The signs and symptoms of insulin resistance are important for people to know about. Insulin resistance can be an early warning sign of a number of conditions such as pre-diabetes, type-2 diabetes, Addison’s disease, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), Cushing’s syndrome, or thyroid problems. According to Pre-Diabetes.com, the signs and symptoms of insulin resistance include:
Acanthosis Nigricans: This is characterized by darkened skin patches often accompanied by a velvety change in the texture of the patch of skin.
Skin Tags: A skin tag is a skin growth that is benign (non-cancerous).
Unexplained Weight Gain: One of the most common signs and symptoms of insulin resistance is weight gain in spite not changing one’s eating habits. This can occur rapidly over weeks or months.
Signs of Insulin Resistance in Women
There are several symptoms and signs of insulin resistance that only apply to girls and women. For example, girls with insulin resistance will sometimes have irregular or absent periods. Women and girls affected by insulin resistance may also develop hirsutism, or excess facial and body hair. Infertility is one of the major signs of insulin resistance in women as well.
Fatigue and weight gain are some of the most common complaints in insulin resistant women according to Womentowomen.com. Women approaching menopause are particularly prone to developing insulin resistance because of the metabolic changes involved. Specifically, the decrease of certain hormones such as estradiol may trigger insulin resistance in some patients.
Women who have a family history of type 2 diabetes, have previously suffered from hypertension or gestational diabetes, and those who are seriously overweight are at the highest risk of insulin resistance. Apple-shaped women, or those who gain the most weight around their abdomen, are also at a high risk. In addition, those who have low HDL cholesterol levels and high triglyceride levels are of the most likely groups as well.
If you notice any of the signs and symptoms of insulin resistance in women, or you feel like you may be at risk of having the condition, you should visit your doctor immediately. Catching the condition early may save you from developing conditions such as type 2 diabetes and the complications that derive from them. In fact, by taking on a healthier diet and exercising more, it is likely that you can reverse the condition as well as preventing conditions that derive from it.
