American Diabetes Month: Recognizing The Signs of Insulin Resistance

November is American Diabetes Month, a time to raise awareness about the chronic disease that affects millions of Americans annually. American Diabetes Month encourages the public to focus on the importance of diabetes prevention, early detection and management.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic condition marked by high blood sugar levels, with risk factors like poor diet, lack of exercise and genetics all contributing to the development of the condition. The disease presents as Type 1 or Type 2.

• Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. This means the body can’t produce insulin, and people with Type 1 diabetes require daily insulin injections. Symptoms often develop quickly in childhood or the teen years.
• Type 2 diabetes is more common. When the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or the body’s cells become resistant to insulin, Type 2 diabetes can develop at any age, but it’s more common in people older than 40. It can go unnoticed for many years and is often diagnosed in adults.

One important component of the diabetes puzzle is insulin resistance, a key risk factor that can develop into Type 2 diabetes if left unaddressed. Read on to learn about the common signs of insulin resistance and discover how to improve your body’s insulin sensitivity with healthy lifestyle changes.

Insulin Resistance in A Nutshell

Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that allows your body’s cells to take in glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream and convert it into energy. Insulin resistance causes the cells to not respond effectively to insulin, and as a result, the pancreas works harder to produce more insulin. Over time, this overproduction of insulin can lead to rising blood sugar levels. If left undiagnosed, insulin resistance often progresses to prediabetes and eventually to Type 2 diabetes.

Common Signs and Symptoms of Insulin Resistance

While insulin resistance typically doesn’t cause noticeable symptoms in the beginning, there are some signs that may signal that your body is struggling with insulin regulation. Here are a few common signs and symptoms to watch out for.

• Lack of energy: Feeling persistently tired, even after a good night’s sleep, can be a sign of insulin resistance. Given that insulin resistance affects your cells