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Modalities On How To Reverse Insulin Resistance

By Mark Cooper


Insulin is at the center of glucose metabolism. In the absence of this important hormone, sugar levels become deranged and this has the potential to cause both acute and chronic complications. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreatic cells responsible for its production are not functioning hence the hormone is completely absent. In type 2 diabetes, the hormone is present but resistance in body tissues exist. In this article, we will look at how to reverse insulin resistance.

Diet is one of the most important areas to which changes can be made. The changes should not only be focused on the types of foods eaten but on the servings as well. Multiple servings of carbs at a go have been shown to have a negative effect on the receptors. The carbohydrates are broken down to produce a spike of glucose in the blood. This is more harmful than smaller increases that result from smaller meals eaten more frequently.

High levels of blood glucose may cause over-stimulation of insulin receptors rendering them unresponsive to any further increases. When this occurs repeatedly, the risk of insulin resistance is increased markedly. For this reason, the general advice is that the amount of carbohydrates in a meal should be kept at a third. Proteins, vegetables and fruits should make up two thirds.

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.

Failure to get adequate sleep has been shown to be a contributing factor to hormonal resistance. The underlying mechanisms are similar to those of stress. Sleeping eases, the stress on our physiological systems and gives them an opportunity to readjust. In the case of carbohydrate metabolism, for instance, the chemicals that are involved in communication between the hormone and the receptor are re-synthesized when we are resting.

In the event that the lifestyle changes are ineffective in achieving the desired goals, drugs will usually be considered. There are many classes of drugs that are often combined to get the best results. The mechanism of actions of these drugs tend to vary but all lead to one thing: a reduction in the level of blood sugar and by extension, the risk of hormonal resistance.




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