If you have been diagnosed with insulin resistance you need to understand what causes this condition in order to treat it. It is important to decrease insulin resistance to help the body use consumed sugars properly.
Insulin resistance is a form of diabetes mellitus. Specifically, insulin resistance is type II diabetes, which has also been called adult onset or non insulin dependent diabetes. This condition occurs when the fat cells and muscle cells in the body become resistant to the insulin hormone, which is produced by the pancreas.
The insulin hormone helps the cells in the body absorb and metabolize blood glucose properly. Blood glucose is broken down in the cells and then used as energy. When the cells become resistant to insulin blood glucose levels rise and the body does not get the nutrients needed for energy.
It is important for people with type II diabetes to learn how to decrease insulin resistance. Otherwise, the kidneys need to work extremely hard to filter out all the excess blood sugar and dispose of it through the urine. The excess blood sugar can cause severe damage to the organs and other systems in the body. Type II diabetes can even lead to death if left untreated. Thus, it is imperative that people with type II diabetes learn how to decrease insulin resistance.
Decrease Insulin Resistance with Dietary Changes
There are several ways to decrease insulin resistance naturally by making specific lifestyle changes. The first thing that people with insulin resistance need to do is make changes to their diet.
Following a diabetic diet is a great way to decrease insulin resistance. It is recommended that people with this condition consume less than 25 grams of sugar per day. Thus, it becomes very important to know how to read food labels. Decreasing the amount of sugar consumed helps decrease insulin resistance because the cells are able to absorb other necessary nutrients that are being consumed to help the body function properly. As this process continues, the cells become less resistant to the insulin hormone.
According to the Mayo Clinic Diabetes Diet Information, a healthy diabetic diet is low in sugar and processed foods. It is important to consume plenty of veggies each day in combination with lean protein and whole grains. It is also fine to consume small amounts of fruit each day. However, fruit can be high in a natural sugar called fructose. Thus, fruit needs to be consumed in moderation. It is best to eliminate fruit juices and consume fruit that is low in fructose. Good fruit choices for diabetics include blueberries, strawberries, boysenberries, raspberries, blackberries and mulberries. In fact, most berries are low in fructose and are good fruit choices for people working on decreasing insulin resistance.
Medical Treatments to Decrease Insulin Resistance
Many people with type II diabetes need medical treatment to decrease insulin resistance. People who suffer from obesity and other chronic medical problems are at higher risk for developing type II diabetes. It is also harder for people with these conditions to control and treat type II diabetes. Thus, it is important to learn how to control the chronic medical condition that is causing the diabetes.
Often times, people suffering from obesity can decrease insulin resistance by losing the excess weight. Even losing a percentage of the excess weight can be very helpful. Thus, your physician may recommend gastric bypass surgery to help you decrease weight quickly.
Other treatments include oral medications that decrease insulin resistance. There are also herbal treatments available that can help decrease insulin resistance. If you are following a specific treatment plan and are having difficulty controlling your blood sugar, consult your physician immediately. It may be necessary to make changes to your treatment program to help decrease insulin resistance more effectively.
