Some Options Used To Reverse Insulin Resistance

By Mark Cooper


Insulin plays a very important role in the process of glucose metabolism. When this hormone is absent, the glucose levels will be abnormally raised leading to both acute and chronic complications. This is the case of type 1 diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, the hormone is present but it cannot be utilized due to the existence of resistance. There are a number of things that can be done to reverse insulin resistance and prevent diabetes type 2.

Diet should be addressed as a matter of priority. Both the composition and quantity of diet have the potential to influence the interaction between the hormone and its receptors found in virtually all the cells in the body. A large amount of carbohydrates has been singled out as one of the major contributors of hormonal resistance. Carbohydrates are broken down to glucose directly which means that they contribute to high blood sugar levels.

The high sugar levels resulting from carbohydrate intake overstimulate the receptors which in some cases renders them unresponsive to the hormone. The general advice is that one should cut down on carbohydrates. Only a third of the meal should be made up of complex carbohydrates (as opposed to processed carbs). The rest should be protein, fruits and vegetables.

Several supplements have been established to be quite beneficial to people that are at risk of this problem. Examples include beans, nuts, omega-3 fats, olive oil and soy products among others. It is not very clear how they achieve their effect but a number of theories have been advanced. One of the theories claims that they work at the level of the gene and improve carbohydrate metabolism. Another theory claims that they enhance liver detoxification and reduce oxidative stress.

Other than having a proper diet, one needs to take part in physical exercise regularly. There are two main benefits of physical exercise. The first one is the fact that during exercise fat breakdown takes place due increased metabolic demand. The result of this is a reduction in the amount of central abdominal fat that would otherwise act as risk factor for hormonal resistance. The other benefit is that the intake of glucose by body cells is increased during exercise hence a lower blood sugar level.

Chronic tress is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. It has been shown that a person that is psychologically stressed on most occasions is at a higher risk of having hormonal resistance than someone in the general population. This is because, their levels of cortisol are generally higher and so is their metabolism of glucose. Strive to get time off to relax every so often. Some of the relaxation activities recommended include yoga, massage, hypnosis and meditation.

Related to quality sleep, is the need for adequate quality sleep. Sleep is important as it resets the system. During sleep, our metabolic requirements remain at the bare minimum meaning that the glucose levels are likely to be lowest at this time. This ensure that that there is less strain to the receptors and the chemicals that are involved in the functioning of these receptors are re-synthesized at this time.

If all these lifestyle changes are undertaken but no meaningful changes are seen then it may be time to try out drugs. The drugs are many and are often used in combination to get the optimal results. Although their mechanisms of action tend to vary, the end results is the lowering of blood glucose levels which helps to prevent hormonal resistance and progression to type 2 diabetes.




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