Insulin Resistance In The Bipoc Community
according to a March 2019 study in Diabetes and Vascular Disease Research.according to a systematic review and meta-analysis in Diabetes Care.
- 5 percent of non-Hispanic whites
- 2 percent of Asian Americans
- 7 percent of non-Hispanic blacks
- 5 percent of Hispanics
- 7 percent of American Indians/Alaskan Natives
More on Health Disparities Affecting BIPOC Individuals
Who Gets Type 2 Diabetes
What makes people more likely to develop type 2 diabetes? No one knows for sure. But experts have a few ideas about what puts a person at greater risk:
- Most people who have type 2 diabetes are overweight.
- People with family members who have diabetes get diabetes more often.
- People who are older than 10 are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than younger kids.
What Is Insulin Resistance
Insulin resistance, also known as impaired insulin sensitivity, happens when cells in your muscles, fat and liver dont respond as they should to insulin, a hormone your pancreas makes thats essential for life and regulating blood glucose levels. Insulin resistance can be temporary or chronic and is treatable in some cases.
Under normal circumstances, insulin functions in the following steps:
- Your body breaks down the food you eat into glucose , which is your bodys main source of energy.
- Glucose enters your bloodstream, which signals your pancreas to release insulin.
- Insulin helps glucose in your blood enter your muscle, fat and liver cells so they can use it for energy or store it for later use.
- When glucose enters your cells and the levels in your bloodstream decrease, it signals your pancreas to stop producing insulin.
For several reasons, your muscle, fat and liver cells can respond inappropriately to insulin, which means they cant efficiently take up glucose from your blood or store it. This is insulin resistance. As a result, your pancreas makes more insulin to try to overcome your increasing blood glucose levels. This is called hyperinsulinemia.
As long as your pancreas can make enough insulin to overcome your cells weak response to insulin, your blood sugar levels will stay in a healthy range. If your cells become too resistant to insulin, it leads to elevated blood glucose levels , which, over time, leads to prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes.
You May Like: High Blood Sugar Symptom
When You Are First Diagnosed:
- Obtain a blood glucose meter from your pharmacist and start checking your blood sugar as directed. For help on choosing a meter,
- For help on what to eat,
- Have your eyes examined
- Attend a Diabetes Education Program to learn everything you can about diabetes. Ask your physician or nurse practitioner to refer you, or for a self-referral form,
- Schedule a follow-up appointment in 3 months with your family physician or nurse practitioner
Pancreas Producing Insulin Again
Guest over a year ago
Hi everyone, I just found out that my pancreas is producing insulin again. Is that possible. I have really been good about sticking to my diet and exercise protocol. I didn’t think that my pancreas could ever work properly again. I’m wondering if this will continue. I certainly hope that it does because then I can stop taking insulin and may live a normal life again. Does anyone know anything about this?
Has anyone had this happen and did it last? Were you able to stop taking insulin? If you have, I would appreciate you sharing your story with me. That might give me some hope that I can become normal again. Thanks.
Susan Ardizzoni310772 over a year ago
Recommended Reading: Excessive Secretion Of Insulin That Can Cause Hypoglycemia
What Happens When Your Pancreas Stops Producing Insulin
In the absence of sufficient insulin from your pancreas or poor use, glucose builds up in your bloodstream, leaving you with a lack of energy to live. In the case of hyperglycemia, your blood sugar level rises rapidly. In addition to thirst, nausea, and shortness of breath, hyperglycemia can also cause other symptoms.
How Can I Get My Pancreas To Produce More Insulin
Here are 14 natural, science-backed ways to boost your insulin sensitivity. Get more sleep. A good nights sleep is important for your health. Exercise more. Reduce stress. Lose a few pounds. Eat more soluble fiber. Add more colorful fruit and vegetables to your diet. Cut down on carbs. Reduce your intake of added sugars.
Also Check: Diabetic Macaroni And Cheese
Things You Need To Know About Diabetes And Pancreatic Cancer
Editors note: In honor of announcing PanCANs Early Detection Initiative, we spoke with Suresh Chari, MD, about the connection between diabetes and pancreatic cancer. Chari is a professor of medicine in the department of gastroenterology at MD Anderson Cancer Center and a member of PanCANs Scientific and Medical Advisory Board . He was instrumental in the discovery that new-onset diabetes can be an early symptom of pancreatic cancer, and he is the chair of PanCANs Early Detection Initiative Steering Committee. Here are six important things to know about diabetes and pancreatic cancer, according to Chari.
Suresh Chari, MD
What Happens If I Have Too Little Insulin
People with diabetes have problems either making insulin, how that insulin works or both. The main two types of diabetes are type 1 and type 2 diabetes, although there are other more uncommon types.
People with type 1 diabetes produce very little or no insulin at all. This condition is caused when the beta cells that make insulin have been destroyed by antibodies , hence they are unable to produce insulin. With too little insulin, the body can no longer move glucose from the blood into the cells, causing high blood glucose levels. If the glucose level is high enough, excess glucose spills into the urine. This drags extra water into the urine causing more frequent urination and thirst. This leads to dehydration, which can cause confusion. In addition, with too little insulin, the cells cannot take in glucose for energy and other sources of energy are needed to provide this energy. This makes the body tired and can cause weight loss. If this continues, patients can become very ill. This is because the body attempts to make new energy from fat and causes acids to be produced as waste products. Ultimately, this can lead to coma and death if medical attention is not sought. People with type 1 diabetes will need to inject insulin in order to survive.
Also Check: Insulin Max Dose
Financial Support And Benefits
Some people with diabetes may be eligible to receive disability benefits and incapacity benefits, depending on the impact the condition has on their life.
The main groups likely to qualify for welfare benefits are children, elderly people, people with learning disabilities or mental health problems, and those with complications of diabetes.
People over 65 who are severely disabled, may qualify for a type of disability benefit called Attendance Allowance.
Carers may also be entitled to some benefit too, depending on their involvement in caring for the person with diabetes.
Staff at your local Citizens Advice Bureau can check whether you’re getting all of the benefits you’re entitled to. Both they and your diabetes specialist nurse should also be able to give you advice about filling in the forms.
GOV.uk has more information about benefits, and the Diabetes UK website has further advice about the Disability Living Allowance .
How Is Insulin Controlled
The main actions that insulin has are to allow glucose to enter cells to be used as energy and to maintain the amount of glucose found in the bloodstream within normal levels. The release of insulin is tightly regulated in healthy people in order to balance food intake and the metabolic needs of the body. This is a complex process and other hormones found in the gut and pancreas also contribute to this blood glucose regulation. When we eat food, glucose is absorbed from our gut into the bloodstream, raising blood glucose levels. This rise in blood glucose causes insulin to be released from the pancreas so glucose can move inside the cells and be used. As glucose moves inside the cells, the amount of glucose in the bloodstream returns to normal and insulin release slows down. Proteins in food and other hormones produced by the gut in response to food also stimulate insulin release. Hormones released in times of acute stress, such as adrenaline, stop the release of insulin, leading to higher blood glucose levels to help cope with the stressful event.
Insulin works in tandem with glucagon, another hormone produced by the pancreas. While insulin’s role is to lower blood sugar levels if needed, glucagon’s role is to raise blood sugar levels if they fall too low. Using this system, the body ensures that the blood glucose levels remain within set limits, which allows the body to function properly.
Don’t Miss: Type 2 Diabetes Gene
Can Insulin Resistance Be Prevented Or Avoided
You cannot prevent or avoid risk factors such as race, age, and a family medical history. You can take steps to reduce your insulin resistance by losing weight , exercising regularly, and eating a healthy diet. Choose healthy carbohydrates. For example, eat whole grain bread instead of white bread, drink water instead of soda, and reduce your intake of sugary foods.
If you have or have had gestational diabetes, insulin resistance typically goes away after you give birth. However, you are at greater risk of being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes when you are older. That should be a warning to change your diet and lifestyle early so that you can delay it for as long as possible.
Causes Of Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition, where the immune system mistakes the cells in your pancreas as harmful and attacks them.
Without insulin, your body will break down its own fat and muscle, resulting in weight loss. This can lead to a serious short-term condition called diabetic ketoacidosis. This is when the bloodstream becomes acidic, you develop dangerous levels of ketones in your blood stream and become severely dehydrated.
This results in the body being unable to produce insulin, which is required to move glucose out of the blood and into your cells to be used for energy. This is called Type 1 diabetes.
Read more about the causes of type 1 diabetes
Read Also: What Is A Normal A1c Reading For A Nondiabetic
What Is Type 2 Diabetes
There are two major types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Each type causes high blood sugar levels in a different way.
In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas can’t make insulin. The body can still get glucose from food, but the glucose can’t get into the cells, where it’s needed, and glucose stays in the blood. This makes the blood sugar level very high.
With type 2 diabetes, the body still makes insulin. But a person with type 2 diabetes doesn’t respond normally to the insulin the body makes. So glucose is less able to enter the cells and do its job of supplying energy.
When glucose can’t enter the cells in this way, doctors call it insulin resistance. Although there’s plenty of insulin in the person’s body, because it doesn’t work properly, the pancreas still detects high blood sugar levels. This makes the pancreas produce even more insulin.
The pancreas may eventually wear out from working overtime to produce extra insulin. When this happens, it may no longer be able to produce enough insulin to keep blood sugar levels where they should be. In general, when someone’s blood sugar levels are repeatedly high, it’s a sign that he or she has diabetes.
p
Is It Possible To Overproduce Insulin
In the bloodstream, too much insulin leads to cells in your body absorbing too much glucose . Moreover, it causes the liver to release less glucose into the bloodstream. In combination, these two effects result in dangerously low blood glucose levels. Hypoglycemia is a condition that occurs when the blood sugar level drops.
Don’t Miss: What Are The Side Effects Of Taking Insulin
What Questions Should I Ask My Doctor
If youve been diagnosed with insulin resistance, it may be helpful to ask your healthcare provider the following questions:
- Whats causing my insulin resistance?
- What can I do to increase my insulin sensitivity?
- Whats my risk of developing prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes?
- Is there any medication I can take?
- Should I see a specialist for insulin resistance?
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Insulin resistance is a complex condition that can affect your health in several ways. Since it doesnt have any symptoms until it turns into prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes, the best thing you can do is try to prevent and reverse insulin resistance by maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet. Unfortunately, though, not all causes of insulin resistance can be prevented or treated. If you have any questions about your risk of developing insulin resistance or conditions associated with it, talk you your healthcare provider. Theyre there to help you.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 12/16/2021.
References
Favorite Resource For Diabetes Education
If insulin resistance has led you to be diagnosed with diabetes or you want to be educated if that day comes, enroll in a program led by Joslin Diabetes Center experts. The 12-week Why Wait program is designed to help you meet your weight goals, which could improve your bodys sensitivity to insulin.
Recommended Reading: Does Glucagon Stimulate Insulin
What Causes The Pancreas To Produce Too Much Insulin
4.4/5Causescauseinsulininsulinpancreas producesinsulinInsulin
Beside this, what causes overproduction of insulin?
A rare tumor of the pancreas can cause you to produce too much insulin, resulting in hypoglycemia. Other tumors also can result in too much production of insulin-like substances. Enlargement of cells of the pancreas that produce insulin can result in excessive insulin release, causing hypoglycemia.
Secondly, what stops the pancreas from producing insulin? Hand-picked beta cells from the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. The disease causes the pancreas to stop producing insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. When blood sugar levels are too high, the smallest blood vessels in the body eventually become damaged.
In this way, why does my pancreas produce too much insulin?
Tumors of the pancreas that produce too much insulin are called insulinomas. Insulinomas keep making insulin, and can make your blood sugar drops too low . A high blood insulin level causes a low blood sugar level . Hypoglycemia may be mild, leading to symptoms such as anxiety and hunger.
What are the symptoms of too much insulin?
The list of symptoms below are symptoms of hypoglycemia which can result from an insulin overdose:
- Depressed mood.
What Is The Difference Between Insulin Resistance And Diabetes
Anyone can develop insulin resistance temporarily or chronically. Over time, chronic insulin resistance can lead to prediabetes and then Type 2 diabetes if its not treated or able to be treated.
Prediabetes happens when your blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Prediabetes usually occurs in people who already have some insulin resistance.
Prediabetes can lead to Type 2 diabetes , the most common type of diabetes. T2D happens when your pancreas doesnt make enough insulin or your body doesnt use insulin well , resulting in high blood glucose levels.
Type 1 diabetes happens when your bodys immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in your pancreas for an unknown reason. T1D is an autoimmune and chronic disease, and people with T1D have to inject synthetic insulin to live and be healthy. While T1D is not caused by insulin resistance, people with T1D can experience levels of insulin resistance in which their cells dont respond well to the insulin they inject.
Gestational diabetes is a temporary form of diabetes that can happen during pregnancy. Its caused by insulin resistance thats due to the hormones the placenta makes. Gestational diabetes goes away once you deliver your baby. Approximately 3% to 8% of all people who are pregnant people in the United States are diagnosed with gestational diabetes.
Read Also: Can Diabetics Have Sugar
What Causes Excess Insulin Production
4.3/5can causeproduce too much insulintoo much productioninsulinproduce insulinexcessive insulincausinganswered comprehensively
Tumors of the pancreas that produce too much insulin are called insulinomas. Insulinomas keep making insulin, and can make your blood sugar drops too low . A high blood insulin level causes a low blood sugar level . Hypoglycemia may be mild, leading to symptoms such as anxiety and hunger.
One may also ask, what are the symptoms of too much insulin? The symptoms of an insulin overdose are those of hypoglycemia.Symptoms of an overdose
- confusion or feeling as though they have brain fog
- irritability.
- shakiness, weakness, or a jittery feeling.
- dizziness.
- sweating, cold sweats, and chills.
Also know, how does the body get rid of excess insulin?
Here are 14 things you can do to lower your insulin levels.
What causes the pancreas to stop producing insulin?
Researchers have discovered that patients with type 1 diabetes can regain the ability to produce insulin. The disease causes the pancreas to stop producing insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. When blood sugar levels are too high, the smallest blood vessels in the body eventually become damaged.