As per the CDC (Disease Control, Prevention Center), 1 in 3 people are diagnosed with prediabetes. One of the possible causes which could provoke this health condition is insulin resistance. However, it is not always a primary genetic factor.
Is Type 2 Diabetes Insulin Resistant?
Before answering the question: “is type 2 diabetes insulin resistant” – let’s start by identifying type 2 diabetes insulin resistance. Insulin is a pancreas’ hormone that is in charge of absorbing and using glucose. Therefore, insulin resistance is our body’s response when we have excess glucose in the blood, which, in turn, lowers the functionality of the cells to absorb and use blood sugar for further energy.
Logically to assume, if our pancreas is functioning properly, diabetes is less likely to occur, and blood glucose will live within an acceptable range. If not, insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes mellitus can cause high blood pressure and notorious weight gain, which is hard to combat.
So, Type 2 Diabetes is insulin resistant, but there are possible other causes to developing the health condition.
Comparison of Insulin Resistance Condition with Type 2 Diabetes
Now, let’s move to the differences between insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Please note, all other symptoms or causes should be discussed with your healthcare provider only. There might be false signals which may mean other diseases as well.
Insulin Resistance
According to NIDKK, Insulin resistance stands for the events when cells residing in one’s muscles, fat, and liver cannot respond appropriately to insulin and cannot absorb and use glucose from the blood to “feed” us with the energy.
Prediabetes
This health condition represents one’s blood glucose levels manifesting in higher amounts than within a healthy range but not enough to transform into a diabetes diagnosis. It is commonly diagnosed in patients who have already discovered insulin resistance or those whose cells start producing less insulin to maintain glucose in the proper range.
Type 2 Diabetes
It is a health condition that is linked to abnormally elevated levels of glucose in the blood. It is usually manifested by extreme tiredness or thirst, as well as frequent urges to urinate. If you do not treat it, you can develop severe problems regarding your nerve system, sight, and heart. Then, it has a typical result of being overweight. Therefore, patients with Type 2 Diabetes will be assigned to specific diets and treatment protocols with medications.
The Insulin Resistance: Profile of a Health Condition
If you believe you are at great risk of having insulin resistance, and further on prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes, learn about the development, common symptoms, and prevention methods. Still, everything is individual, and a better understanding can be achieved with the help of a doctor.
Development
First off, type 2 diabetes insulin resistance may depend on several factors, including your particular genetics, aging processes, and ethnicity. Secondly, it may develop in people with excess body weight, particularly belly fat, excessive smoking, poor sleeping, and complete absence of sports activities.
Once one has insulin resistance in the developing stage, the body will do its best to fight by producing higher amounts of insulin. However, for months or years, pancreas beta cells may be worn out. Then, blood sugar will rise and lead to prediabetes and diabetes 2 type insulin resistance when no treatment is used. Moreover, the development of insulin resistance may take place alongside other health conditions like heart disorders and liver damage.
Symptoms
Nowadays, doctors specify the following common symptoms of insulin resistance vs. type 2 diabetes. You can develop extreme hunger, while others may have any other symptoms or all of them depending on the severity of the condition.
- extreme tiredness;
- uncontrolled hunger;
- cognitive impairments;
- rapid weight gain, fat belly;
- hypertension;
- high cholesterol contents.
This is not the complete list of insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes symptoms. Please, learn them with your healthcare provider.
Risk Factors
Alongside symptoms, you should also be aware of potential risk factors which may make you develop insulin resistance and prediabetes. Check the significant risk factors for insulin resistance and 2 type diabetes below:
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Rapid weight gain |
It concerns different stages of obesity, and particularly belly fat you develop fast. |
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No sports activities |
Patients who are not physically active are at significant risk |
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Carbohydrate diets |
In pursuit of weight goals, people who go crazy about carbohydrate diets may develop insulin resistance faster. Do turn to Low-carbohydrate eating regimens. |
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Gestational diabetes |
It appears during the pregnancy. |
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Existing certain diagnosis |
It concerns heart disorders or liver damage. |
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Genetic predisposition |
You may have a history of diabetes in your family. |
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Smoking |
It concerns excessive smoking habits. |
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Ethnicity |
Native American people are at greater risk for it. |
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Age |
It concerns people over 45. |
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Hormonal problems |
It mainly concerns people with Cushing’s syndrome and acromegaly. |
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Abuse of medications |
For instance, it may involve HIV medications. |
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Sleep disorders |
It affects sleep apnea. |
Diagnosis
To come up with the correct diagnosis, one has to refer to their healthcare provider. A doctor will ask you to do the following:
- You will need to fill in the insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes questionnaire. There might be questions about your genetics or family history of insulin resistance or diabetes.
- Your body will be checked, including your weight and blood pressure.
- You undergo specific blood tests for insulin resistance type 2 diabetes.
For instance, there will be a plasma glucose test. Then, you can be assigned to drinking glucose tolerance testing by consuming a sugary solution. Finally, a doctor will do hemoglobin A1c, which stands for showing your average blood sugar level within the last 2-3 months. The latter one is used to detect prediabetes and diabetes.
Once you have developed such health conditions, the test can help find suitable therapies to keep your blood within a healthy range.There might be other tests for insulin resistance type 2 diabetes, depending on your particular case.
Preventive Methods
Like many other health conditions, a patient at significant risk for insulin resistance, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes may learn how to prevent them. As of now, in 2022 the effective preventive measures look like the following:
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Sports activities |
Even if you are not a big fan of exercise, it is a must. You have to start at least half an hour of moderate sports activity per day or 5 times per day. Do avoid intensive physical exercises but check online workout routines for this health condition. |
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Understand your right weight |
By consulting your doctor, you should determine a healthy range of your body weight. Speak also to a nutritionist or personal coach who can tailor a plan for gaining or losing weight. |
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Proceed with the right eating plan |
You will need to focus on eating more nuts, beans, whole grains, veggies, fruits, legumes, among others. Beyond that, boost the consumption of lean proteins. |
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Choose modalities or drug therapy |
Your doctor may prescribe a specific therapy for insulin resistance type 2 diabetes with medications like Glumetza or Riomet, which work by keeping your blood sugar well. |
How Does Insulin Resistance Convert to Type 2 Diabetes?
In simple terms, insulin resistance may become type 2 diabetes by first reaching the prediabetes stage. It happens when a person completely neglects any kind of treatment or even does not know about existing insulin resistance. A patient may suffer from it for years by ignoring the symptoms. It is explained that some of the symptoms may be unnoticeable, or a person takes them for granted. For instance, by not treating excessive weight, high blood pressure, a person develops prediabetes. After that, it may lead to type 2 diabetes.
So, one answer – it becomes diabetes when no treatment or care is used to help.
Can You Be Insulin Resistant And Not Diabetic
As per one study, insulin resistance is not obligatorily a factor for suffering diabetes. You can be insulin resistant even without suffering from excessive weight or be obese. Beyond that, you can have insulin resistance type 2 diabetes in moderate forms when your pancreas only starts failing its duties. Yet, it concerns those non-insulin people who take care of their health significantly and visit doctors for checkups that effectively prevent diabetes forms.
Can Insulin Resistance Be Prevented?
Fortunately, in lots of cases, insulin resistance can occasionally be reversed. But, as you may guess, you should just stick to the preventive measures mentioned above. Otherwise, there might be a need for surgery and medications. Yet, some studies also show that insulin resistance reversal is not always permanent.
On most occasions, you will need to start by living a healthier life. It mainly concerns losing excessive weight by involving personal coaching with designated workout programs. But then, it is definitely about diets where you focus on veggies and whole grains. There is also evidence that fasting may significantly affect the reversal. However, it should be discussed with your doctor only.
Finally, you can be advised to take some health supplements which may control your blood sugar.
Note that all the reversal methods for type diabetes 2 insulin resistance maybe 100% working and ineffective for your particular case, so do not self-medicate.
The Final Verdict
So, insulin resistance is a widespread health condition that may bring many inconveniences and lead to first prediabetes and then type 2 diabetes. The significant factors contributing to it are obesity, inactive with no sports lifestyle, and genetic history. Like with other disorders, the key to treatment is prompt prevention, strange it may sound. If you believe you are at risk, consult your doctor immediately.
FAQ
Can Insulin Resistance be a Key Cause of Type 2 Diabetes by not Treating It?
Insulin resistance is one of the critical factors leading to Type 2 Diabetes, but not always the primary one.
What Is The Key Difference Between Insulin Resistance And Type 2 Diabetes?
When it comes to the primary type 2 diabetes vs. insulin resistance difference, insulin resistance triggers critical first prediabetes and then diabetes, not vice versa.
Can Type 2 Diabetes Emend Insulin Resistance?
Yes, but you should focus on treating type 2 diabetes insulin resistance first by overlooking your high blood sugar levels, following a healthy lifestyle, and regularly consulting your doctor for checkups.