Is Insulin Resistance really a disease ?

Insulin Resistance is popularly known as a major reason behind Diabetes. But very few of us know if Insulin Resistance is really a disease in itself or not. Yes, Insulin Resistance is a major reason behind diabetes if it remains in body for a longer duration. But the truth is that Insulin Resistance is a protective mechanism for our body. You will understand it once you read this complete article. To understand this mechanism better you need to go through the working of Insulin hormone and its resistance mechanism. Then you will know how Insulin Resistance is actually a protective mechanism for our body.

How does Insulin works in our body ?

Whenever blood sugar level rises in our body, insulin hormone is released. This hormone get mixed in our blood supply from pancreas and then sits on insulin receptors on each cell. It makes the body cells being capable of receiving glucose from blood and fulfill their energy needs. Once the energy demand of all body cells is fulfilled and if still some extra glucose is available in blood stream (apart from the minimum blood glucose level) then insulin converts in to fat and stores in different fat stores of body for usage during energy demands during high intensity work load or during starvation. 

What is Insulin Resistance ?

It is a mechanism in human body where all or most of the body cells become resistant to insulin temporarily. It means that body cells don't accept insulin hormone to sit on their insulin receptors. It makes the blood glucose level remaining elevated for longer duration. However it occurs more often in a diabetic person but if it happens in a controlled manner then it is a protective mechanism for our body.

Why Insulin Resistance is a protective mechanism ?

Helps in survival of brain: Our brain is just 2% of body mass but requires 20% of energy. When our brain needs more energy supply due to any work load, our brain can trigger insulin resistance in remaining body so that the glucose in blood is not utilized by any other body part and our brain keep working. After all brain is most important for body.

During development of fetus: Insulin resistant can occur in a pregnant women to provide more glucose to the brain of developing fetus. At that time there are two brains in woman's body and require more energy to work and develop.
When our brain need more energy: 

Negative effects of long term Insulin resistance

• If insulin resistance becomes a permanent feature of your body or occurs more often then it can cause diabetes type 2.
• Insulin resistance makes your pancreas work more to produce more insulin and already available remains incapable to lower blood glucose. This long term workload on pancreas make them incapable to produce insulin anymore or the insulin production is permanently reduced.

What makes Insulin Resistance uncontrolled in our body?
So now you know that "Insulin Resistance" can make us unhealthy if it become uncontrolled. What makes it uncontrolled is the main thing to worry about. Most of the researches found that obesity is the main reason behind it. Large stores of fat in our body are capable of generating its own hormones which disturbs the hormonal balance in body and cause insulin  resistance to occur without any need.

How to protect yourself from uncontrolled Insulin Resistance ?
You already know it ! Just control your weight. Waist of above 40 puts you at very high risk of insulin resistance. Most of the patients of diabetes never notice this condition when they remain pre-diabetic for years. So wake up now and control your waistline.