Insulin Resistance (DOC)

							Insulin is necessary for glucose uptake in various tissues (muscle,fat
and liver).There are situations when normal or even high levels of in
sulin levels are not enough for the proper fucnctioning of
carbohydrate metabolism.This is due to the decreased sensitivity of
of the various tissues (muscle ,fat and liver) to insulin and as a result
insulin action is not carried out with optimum efficiency.This condition is called "insulin
resistance".Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the development of insulin
resistance .The most important environmetal factor is obesity(abdominal obesity) and can give
rise to insulin resistance in genetically predisposed individual.
Insulin resistance of skeletal muscles results in decreased uptake of blood glucose by the muscle
cells,resulting in hyperglycemia.Insulin resitance of fat cells results in increased
breakdown of lipids(lipolysis)because one of the functions of insulin
is to prevent lipolysis.Due to increased lipolysis concentration of free fatty acids in the blood
increases.Increased levels of LDL in the
blood disturbs not only lipid profile but also increases glucose
production in the liver.Insulin resistance of liver cells results in
increased hepatic gluconeogenesis (glucose production in liver).It is
now medically proven fact the insulin resistance plays very important role in the development of
type 2 diabetes.
It would be interesting to know that insulin resistance not only manifests as type 2 diabetes but
other disorders like hypertension,dyslipidemia,coronary artery disease etc.