increases, the incidence and risk of hypertension decrease.
Number 4.
Lethargy and Fatigue
Chronic fatigue is one of the by-products of diabetes because the body isn’t burning
energy properly.
With pre-diabetes, reactive hypoglycemia or blood sugar crash, can occur after a carbohydrate-rich
meal.
You get a surge of energy immediately after eating, insulin responds by spiking to manage
the food intake, then energy crashes.
This can leave you feeling sluggish and sleepy.
Eating in this pattern over time, with insulin spikes and crashes, can lead to insulin resistance.
Eating corn oil has been specifically shown to lead to lethargy and the development of
insulin resistance.
Use grass-fed butter, olive, sesame, coconut, and avocado oils instead.
Number 3.
Obesity and Belly Fat
The strongest predictor of insulin resistance is obesity; this means a waistline over 40
inches in men, and 35 inches in women.
Belly fat plays a part in developing chronic, or long-lasting, inflammation in the body.
Chronic inflammation can damage the body over time, without any signs or symptoms.
Scientists have found that complex interactions in fat tissue draw immune cells to the area,
and trigger low-level chronic inflammation.
This inflammation can contribute to the development of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and
cardiovascular disease.
Studies show that losing the weight can reduce insulin resistance, and prevent or delay type
2 diabetes.
Number 2.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), is a disorder in which a woman's ovaries cannot produce
estrogen and progesterone normally.
It is characterized by higher than normal male hormone (androgen) levels, cysts in the
ovaries, and irregular or skipped periods.
Studies have linked PCOS to insulin resistance in almost every case; hyperinsulinemia has
been implicated as well.
Number 1.
Skin Conditions
Acanthosis nigricans (AN) is a condition in which skin darkens and changes texture to
a velvety feel.
It most often occurs in the armpits, groin, back of the neck, between fingers and toes,
and on elbows and knees.
AN is associated with insulin resistance and can be either benign or malignant.
Skin tags (clinically called acrochordons) are also a symptom of insulin resistance and
can occur concurrently with AN or on their own.
Also, high blood glucose can make the skin dry and itchy due to excessive fluid loss
and hormone irregularities.
Next, what can be done to reverse insulin resistance, AND prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes?
First, if you are carrying excess weight, lose the extra pounds.
Cut out added sugars, seed oils, processed foods, soft drinks, and artificial sweeteners.
Remove refined carbs like bread, pasta and rice, and go low-carb and whole-grain.
Increase Omega-3s, and eat lean animal and-or plant proteins.
Add vegetables, fruits and nuts like kale, spinach, beetroot, cucumbers, okra and raw
peanuts.
For a list of whole foods, see our video "Top 13 foods to reverse insulin resistance".
You can also get on the keto diet, and do intermittent fasting.
Get regular exercise - walk briskly 15 to 30 minutes a day, or do other cardio, and
work out with weights weekly.
To see our recommended supplement to fix insulin resistance, pre-diabetes, Type 2 diabetes,
and neuropathy, click the link below to watch a FREE video.
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And now, over to you: Are you experiencing symptoms of insulin resistance?
What are you doing about it?
Leave your comments below.
We’d love to hear from you.
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