Insulin Resistant Diabetes – What Happens In Type 2 Diabetes

Insulin resistant diabetes is commonly known as type 2 diabetes. As the name suggests the cells of the body becomes resistant to the function of insulin in the blood when somebody is a type 2 diabetic. Insulin is a hormone that is responsible for reducing the level of sugar in the blood by facilitating it's use to create energy in the body's cells. This article will cover why people get insulin resistant diabetes and what happens to the body.

Why Do You Get Insulin Resistant Diabetes

There is increasing evidence that people are genetically predisposed to the disease. There is a 50 – 90% concordance rate between identical twins, for instance. First relation relatives have up to 40% chance of developing the condition if others in the family have diabetes.

Another factor that increases the chances of developing type 2 diabetes is lifestyle choices. Most people with type 2 diabetes have a weight problem. People that have central obesity (or abdominal obesity) are far more likely to develop insulin resistance. Free fatty acids are more frequent in the blood of obese people. Excess free fatty acids make the cells less insulin sensitive or more resistant. Insulin resistance is a precursor to full type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is also associated with people over 40 or in older age which is the same time that people tend to put on weight.

Insulin Resistant Diabetes leads to Type 2 diabetes    

If a person develops insulin resistance the cells become unresponsive to the action of insulin. This causes the beta cells located in the pancreas that create insulin, to create more insulin. They do this to try to reduce the glucose in the blood. When this is unsuccessful the beta cells start to increase to meet the demand for more insulin. This is known as beta cell hyperplasia.

This continues for a while until the beta cells become exhausted trying to react against chronic hyperglycemia. Eventually the beta cells will stop producing insulin and the person will have to use insulin replacement therapy to control the blood sugar level.

Treatment for insulin resistant diabetes

The best ways to treat both the short term rise in blood sugar levels and the long term complication that can result from diabetes are through diet and exercise. A diet that is consists of 40% complex carbohydrates, plenty of fresh produce and little or no fatty and sugary foods is best. A regular exercise routine is better than heavy but infrequent bursts of activity because it leads to better glucose control. Medicine can be prescribed to make the cells more sensitive to insulin or insulin can be used if the beta cells have stopped producing insulin. 

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