Insulin resistant what is it

Your doctor may want to reconfirm the test results later. However, depending on the lab where you have your blood drawn, these numbers could vary by 0. A fasting blood glucose test will show your fasting blood sugar level. A high level may require a second test a few days later to confirm the reading. If both tests show high levels of blood glucose, your doctor may diagnose you with prediabetes or diabetes. A 2-hour glucose tolerance test may be another way to diagnose prediabetes or diabetes.

Your blood glucose level will be determined before this test begins. Testing for diabetes should begin at about age 40, along with the usual tests for cholesterol and other markers of health. Ideally, your doctor will request testing at your annual physical exam or preventive screening. Children and teens ages 10 to 18 may also benefit from diabetes screening if they have overweight and have two or more of the above risk factors for diabetes.

If you have prediabetes, you may be able to prevent the condition from developing into diabetes with these health-promoting behaviors:. Making health-promoting lifestyle choices is the best way to help get your blood glucose levels in the desired range.

Read this article in Spanish. Eating certain foods can help you lose weight and reverse insulin resistance. Discover helpful and healthy diet tips for managing insulin resistance. If not treated, high insulin levels can lead to serious health problems. Here are 14 diet and lifestyle changes you can make to reduce your levels.

Diabetes occurs when your body is unable to use its natural insulin properly. Learn more about manual insulin injections and how they help treat…. Improving your insulin sensitivity can reduce your risk for many diseases, including diabetes.

More than 84 million people ages 18 and older have prediabetes in the United States. People who have genetic or lifestyle risk factors are more likely to develop insulin resistance or prediabetes.

Risk factors include. People who have metabolic syndrome—a combination of high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels, and large waist size—are more likely to have prediabetes.

These lifestyle changes can lower your chances of developing insulin resistance or prediabetes. Experts believe obesity , especially too much fat in the abdomen and around the organs, called visceral fat, is a main cause of insulin resistance. A waist measurement of 40 inches or more for men and 35 inches or more for women is linked to insulin resistance. This is true even if your body mass index BMI falls within the normal range.

However, research has shown that Asian Americans may have an increased risk for insulin resistance even without a high BMI. Researchers used to think that fat tissue was only for energy storage.

However, studies have shown that belly fat makes hormones and other substances that can contribute to chronic, or long-lasting, inflammation in the body.

Inflammation may play a role in insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Excess weight may lead to insulin resistance, which in turn may play a part in the development of fatty liver disease. Not getting enough physical activity is linked to insulin resistance and prediabetes.

Regular physical activity causes changes in your body that make it better able to keep your blood glucose levels in balance.

Insulin resistance and prediabetes usually have no symptoms. Some people with prediabetes may have darkened skin in the armpit or on the back and sides of the neck, a condition called acanthosis nigricans. Many small skin growths called skin tags often appear in these same areas. Even though blood glucose levels are not high enough to cause symptoms for most people, a few research studies have shown that some people with prediabetes may already have early changes in their eyes that can lead to retinopathy.

This problem more often occurs in people with diabetes. The most accurate test for insulin resistance is complicated and used mostly for research. Less often, doctors use the oral glucose tolerance test OGTT , which is more expensive and not as easy to give. The A1C test reflects your average blood glucose over the past 3 months. There are two main…. What you eat is closely connected to the amount of sugar in your blood.

The right food choices will…. Exercise can help people who have diabetes. It can help control your weight, lower your blood sugar level, and…. Visit The Symptom Checker.

Read More. Food Poisoning. Acute Bronchitis. Eustachian Tube Dysfunction. Bursitis of the Hip. Abnormal Uterine Bleeding. High Blood Pressure. Home Diseases and Conditions Insulin Resistance. Table of Contents. What is insulin resistance? What causes insulin resistance? Certain risk factors are associated with insulin resistance, including: A family history of diabetes A sedentary not active lifestyle Race especially if you are Black, Hispanic, or Native American Age the older you get, the more your risk increases Hormones Steroid use Some medicines Poor sleep habits Smoking.

How is insulin resistance diagnosed? Can insulin resistance be prevented or avoided? Insulin resistance treatment Diet, weight loss, and exercise can improve insulin resistance. Living with insulin resistance Living with insulin resistance requires lifestyle changes as well as regular use of prescription medicine.

Questions to ask your doctor Does insulin resistance always lead to diabetes?