It Is Not Closed You May Have Insulin Resistance

In fact, there are no specific signs that someone has insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is a condition when the body's cells cannot use blood sugar properly due to the disruption of the body's cell response to insulin. A person can experience insulin resistance for years without even knowing it. The body digests carbohydrates in food into glucose and then releases them into the blood. The body's cells will absorb glucose assisted by the hormone insulin produced by the pancreas gland. Furthermore, glucose absorbed will be converted into energy in cells. When a person experiences insulin resistance, the pancreas still produces insulin, but the body's cells do not absorb glucose properly. This condition causes a buildup of glucose in the blood, thus making the body's glucose levels higher than normal size. At a more severe level, this condition can cause type 2 diabetes. If glucose levels are more than normal but not yet within the criteria for type 2 diabetes, this condition is called prediabetes.

Risk Factors Triggering Insulin Resistance

The cause of insulin resistance is not known with certainty, but there are some things that have a connection or become a factor for someone more at risk of experiencing insulin resistance, including:

• Overweight or obese.
• Unhealthy living habits, such as smoking and rarely doing physical activities or sports (sedentary lifestyle).
• Having a family member who has diabetes.
• The habit of eating foods high in sugar and carbohydrates.
• Having gestational diabetes.
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• Prolonged stress.
• Currently taking corticosteroid drugs.
• A man with a waist circumference of more than 90 cm and a woman with a waist circumference of more than 80 cm.
• More than 45 years old.
• Have a history of high blood pressure, high cholesterol or triglyceride levels, and heart disease.
• Suffered from polycystic ovary syndrome.

Besides being more at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, people with insulin resistance can have or be at higher risk of developing health problems as follows:

• Fatty heart

Fatty liver is the accumulation of fat in the liver caused by uncontrolled fat. One reason is insulin resistance.

• Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is thickening and hardening of the walls of large or medium arteries. Atherosclerosis is at risk of causing strokes, coronary heart disease, and peripheral vascular disease.

• Skin lesions, nigricikan toses, and skin tags

High blood sugar levels due to insulin resistance can interfere with the wound healing process. Some people with insulin resistance can experience a condition called nigricikan acetosis with characteristics of black spots on the neck, armpits, or groin. Meanwhile, the skin tag is the surface of the skin that is protruding or hanging.

• Polycystic ovary syndrome / polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

PCOS is a hormonal disorder that affects a woman's menstrual cycle. This condition can also have an impact on women's fertility.

• Growth disturbance

High levels of insulin can affect body growth because insulin itself is a hormone that supports growth.

How to Reduce the Risk of Insulin Resistance

Although not yet known exactly what causes it, but the good news is there are ways you can do to reduce the risk of insulin resistance and prevent diabetes, including:

• Exercise for at least 30 minutes per day with a moderate type of activity, for example brisk walking. Perform this activity at least 5 times a week.
• Make it a habit to eat healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, protein, and whole grains. Stay away from high cholesterol foods.
• Maintain your ideal body weight. If you are overweight, consult your doctor to undergo a healthy weight loss program.
• Limit consumption of carbohydrates with high glycemic index which can increase blood sugar levels quickly, such as white bread, sugar, and raw corn. Also end the habit of consuming processed products from potatoes such as potato chips or fried potatoes, as well as high cholesterol foods.
• Consumption of foods with low glycemic index, such as foods rich in fiber (brown rice, whole wheat bread) and flour-free vegetables (asparagus, carrots, broccoli).

Because insulin resistance usually does not cause specific symptoms, the best way to find out is to do a routine health check and blood test to find out blood sugar levels and the HbA1C test. The HbA1C test is a blood test to evaluate blood sugar levels in the last 3 months. As a preventative measure, you should check your blood sugar levels regularly by consulting a doctor first.