Insulin resistance

Insulin resistance (IR) is defined as the inability to activate receptor sites on cells to receive glucose. In other words the cells are not responding to the message of insulin, which is needed before any glucose can enter a cell.

The beta-cells in the pancreas produce more insulin than is needed, in spite of normal or near normal blood glucose levels, a condition known as hyperinsulinaemia. This could be due to increased sensitivity of the pancreas. There could also be decreased clearance of insulin by the liver.

Insulin resistance is a syndrome where blood glucose levels are normal to slightly high. The significant result in any test is whether there is an impaired glucose response. Insulin levels can vary, but are normally elevated, particularly if insulin resistance is severe.

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'Metabolic syndrome', 'Syndrome X', 'Reaven's syndrome', is an intermediate stage between insulin resistance and diabetes. Glucose and insulin levels are high.

Diabetes is a disease where blood glucose levels are high and insulin high, low or absent.

Insulin resistance can lead to type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, poly cystic ovaries, obesity. Unfortunately once these have developed, insulin resistance doesn't simply 'go away', it is still present, compounding the problem.

IR is also associated with anovulation, erratic periods, increased inflammatory cytokine levels, increased clotting, high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, high triglycerides, excess weight around the waist, muscle weakness, brain fog, an inability to concentrate, to focus, to think clearly and high blood pressure.

IR prevents the formation of glycogen (the storage form of glucose) in the liver. It causes the liver, adrenals, thyroid, gut etc to malfunction and slow down.

High levels of blood glucose leads to increased glycation of proteins which causes changes in protein function in the body.

Estimates vary between 30-80% of individuals living in developed countries having it.

Although many authorities say the cause of insulin resistance is unknown, there are a number of known factors which do cause it.

Insulin resistance can be caused by the following:

• A diet high in carbohydrates, particularly sugar, glucose, fructose, wheat
• Glucosamine, used to treat osteoarthritis
• The contraceptive pill
• Hormone replacement therapy
• Growth hormone replacement therapy
• Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-±) released during pregnancy and infections
• Inefficient leptin action
• Inefficient adiponectin action
• Glucocorticoids have been implicated
• Bisphenol A, an oestrogenic environmental contaminant
• Phthalate metabolites, oestrogenic environmental contaminants

Blood sugar control

When food is eaten it travels through the gut, where it is broken down by various acids and enzymes, until it is reduced to a size small enough to pass through the gut wall into the blood stream.

In response to a carbohydrate meal, the beta cells in the pancreas secrete the hormone insulin to activate the cells into accepting the glucose.

Very simply, insulin is needed to shunt blood sugar or more correctly blood glucose into the cells for energy. If the cells are unresponsive to this 'knock on the door', the individual becomes tired, mentally and physically, as very little 'fuel' is getting into the cells for conversion to energy.

The rise in insulin is also a signal to the liver to convert glucose into glycogen, the stored form of glucose. This can be released instantly should it be needed. Unfortunately, with a trigger happy pancreas, releasing more insulin than is required, the liver will continue to convert the glucose into glycogen, but when it's storage capacity is full, it releases the glycogen into the blood stream. It is then absorbed by adipose (fat) cells, to store until times of famine occur.

This function is a leftover from the past and was in fact life saving. In times of famine we could live off the fat, now we no longer have famine, but we still have the same function and we live with the fat. Interestingly there are individuals with IR who do not put on weight, the reason for this is not known.

With the glucose being absorbed by the liver and fat cells, the cells themselves unresponsive to insulin, the result is fatigue.

Medical treatment

The normal recommendation is weight loss and exercise. Difficult when two of the main symptoms are cravings and tiredness.

The anti-diabetic drug glucophage (Metformin), although only approved for diabetes, is frequently used for IR and PCO.

Natural Treatment

The idea is to reverse the insulin resistance before diabetes, etc becomes a reality. It is possible to reverse it naturally, without resorting to the use of drugs.

No amount of good food or exercise helps, the cells simply aren't getting the food they need.

A combination of amino acids, minerals, vitamins, antioxidants are all needed to reverse it, aid in the insulin response, prevent tiredness, cravings and weight gain, lower triglycerides and assist in the energy transfer within the mitochondria. A liver cleanse and a high fibre intestinal cleanse is beneficial too.

Progesterone

Progesterone is involved in the regulation of hypoglycaemia. Use 100-200mg/day of progesterone, this equates to 3-6ml/day of Natpro.

Nutrients

The following are all essential to reverse insulin resistance.

The amino aicds:

• arginine
• carnitine (N-acetyl-L-) HCL
• cysteine (N-Acetyl-L)
• glutamine
• glycine
• isoleucine
• leucine
• taurine
• valine

The minerals:

• chromium
• selenium
• zinc

The vitamins:

• B1
• B2
• B3
• B5
• B6
• B12
• biotin
• choline
• folic acid
• inositol
• ascorbic acid

Other essential nutrients are:

• alpha lipoic acid
• Co Q10
• D-Ribose
• milk thistle (81.79% silymarins)

Possible symptoms of insulin resistance...

• abdominal bloating
• abdominal fat increased
• acne
• addictions
• aggression
• agitation
• alcohol abuse
• anger
• anxiety
• appetite high
• appetite low, inability to eat breakfast
• binges
• blood pressure-high
• caffeine needed to get going in the morning
• cholesterol - high
• chronic fatigue
• clumsiness
• concentration-lack of, inability to concentrate
• constant hunger - inability to tolerate long intervals without food
• constant worry
• cramping in legs
• cravings for alcohol
• cravings for sweet things; sugar, breads, cakes etc
• crying, easily upset, quick to cry
• depression
• depression - eat or drink to alleviate it
• dizziness
• exhaustion
• eyes - misty vision
• fainting spells
• fatigue
• forget what you're going to say
• fuzzy brain/mental confusion
• hair - excessive facial on women
• hair - excessive body hair on women
• headaches
• hot flushes
• hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar)
• inability to loose weight
• infections - frequent
• infertility/difficulty in falling pregnant
• insomnia
• irrational behaviour
• irritable, jittery, weak, tired or depressed if meals are skipped
• mental confusion and stress
• mood swings
• muscle weakness
• muscle spasms or tingling in arms or legs
• nausea
• nausea - in morning
• nervousness
• night sweats
• palpitations
• panic attacks/panicky
• PCO (poly cystic ovarian disease)
• shaking, trembling
• skin - dry
• skin - itching
• skin - poor healing
• stamina - decreased
• swollen feet and/or ankles
• tendency to feel cold
• tension
• tight chest
• tired all the time
• water retention
• weight gain
• wound healing poor
• yawning

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Wikipedia

Medline