Insulin Resistance Screening
Prognosis of Insulin Resistance
Medication Options
Alternative and Complementary Therapies
Prevention of Insulin Resistance
Making lifestyle changes can help reverse insulin resistance so that your body can respond properly to insulin.
Prediabetes
If your pancreas struggles to produce enough insulin to handle the glucose in your body, your blood sugar level can become mildly elevated and you may develop prediabetes. This means your blood sugar is higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed with diabetes. This condition — which affects about 84.1 million people — is a precursor to type 2 diabetes. Having prediabetes also is associated with an increased risk for heart disease, stroke, eye problems, neuropathy (nerve damage), and kidney disease.
Type 2 Diabetes
Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is also closely related to insulin resistance. Interestingly, metabolic syndrome isn’t a condition in itself but rather a collection of metabolic risk factors that can set the stage for type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Insulin resistance is included among these risk factors, along with high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels, high triglycerides (a form of fat storage often related to lifestyle factors), and a large waist circumference. Insulin resistance is a hallmark of diabetes, so make note of the ADA, an organization that educates the public about diabetes. The website offers a host of information, from tips on how to assess and lower your risk and resources for living with diabetes if you have been diagnosed, such as recipes and how to find a diabetes education program.
Favorite Resource for Diabetes Education
Joslin Diabetes Center If insulin resistance has led you to be diagnosed with diabetes or you want to be educated if that day comes, enroll in a program led by Joslin Diabetes Center experts. The 12-week Why Wait program is designed to help you meet your weight goals, which could improve your body’s sensitivity to insulin.
Favorite Carb-Counting App
Carb Manager Turn to this app to easily track your carb intake. Doing so is important for people dealing with insulin resistance, as following a low-carb diet has been shown to lead to improvements with the body’s insulin response.
Favorite Exercise App
Google Fit If reversing insulin resistance is your goal, add exercise to your daily routine. Make sure you’re logging enough heart-pumping exercise by downloading Google Fit. The app will track your “Heart Points,” a feature that was developed alongside the American Heart Association. You’ll earn one Heart Point for every minute of moderate-intensity exercise. Your goal? Thirty minutes five days a week, all tracked within the app.
Favorite Low-Carb Meal Delivery Plan
Factor One way to follow a very low-carb eating plan, such as the ketogenic diet, is to turn to a meal delivery service like Factor. Consider your needs and choose your frequency of meals (4 to 18 meals a week) delivered right to your door. If keto represents a dramatic change in your usual eating style, which is the case for many people, consider working with a registered dietitian before diving in. And check with your healthcare team first if you’re on any medication or have already developed type 2 diabetes.
