When the body does not respond the way it should to insulin, it can mean a person is insulin resistant. If not handled appropriately, severe insulin resistance can occur. Insulin’s main function in the body is to help it metabolize food. The pancreas releases insulin when it is needed to regulate blood glucose levels in the body. When a person becomes insulin resistant, their cells do not respond to insulin, even if it is taken as a medication. A doctor can prescribe insulin to patients to be taken in pill form or intravenously. Each time insulin is introduced into an insulin resistant system, the cells resist it more and more. In a person who has severe insulin resistance, the effects of these symptoms will be magnified and can lead to very serious complications.
Some of the health problems associated with severe insulin resistance include high blood sugar, the accumulation of excess weight around the waist, high LDL cholesterol levels, low HDL cholesterol levels, high triglycerides, high blood pressure, sleep disorders, mood swings and infertility. There are also physical signs of severe insulin resistance that can indicate a person is in danger. For example, changes in the skin may appear. AcanthosisNigricans is a condition that causes darkening of skin pigment. It can also cause abnormal texturing to take place. Skin tags are another common problem caused by severe insulin resistance. Skin tags are characterized as a growth on the skin that can appear on all parts of the body, including the face. Although these growths are non-cancerous, they can cause discomfort or embarrassment to those who have them. Skin tags can grow as large as a grape. Besides skin tags, the growing of excess body and facial hair canbe another sign of IR. Although this can happen to women and men, it is more obvious in women because excess hair growth is abnormal on a female. Unexplained weight gain and an irregular menstrual cycle in women are other physical signs that they may be experiencing severe insulin resistance.
Although severe insulin resistance can cause major health complications, there are ways to improve the condition. Keeping a healthy lifestyle the mst important factor. Making modifications to a person’s diet is essential, decreasing or completely avoiding the intake of foods that have a high glycemic index. Improving a person’s diet can also bring about weight loss, another factor that helps to improve the condition. Daily aerobic exercise is also beneficial. People sometimes turn to alternative methods for improving insulin resistance, such as Chinese medicine, acupuncture and yoga. Anyone experiencing symptoms of mild to severe insulin resistance should consult a doctor who can perform the appropriate tests for a diagnosis.
