Insulin Resistance

  insulin resistance is when cells in your muscles, fat, and liver don’t respond well to insulin and can’t easily take up glucose from your blood. As a result, your pancreas makes more insulin to help glucose enter your cells. As long as your pancreas can make enough insulin to overcome your cells’ weak response to insulin, your blood glucose levels will stay in the healthy range. People who have genetic or lifestyle risk factors are more likely to develop insulin resistance or prediabetes. Risk factors include ·         overweight or obesity ·         age 45 or older ·         a parent, brother, or sister with diabetes ·         African American, Alaska Native, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander American ethnicity ·         physical inactivity ·         health conditions such as high blood pressure and abnormal cholesterol levels ·         a history of gestational diabetes ·         a history of heart disease or stroke ·         polycystic ovary syndrome, also called PCOS People who have metabolic syndrome—a combination of high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels, and large waist size—are more likely to have prediabetes. Along with these risk factors, other things that may contribute to insulin resistance include ·         certain medicines, such as glucocorticoids NIH external link, some antipsychotics NIH external link, and some medicines for HIV NIH external link ·         hormonal disorders, such as Cushing’s syndrome and acromegaly ·         sleep problems, especially sleep apnea