You may have recently heard the term “insulin resistance,” but what does this actually mean? While it’s closely related to Type 2 diabetes, they aren’t the same thing. Below, I’ll break down each diagnosis and how they are connected.
What is Insulin?
Insulin is a hormone made by your pancreas. Its main job is to help move sugar (glucose) from your blood into your body’s cells, where it’s used for energy.
What is Insulin Resistance?
Think of insulin as a key, and your cells as locked doors. Normally, insulin (the key) fits into the lock and opens the door, letting sugar in. All is well. However, when you have insulin resistance, the locks on your cells change slightly. The key no longer works as well, so it’s harder for sugar to get inside. Your body notices this and tries to fix it by making more insulin, more keys, to open the doors. For a while, this extra effort can still keep your blood sugar in a healthy range. It’s important, however, to act as soon as possible in order to prevent the progression of this becoming harder and harder on your system.
Key points about insulin resistance:
- Your body is making more insulin than usual
- Your blood sugar levels may still be normal or just slightly high
- You may not notice any symptoms
- This is an early warning sign that your body is struggling to stay balanced
When Does Insulin Resistance Become Type 2 Diabetes?
Over time, the locks get so misshapen that no matter how many keys your body creates, the locks still won’t open. Now insulin just starts piling up in your bloodstream. With type 2 diabetes, your body can’t keep up anymore. The pancreas can’t make enough insulin, or the insulin it makes just isn’t effective. As a result, blood sugar levels rise and stay high.
Key points about type 2 diabetes:
- Your blood sugar levels are consistently high
- Your body can’t make enough insulin, or the insulin doesn’t work well
- Your symptoms may include increased thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, and blurry vision
- Long-term high blood sugar can damage organs and lead to serious health problems
How Are Insulin Resistance and Type 2 Diabetes Connected?
Insulin resistance often comes before type 2 diabetes. However, the good news is it is completely reversible and doesn’t have to result in disaster. It’s like a yellow warning light on your car’s dashboard. If you catch it early and make healthy changes, like eating well, staying active, and managing your weight, you can often prevent or delay type 2 diabetes.
Vytal Living Is Here To Help
While insulin resistance can lead to diabetes, it doesn’t have to. At Vytal Living, we help patients understand their health and symptoms from a root cause perspective. If you’d like to learn more about your risk for insulin resistance, blood sugar balance, or type 2 diabetes prevention, contact us today to schedule your complimentary consultation today!