Under pressure – the growing problem of insulin resistance

Health headlines focus on the growth in conditions such as obesity and diabetes – but it is generally overlooked that they (as well as hypertension and poor cholesterol) are clinical expressions of one root cause: metabolic ill health, or insulin resistance. 

Insulin, a hormone released by the pancreas, is mostly known for controlling blood glucose levels, particularly in diabetics. Blood insulin levels move in parallel with blood glucose levels, and thus the carbohydrate content of meals. When poor nutrition and lifestyle lead to glucose being too high, too frequently and for too long (hyperglycemia), insulin levels also end up too high, too frequently and for too long (hyperinsulinemia). Insulin resistance then develops, so even more insulin must be released to control blood glucose. 

Insulin isn’t just about blood sugar. It affects multiple biological pathways, and every cell has insulin receptors. As a result, chronically raised levels of this ‘master hormone’ lead to wide-ranging ill effects (Figure 1).

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