According to 2023 data from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 101 million people in India are suffering from diabetes, while the number of prediabetes is 136 million. Unless any immediate and effective changes are brought about, the number is expected to double in the coming two decades.
“Curbing insulin resistance can definitely help prevent or delay diabetes. This can be achieved by making lifestyle modifications including calorie restriction, carbohydrate reduction, improving physical activity, proper sleep etc.,” Dr V Mohan, Chairman, Dr Mohan's Diabetes Specialist Centre, told IANS.
What is insulin resistance?
The term 'insulin resistance' means that the action of insulin is impaired primarily in the disposal of glucose or in lowering glucose levels.This can occur in a variety of locations, including the liver, muscle, and fat tissue. Most obese people have insulin resistance, but unless there is a reduction in pancreatic beta cell function, that is, a reduction in insulin secretion, insulin resistance does not always lead to diabetes, Dr. Mohan said.
"Insulin resistance is a phenomenon in which there is resistance at the cellular level, particularly in the liver, in the muscles and in the action of actually circulating insulin," Dr Ambrish Mithal, president, endocrinology and diabetes, Max Healthcare, told IANS. .
what are the symptoms?
Dr. Mithal said that insulin resistance rarely has any symptoms. But when severe, pigmentation is a classic sign."A degree of vellus pigmentation, which begins as mere pigmentation, later thickens and becomes vellus on the back of the neck, neck folds, axillae, and even near the elbows." It is commonly associated with obesity (especially abdominal obesity). Skin tags are also a sign of insulin resistance, Dr. Mohan said.
She said insulin resistance can develop at any age, but it usually starts with puberty, and in girls, it is associated with polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD).
"In girls, it is associated with hirsutism (excess facial hair, irregular menstruation, etc.), but it can also occur in men," Dr. Mohan told IANS.,
How to curb insulin resistance?
In addition to diabetes, insulin resistance is also linked to many other conditions, including obesity and cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks.
Dr. Mohan advised lifestyle modifications including calorie restriction, carbohydrate reduction, improving physical activity, proper sleep, etc. “Avoid refined carbohydrates, have carbohydrates with a lot of fibre, avoid fats, especially saturated fats like butter and ghee, eat nuts like almonds, walnuts,” Dr Mithal told IANS.
“Curbing insulin resistance can definitely help prevent or delay diabetes. This can be achieved by making lifestyle modifications including calorie restriction, carbohydrate reduction, improving physical activity, proper sleep etc.,” Dr V Mohan, Chairman, Dr Mohan's Diabetes Specialist Centre, told IANS.
What is insulin resistance?
The term 'insulin resistance' means that the action of insulin is impaired primarily in the disposal of glucose or in lowering glucose levels.This can occur in a variety of locations, including the liver, muscle, and fat tissue. Most obese people have insulin resistance, but unless there is a reduction in pancreatic beta cell function, that is, a reduction in insulin secretion, insulin resistance does not always lead to diabetes, Dr. Mohan said.
"Insulin resistance is a phenomenon in which there is resistance at the cellular level, particularly in the liver, in the muscles and in the action of actually circulating insulin," Dr Ambrish Mithal, president, endocrinology and diabetes, Max Healthcare, told IANS. .
what are the symptoms?
Dr. Mithal said that insulin resistance rarely has any symptoms. But when severe, pigmentation is a classic sign."A degree of vellus pigmentation, which begins as mere pigmentation, later thickens and becomes vellus on the back of the neck, neck folds, axillae, and even near the elbows." It is commonly associated with obesity (especially abdominal obesity). Skin tags are also a sign of insulin resistance, Dr. Mohan said.
She said insulin resistance can develop at any age, but it usually starts with puberty, and in girls, it is associated with polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD).
"In girls, it is associated with hirsutism (excess facial hair, irregular menstruation, etc.), but it can also occur in men," Dr. Mohan told IANS.,
How to curb insulin resistance?
In addition to diabetes, insulin resistance is also linked to many other conditions, including obesity and cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks.
Dr. Mohan advised lifestyle modifications including calorie restriction, carbohydrate reduction, improving physical activity, proper sleep, etc. “Avoid refined carbohydrates, have carbohydrates with a lot of fibre, avoid fats, especially saturated fats like butter and ghee, eat nuts like almonds, walnuts,” Dr Mithal told IANS.
