Insulin resistance is a typical symptom in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. But it can also occur in people with type 1 diabetes. Why can this happen, how is weight and puberty related to this, and what to do about it?
Sarit talks about insulin resistance in type 1 diabetes Polish ( Sarit Polsky , MD, University of Colorado School of Medicine.
Insulin acts like a key, opening the cells so they can take in glucose from the blood. Insulin resistance requires higher than average doses of insulin to transport glucose into cells.
There are a number of reasons why type 1 diabetes can develop insulin resistance. Risk factors include being overweight, medication (including steroids), smoking, puberty, second and third trimester pregnancy, and a family history of type 2 diabetes.
If you suspect you have insulin resistance, talk to your doctor. It can calculate the total amount of insulin you use per day relative to your weight. If the dose is significantly higher than average, this may be a sign of insulin resistance.
Insulin resistance can lead to a prolonged state of hyperglycemia. If you do not take action, the risks of long-term complications of diabetes greatly increase. Your healthcare provider should help you adjust your therapy to keep your blood sugars within your target range. You may also be offered additional medications that can help reduce insulin resistance.
What to do?
Working with your doctor is key. The following steps can help you reduce insulin resistance:
If you are overweight, you need to lose weight. Efficiency can be observed already with a decrease in body weight by 7-10%.
Change your diet by reducing the amount of fat and/or calories you consume. Switching to a glycemic index diet or cutting back on your daily carbohydrate intake may also help.
Sports make cells more sensitive to insulin, so be active for 45 minutes to an hour at least three days a week.
For drug-induced insulin resistance, ask your doctor if there is a good alternative. (But don’t stop taking your medication without talking to your doctor.)
If you smoke, now is the time to quit.
What is the result?
Some time ago, insulin resistance in type 1 diabetes was not thought even in the professional community. Today, studies show that this may be one of the reasons for the difficulty of compensation in type 1 diabetes.
If you notice that the required amount of insulin has increased, do not jump to conclusions. See your doctor to determine the cause and develop a treatment plan. Do not panic and carefully monitor your condition.