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Insulin resistance is a core defect of type 2
diabetes. In fact, 1 in 4 Americans may have
insulin resistance. Not sure if you have insulin
resistance? Here are some of the common
"predictors" of insulin resistance:
- Being overweight with a BMI (body mass index)
of 25 kg/m2 or higher.
- Having body fat located around your waist:
more than 40 inches for men and more than 35
inches for women.
- A triglyceride (blood fats) level more than or
equal to 150 mg/dL.
- An HDL (good) cholesterol level of less than
40 mg/dL for men and less than 50 mg/dL for
women.
- Blood pressure greater than or equal to 130/85
mm Hg.
- Fasting blood glucose levels more than or
equal to 110 mg/dL.
If you think you may have insulin resistance,
talk to your health professional.
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Insulin Resistance Risk Assessment |
|
Risk Factor |
Critical Range |
Your Value |
|
Abdominal Obesity |
Waist Circumference |
|
|
Men |
> 102 cm (> 40 inches) |
|
|
Women |
< 88 cm (> 35 inches) |
|
|
Triglycerides |
> 150 mg/dL |
|
|
HDL Cholesterol |
|
|
|
Men |
< 40 mg/dL |
|
|
Women |
< 50 mg/dL |
|
|
Blood Pressure |
> 130/85mm Hg |
|
|
Fasting Glucose |
> 110 mg/dL |
|
Importance of Insulin Resistance
Why Insulin Resistance Could Be Important to You
Insulin resistance is a main underlying cause of
type 2 diabetes. It occurs when your body isn't
properly using the insulin it makes, or the
insulin you take.
This is important because insulin is what allows
the glucose in your blood to enter your body's
cells to be used for energy. So when you have
insulin resistance:
- Glucose can't enter your body's cells in the
normal way.
- Your cells don't have the fuel (glucose) they
need for energy.
- The glucose in your blood builds up to a level
that's too high.
Why you should understand insulin resistance
Research has shown that if you have type 2
diabetes, chances are good that you have insulin
resistance. In fact, one study found that up to
92% of people with type 2 diabetes have insulin
resistance! That's why it's important to ask
your health professional if you could be insulin
resistant. That way, you can make sure that you
are addressing a main cause of your diabetes.
See What Is Insulin Resistance? for some ways
you may be able to tell.
Good news for those who may be insulin resistant
A type of oral diabetes medicines called
thiazolidinediones, or TZDs for short, are the
only diabetes medications currently known to
directly address insulin resistance. That's
because TZDs specifically target insulin
resistance. By making your body more sensitive
to natural insulin or the insulin you take, TZDs
help reduce the harmful buildup of glucose in
your blood. |
