Millions of people all over the world suffer with insulin resistance. It is commonly known as impaired glucose tolerance. This condition is a pre-diabetic stage that can take years to develop but once it does it can rapidly progress into diabetes. There are ways in which to reverse insulin resistance but first you must fully understand what it is and what causes it.
An organ in the body known as the pancreas produces a hormone called insulin. This hormone is used to carry blood glucose to the cells for energy. When the cells reject or can no longer respond to the hormone, the glucose levels spike making the pancreas work extra hard in order to try and produce more. This hormone is essential in the metabolizing carbohydrates and sugars.
The actual exact known cause for this condition is not known; however, it has been found that certain medications and genetics contribute to the onset of insulin resistance. It has also been found that there are higher risks for onset in people that have high stress levels, ongoing illnesses, women that are pregnant, people that use steroid and people that are overweight or obese. Other factures that play into this condition are high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high triglycerides.
There are also some symptoms that can signify insulin resistance that individuals can look for. These symptoms include fatigue, dark patches of skin, memory and thinking not as clear as normal, weigh gain especially in the abdomen, hypertension, hypoglycemia, mood swings, easily agitated and feeling jittery. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should consult with a physician and have their glucose levels tested.
There are steps in which people can prevent or naturally reverse insulin resistance. One of the most common forms of prevention is diet and exercise. Maintaining a healthy weight by regularly exercising and consuming food and beverages low in refined sugars and saturated fats, and high in fiber can help. Food that are at the low end of the glycemic index include such things as vegetables, fruits, whole grains and lean proteins. Anything with a low glycemic index metabolizes slower and does not require large amounts of the insulin hormone. The less of the hormone that is needed the less the pancreas has to work. One very important point to remember when making a food or beverage choice is that the higher the fiber content the lower on the glycemic index it will fall.
Spikes in blood glucose levels are usually caused by foods that are high on the glycemic index. Sugars and high fructose corn syrup are two ingredients that you need to be aware of. Foods such as sweets, white bread and rice and anything made with white flour should be avoided. Potatoes without the skins are very high on the glycemic index; however if you leave the skins on they fall lower on the index. Whenever you consume any of these foods do it in very small quantities but the best thing to do is avoid them completely.
The things in which a person can control to help reduce the risk of this condition and help to prevent the onset of diabetes is simple. Maintaining a healthy weight, eating foods that score low on the glycemic index, exercising regularly and decreasing their stress levels. The one thing that cannot be controlled in prevention is genetics. Family history cannot be changed and neither can genetic makeup.
The more you know and understand about this condition, the better chances you have at reverse insulin resistance and preventing diabetes. The most important thing that you can do for yourself is to take the precautions and following the suggestions for prevention. Once impaired glucose levels have advanced into the diabetic stage, it can cause unwanted problems and complications for an individual.
An organ in the body known as the pancreas produces a hormone called insulin. This hormone is used to carry blood glucose to the cells for energy. When the cells reject or can no longer respond to the hormone, the glucose levels spike making the pancreas work extra hard in order to try and produce more. This hormone is essential in the metabolizing carbohydrates and sugars.
The actual exact known cause for this condition is not known; however, it has been found that certain medications and genetics contribute to the onset of insulin resistance. It has also been found that there are higher risks for onset in people that have high stress levels, ongoing illnesses, women that are pregnant, people that use steroid and people that are overweight or obese. Other factures that play into this condition are high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high triglycerides.
There are also some symptoms that can signify insulin resistance that individuals can look for. These symptoms include fatigue, dark patches of skin, memory and thinking not as clear as normal, weigh gain especially in the abdomen, hypertension, hypoglycemia, mood swings, easily agitated and feeling jittery. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should consult with a physician and have their glucose levels tested.
There are steps in which people can prevent or naturally reverse insulin resistance. One of the most common forms of prevention is diet and exercise. Maintaining a healthy weight by regularly exercising and consuming food and beverages low in refined sugars and saturated fats, and high in fiber can help. Food that are at the low end of the glycemic index include such things as vegetables, fruits, whole grains and lean proteins. Anything with a low glycemic index metabolizes slower and does not require large amounts of the insulin hormone. The less of the hormone that is needed the less the pancreas has to work. One very important point to remember when making a food or beverage choice is that the higher the fiber content the lower on the glycemic index it will fall.
Spikes in blood glucose levels are usually caused by foods that are high on the glycemic index. Sugars and high fructose corn syrup are two ingredients that you need to be aware of. Foods such as sweets, white bread and rice and anything made with white flour should be avoided. Potatoes without the skins are very high on the glycemic index; however if you leave the skins on they fall lower on the index. Whenever you consume any of these foods do it in very small quantities but the best thing to do is avoid them completely.
The things in which a person can control to help reduce the risk of this condition and help to prevent the onset of diabetes is simple. Maintaining a healthy weight, eating foods that score low on the glycemic index, exercising regularly and decreasing their stress levels. The one thing that cannot be controlled in prevention is genetics. Family history cannot be changed and neither can genetic makeup.
The more you know and understand about this condition, the better chances you have at reverse insulin resistance and preventing diabetes. The most important thing that you can do for yourself is to take the precautions and following the suggestions for prevention. Once impaired glucose levels have advanced into the diabetic stage, it can cause unwanted problems and complications for an individual.
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