Ways On How To Reverse Insulin Resistance

By Carolyn Bailey


Diabetes is a common metabolic condition resulting from the deficiency of a hormone known as insulin. There are two types of the condition; types 1 and 2. The former is due to an absolute deficiency of the hormone while the latter comes about when the body cannot utilize the hormone. This is what is commonly referred to as insulin resistance. There are several things that can be done to reverse insulin resistance.

Lack of insulin hormone or failure to utilize it leads to a persistence of high glucose levels. If no intervention is undertaken, a number of complications can occur both in the short term and long term. However, if the interventions are instituted, the condition can be reversed and normalcy restored. Many of the complications that are recommended mainly involve the making of lifestyle changes (dietary and physical activity.

Carbohydrates consist of sugar units as building blocks. When the carbohydrates are subjected to the process of digestion, they are broken down to these units. The units eventually end up as glucose molecules. This means that carbohydrates are a direct cause of increases in blood sugar levels. It has been established through research that if the levels remain high for a long time, the risk of developing insulin resistance is significantly increased. Efforts should be made to reduce carbs while increasing fruits and vegetables.

Apart from the macronutrients, a number of micronutrients also play a vital role. These include, among others, magnesium, calcium, chromium, multivitamins and fish oils among others. Magnesium has been the subject of a number of studies. It has been shown to be useful n affecting the digestion of fat and subsequent deposition to adipose tissues. The mechanism that is involved in this is not very clear.

Physical exercise has a number of important roles when it comes to the reversal of insulin resistance. One of these benefits is that during intense physical exercise, increased muscle contractility leads to increased demand for nutrients and oxygen. This helps lower the levels of glucose in the blood stream. Another benefit is that the process causes the breakdown of fat cells stored in adipose tissue.

Mental health should not be ignored even as one focuses on achieving good physical health. Psychological stress has been associated with fluctuations in the levels of blood glucose. Stress also causes weight gain due to increased cortisol levels. There is a need to have scheduled relaxation activities such as hypnosis, yoga, meditation and massage to prevent excessive stress.

The effect of constant inadequate sleep is similar to that of tress. Cortisol is also produced in large amounts in this instance and the hormone causes an increased levels of metabolism and subsequent increases in the levels of blood sugar levels. At the same time, the hormone promotes the deposition of fat in the abdominal region leading to central obesity. Central obesity is among the main risk factors of hormonal resistance.

If lifestyle changes do not yield the desired changes, a number of other interventions can be undertaken. One of them is the use of glucose lowering agents. There are many types of these drugs working through differing mechanisms. Examples include metformin, glibenclamide and glipizide among others. It is common practice for the various drugs to be used in combination.




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