INSULIN RESISTANCE: UNLOCKING THE MYTHS
I always get a lot of patients with Insulin resistance.
Of course, when they first presented to me, they didn’t realize it was insulin resistance.
Of course, then I get patients who think they have diabetes when they have insulin resistance. How I explain it is Insulin Resistance is ‘pre-diabetic’ and if you don’t start to address it, then your pancreas starts to fail, and in a few years, yes, you can become diabetic! And obviously, that is no one’s goal, right?
So when we test for insulin, we test for blood sugar (just to be sure) and if it’s just insulin resistance, there is so much we can do to overcome this root cause.
Don’t get me wrong, as Diabetes is not the end-all or be-all (especially when we use the excuse of ‘Oh, my family has diabetes, I’m bound to get it’ I’ll just sit back and blame my genes!) because there is so much we can do for that too!
So back to today’s topic! (I do apologize as I sometimes digress!;))
Insulin resistance can present as
- Unable to lose weight despite lifestyle changes like eating well and exercising.
- Perimenopause weight gain
- Fatigue with weight gain
- Low thyroid function
- Assumed ‘polycystic ovarian syndrome’.
Insulin resistance is a critical health concern that can significantly impact our overall well-being. It’s essential to explore the various factors contributing to this condition, such as toxins, gut health, bone health, inflammation, and NAFLD (Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease).
Let us delve into the intricate connection between these elements and their role in insulin resistance.
Toxins:
Environmental toxins and pollutants pose a significant threat to our health by disrupting the body’s natural processes, including insulin sensitivity. It’s crucial to be vigilant about our exposure to these toxins and understand how they can contribute to insulin dysfunction.
Individual genes might play a role, but they alone don’t determine the outcome. Genetic predisposition sets the stage, but the environment and lifestyle are the main actors in this play.
When you combine genetic predisposition with a toxic lifestyle or exposure to an environmental “soup” filled with various stressors, that’s when you see a shift in insulin function. This can manifest in different health conditions or phenotypes.
When taking a patient’s history, examining their health, and analysing lab results, I always keep toxicity exposure in mind. What’s commonly perceived as “normal” or “common” might not be normal at all.
I ask questions about factors like pollution, smoking, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, pesticide exposure, and other environmental influences because these can significantly impact a person’s health.
Remember, just because something happens commonly doesn’t mean it should be considered normal. We aim to dig deeper and unveil the underlying factors that may be contributing to insulin dysfunction.
Gut Health:
Our gut is a powerhouse when it comes to our overall health. It plays a more substantial role than we might realize, and an imbalance in gut bacteria or digestive issues can affect how our body processes glucose, potentially leading to insulin resistance. The composition of the gut microbiome and the type of diet it’s exposed to play a crucial role in this process.
Bones:
Surprisingly, there’s a remarkable connection between bone health and insulin sensitivity. Conditions like osteoporosis can influence how insulin functions in our bodies.
Insulin resistance entails the accumulation of fat in various organs, mirroring the marbling effect seen in cuts of meat. This process is akin to how an animal raised in a stressed environment and overfed develops marbled tissue a.k.a us in the modern world!
Now, applying this concept to insulin resistance, you’ll find that fatty deposition can also occur in the bones.
An issue arises if the bone’s infrastructure and integrity of the bone is compromised. This can initiate a cascade of events as insulin resistance manifests within the bone.
Fat deposition in bone makes the bone weak, with a high possibility of causing osteoporosis.
So insulin resistance is showing up in the bone
This ‘marbling effect’ can also affect other areas like skeletal muscle and the liver (think fatty liver!)
Fat deposition in bones weakens their integrity, potentially leading to insulin resistance, making it crucial to consider bone health in the context of insulin resistance.
Inflammation:
Chronic inflammation can wreak havoc on our bodies, affecting our insulin response. Identifying and addressing sources of inflammation is vital in the quest to understand and combat insulin resistance.
NAFLD (Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease):
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease can be a significant contributor to insulin resistance.
Insulin resistance can force fat into places it shouldn’t be, such as our arterial walls, leading to plaque formation and cardiovascular disease.
This process mirrors what happens in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Think of your body as a well-designed machine, with cells that can handle a specific number of incoming calories, much like a gas tank with limited space.
But, if you keep pouring in excessive, especially unhealthy calories, without burning them through exercise, your body’s protective mechanisms kick in.
When it becomes insulin resistant, it’s like your body’s way of saying, “No more sugar and fat in here, I can’t handle it.”
However, if you insist on overfeeding it, the body reluctantly stores it in various places.
For instance, excess fat accumulates in the liver, leading to fatty liver disease.
Fat can even be stored in the brain, contributing to a condition often referred to as “type 3 diabetes” or Alzheimer’s.
And Alzheimer’s?
Well, boy, that’s a whole new Pandora box that we can open!
Insulin dysfunction exists on a spectrum, and it can lead to various secondary diseases.
