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Insulin is a hormone released by the pancreas in response to sugar in the blood, to tell the cells to take up the sugar and use it as energy. When the sugar level in the body is elevated for a long period of time, the cells stop responding to the insulin, meaning the sugar level in the blood remains high. The body tries to produce more and more insulin in response to the sugar. This is insulin resistance.
Insulin resistance can occur in anyone, but you can be more prone to it depending on your genetics, other comorbidities, lifestyle factors such as diet, stress and smoking, and if you are on certain medications such as steroids. If you have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes during a pregnancy, this is a good indicator that you are at higher risk.
The main issue with insulin resistance is that by the time it is detected, you may be in the diabetic range and damage to your body may be well underway. This is because in standard medical practice, doctors generally only check the fasting bloods glucose and/or an HbA1c, which shows your average blood glucose over the last 3 months. We can actually test your insulin resistance through a simple blood test using the ratio between your fasting blood glucose and your fasting insulin, which would give you a much earlier indication on your insulin sensitivity.
High insulin levels are a cause of inflammation in the body and can be the reason why people can find it hard to lose weight, particularly abdominal weight. It is also one of the main reasons why women may suffer badly from perimenopausal/menopausal symptoms. In addition, it is directly associated with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), cardiovascular disease, strokes, liver disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
Another interesting fact is that oestradiol, the main oestrogen of reproductive age women, is insulin sensitising, protecting you from developing insulin resistance. As the oestradiol levels drop with late perimenopause and after menopause, women become more prone to insulin resistance, hence why Type 2 Diabetes Mellitis, cardiovascular disease and other illnesses become more prevalent in women after menopause.
If you’re struggling to get results from the above, you can discuss with your integrative healthcare practitioner regarding herbs, supplements and medications that can assist you.
Dr Lucy Caratti is a highly qualified Integrative Doctor with 15 years of clinical experience and an expert in women's health, particularly issues like menopause, gut health, metabolic diseases, and hormonal imbalances.
