Diabetic Seniors

Although many people know that diabetics cannot have excess amounts of sweets and fats, most of them do not totally understand what one of the main problems is in Type 2 Diabetes. Ironically, a 1999 survey by the American Association of Diabetes Educators found that almost 2/3 of the 1000 people survey did not understand or had even heard of …insulin resistance. Even more disheartening is that those who were unaware of what insulin resistance was, were struggling to keep a tight control on their blood glucose and, in most instances, not taking some of the leading medications that assist in insulin resistance and Diabetes.

1. What is insulin resistance? Diabetes insulin resistance is when the body’s insulin production is unable to do its job properly and results in making it more difficult to do its job correctly.
2. What is insulin? Insulin is a hormone produced by the beta cells of the pancreas which helps determine how the body uses glucose; insulin also regulates how quickly glucose is produced and released by the liver.
3. How does Diabetes insulin resistance affect a person? In insulin resistance and Diabetes, the body’s cells cannot absorb their needed amount of insulin from the blood resulting insulin resistance.
4. How common is insulin resistance? Estimators believe that anywhere from 10-25% of the population are actually insulin resistant.
5. What is the result of Diabetes insulin resistance? Diabetic insulin resistance causes the blood glucose levels to rise, can increase the risk of hypertension in Type 2 Diabetics, and can cause acanthosis nigricans (dark colored, velvety skin patches found on the neck, underarms, or folds of the skin) which is most often found ing young children or teens.
6. What causes Diabetes insulin resistance? Simply put, insulin resistance is a combination of genetics and environment; however, additional causes are little or no regular physical activity, excess weight gain and high blood glucose levels. Recent research has shown that insulin resistance results by “abnormalities in the chemical reactions within the cells or ‘post-binding abnormalities’.”
7. How can insulin resistance be discovered? In most cases insulin resistance and Diabetes is often found through impaired fasting glucose test and impaired glucose tolerance test.
8. Does insulin resistance have another name? Yes, insulin resistance is sometimes referred to as Syndrome X, which is the name used for hyperinsulinemia, hypertension, increased triglycerides, decreased HDL cholesterol and increased LDL cholesterol and obesity that can result in heart disease.
9. How is Diabetes insulin resistance best dealt with? Ideally, early detection of insulin resistance would be the most efficient, but there are a number of factors that make it somewhat impractical. However, in many cases, Type 2 Diabetes and insulin resistance can be prevented (or at least delayed) through having a healthy diet, getting plenty of exercise and, when necessary, with medication.

Now that you know a bit more about insulin resistance and Diabetes, you are better equipped to make the necessary lifestyle changes and be able to talk to your doctor about what you can do to improve your quality of life.

Tags: Diabetes insulin resistance, Insulin, insulin resistance, insulin resistance and Diabetes