Insulin when under control can work with your body, but it does have it's downfalls. Insulin resistance, pre-diabetes, type 1 diabetes, and type 2 diabetes are all conditions that revolve around insulin and the reaction our bodies have to it.
Insulin resistance is when the liver, fat and muscle cells do not respond properly to insulin. Because of this the pancreas continues to pump out more and more insulin to try and keep up with the demand for it. Eventually the pancreas will fail to keep up which results in an excessive amount of glucose in the blood. People who suffer from insulin resistance usually carry extra weight, have high blood pressure and glucose levels, and lack physical activity. This can also be called metabolic syndrome or insulin resistance syndrome (syndrome x). Having higher levels of blood glucose, but not enough to be called diabetes, is pre-diabetes. This condition is the pre-cursor to type 2 diabetes. Pre-diabetes and insulin resistance can be reversed with a healthy diet and exercise program.
Once known as adult-onset or non insulin-dependent diabetes, type 2 diabetes is a condition that affects how our bodies metabolize glucose. Instead of sugar being ushered to the cells, it sits in the bloodstream and builds up. This is because the pancreas doesn't make enough insulin or the cells have become resistant to insulin. Many type 2 diabetics rely on insulin shots to receive the proper amount needed to regulate their blood sugar as well as type 1 diabetics. If not monitored properly it can turn to be life threatening.
The dependence of insulin is the primary factor for type 1 diabetes. Usually known as juvenile diabetes, type 1 diabetes is less common than type 2. This condition is when the pancreas produces very little or no insulin at all. Those who suffer from type 1 diabetes rely solely on insulin shots or an insulin pump to get the right amount for their bodies. Being that it only makes up 10% of the diabetic population, it is known to be more hereditary than type 2 and typically affects younger individuals.
Insulin plays such a vital role in our bodies. It is very important to be aware of what can happen if blood sugar levels get out of whack. In the end it just makes sense to be healthy and maintain balanced blood sugar levels!
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