Insulin Resistance

What is Insulin Resistance?

Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas which regulates the amount of glucose in the bloodstream. It encourages cells to take up glucose and converts it into energy. Without glucose, cells cannot work properly.

Insulin resistance is a condition in which insulin produced by the pancreas to keep blood sugar levels steady becomes less and less effective in certain parts of the body, which are less sensitive to the insulin produced. This leads the pancreas to over compensate by producing more and more insulin to try and correct this. These higher levels then affect other systems which have kept their sensitivity to insulin. Areas most sensitive to high levels of insulin vary between individuals and according to genetic makeup.

The most common areas sensitive to high levels of insulin include:

• Body fat cells
• The male and female reproductive glands
• The hair follicle (male and female)
• Areas known to require a high level of protein synthesis (mainly hormone secreting glands e.g. thyroid, adrenal, pituitary etc)
• The liver and cells known to produce clotting factors

Symptoms of Insulin Resistance

Symptoms of insulin resistance include:

• Central abdominal weight gain (even if slim)
• Difficulty losing weight
• Carbohydrate Cravings
• Dizzy episodes
• Facial spots
• Increased body hair
• Reduced scalp hair

Effects of Insulin Resistance

Insulin also has a profound effect on the cardiovascular system. This works on both:

• The artery wall - preventing the ability to contract and relax, making the vessels stiff and small and prone to damage from blood being forced through.
• Cholesterol clearance from the blood stream. This effect can lead to higher levels of circulating cholesterol and an increased risk of furring up of arteries. This in turn results in reduced blood supplying the:
• • Heart
  • Brain
  • Kidneys
  • Eyes
  • Peripheries and other vital organs

In the long term, increased outpouring of insulin results in eventual 'pancreatic exhaustion' and a higher risk of diabetes.  There is evidence that insulin resistance and high levels of insulin can affect the metabolic processes in many parts of the human body.

Can Insulin Resistance be treated?

Up until recently it has been poorly understood, but increasing interest and research shows that the diagnosis and early treatment or improvement of insulin resistance has huge benefit, both in the short term for the treatment of symptoms, and in the long term for prevention of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

At the Surrey Park Clinic we address the effect of insulin resistance by performing tests to establish which individuals are affected if they appear to have clinical signs of this, and to see how badly they are affected. We incorporate treatment of this within the usual hormone treatments expected in a health clinic concentrating on the effect of this condition.

If you think you may have insulin resistance contact The Surrey Park Clinic
on 01483 454 016 and book a consultation today.  Alternatively email us and one of our friendly team will be happy to help with your enquiry.