Insulin is the hormone mainly responsible for absorbing glucose into cells and regulating blood sugar levels, but what about insulin sensitivity?

Follow us in this article; Let’s discover what this term means, the indicators of severe insulin sensitivity, and how to treat and prevent it.

What is insulin sensitivity?

Insulin is produced in the pancreas in beta cells, and is released into the blood to play its role in assisting the cells in the process of absorbing glucose, but when the body is abnormally sensitive to insulin – as it responds more than necessary to the smallest amount of insulin – what is called hypersensitivity results. Insulin.

The difference between insulin sensitivity and insulin resistance lies in the fact that the former means that cells respond too much to insulin, while insulin resistance means that the body does not respond to insulin, in which the body is unable to absorb glucose from the blood into the cells.

Symptoms of insulin sensitivity

Increased sensitivity of cells to insulin is associated with lower blood sugar levels. Low blood sugar is the result of cells absorbing more glucose than necessary, which results in several symptoms, including the following:

• Headache, dizziness, and sometimes loss of consciousness.
• Accelerated heartbeat: This may result in feelings of anxiety and discomfort, in addition to high blood pressure.
• Increased sweating in the body.
• Tremors, fatigue and emaciation.
• Mental disorders: including confusion, anxiety, and excessive nervousness.
• Constant hunger and desire to eat: The patient cannot control appetite due to low blood sugar levels, and this exposes him to obesity and weight gain.

These were some of the most important and common symptoms associated with this condition.

Effect of insulin sensitivity

High insulin sensitivity has a negative impact on the person suffering from it, and these effects include:

• Effect on daily performance and exercise: Fatigue and emaciation may limit your ability to carry out your daily activities and exercise, in addition to losing the ability to concentrate due to low glucose levels.
• Impact on the psychological state: The patient’s constant feeling of anxiety, tension, and nervousness greatly affects his psychological and emotional state, in addition to confusion and distraction.
• Impact on social relationships: A patient with insulin sensitivity may lose self-confidence. Due to weight gain, mood disorders such as nervousness and excessive anxiety.

Who are the people most susceptible to insulin sensitivity?

There are many factors that increase a person’s chances of developing this condition, including:

• Genetic factors: If there is a family history of this disease, the probability of contracting it increases.
• Unhealthy lifestyle: This includes poor nutrition and irregular exercise.
• Smoking and alcoholism
• Age: Research has shown that younger people are more susceptible to insulin sensitivity.
• Hormonal imbalance in the body: Changes may occur in the body’s response to insulin when the body’s hormones are imbalanced, as happens in cases of pregnancy.
• Some diseases: such as polycystic ovary disease and fatty liver.

Diagnosis of insulin sensitivity

The most prominent methods and tests used in diagnosis are:

• Glycated hemoglobin test: This test is used to estimate the blood sugar level over the past three months.
• Fasting blood glucose test: This method is done by taking a blood sample in the morning, after fasting for approximately 8-12 hours during the night.
• Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT): The patient is given a dose of sugar, and then checks how the body deals with it and secretes insulin in response to the high blood sugar level.

After knowing the methods of diagnosing insulin sensitivity, how is it treated?

Treatment of insulin sensitivity

The ideal way to treat this problem is to follow a healthy lifestyle, which is to follow a healthy diet that is appropriate for your condition and contains good amounts of fruits and vegetables, while noting the importance of exercise in treatment, and these exercises include cardio and strength and resistance exercises.

Treatment methods also include drug therapy, which is prescribed in consultation with a specialist doctor.

Prevention from insulin sensitivity

As we know, prevention is better than cure. Here are some tips and guidelines to prevent insulin allergy and reduce the chance of developing it:

• Have an ideal weight.
• Understanding the rules of proper nutrition: by eating small and multiple meals, and ensuring that healthy foods are present in your diet.
• Regular exercise: Regular exercise is one of the most important steps to control the body’s response to the hormone insulin.
• Practicing relaxation exercises: Yoga exercises help you get rid of psychological stress and anxiety, and this helps regulate insulin sensitivity in the body.
• Avoid smoking and alcohol: which are factors that increase the risk of high insulin sensitivity.

common questions

Is there an insulin test?

The most prominent methods and tests used in diagnosis are:

• Glycated hemoglobin test: This test is used to estimate the blood sugar level over the past three months.
• Fasting blood glucose test: This method is done by taking a blood sample in the morning, after fasting for approximately 8-12 hours during the night.
• Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT): The patient is given a dose of sugar, and then checks how the body deals with it and secretes insulin in response to the high blood sugar level.

How do I know if I have insulin sensitivity?

Increased sensitivity of cells to insulin is associated with lower blood sugar levels. Low blood sugar is the result of cells absorbing more glucose than necessary, which results in several symptoms, including the following:

• Headache, dizziness, and sometimes loss of consciousness.
• Accelerated heartbeat: This may result in feelings of anxiety and discomfort, in addition to high blood pressure.
• Increased sweating in the body.
• Tremors, fatigue and emaciation.
• Mental disorders: including confusion, anxiety, and excessive nervousness.
• Constant hunger and desire to eat: The patient cannot control appetite due to low blood sugar levels, and this exposes him to obesity and weight gain.

How many hours of fasting before testing for insulin resistance?

A fasting blood glucose test is performed: This method is done by taking a blood sample in the morning, after fasting for approximately 8-12 hours during the night.

How to get rid of insulin sensitivity?

The ideal way to treat this problem is to follow a healthy lifestyle, which is to follow a healthy diet that is appropriate for your condition and contains good amounts of fruits and vegetables, while noting the importance of exercise in treatment, and these exercises include cardio and strength and resistance exercises.

What does insulin sensitivity mean?

When the body is abnormally sensitive to insulin – responding too much to even the smallest amount of insulin – what is called high insulin sensitivity results.

Sources

Diabetis.co.uk

Webteb

NIH