What Are the Treatments for Insulin Resistance?

Insulin resistance, one of the components of metabolic syndrome, is considered a precursor to diabetes. Those with insulin resistance have no trouble producing insulin, but their muscles and other tissues are resistant to it, which often results in a cycle of increasing insulin production, fatigue, carbohydrate cravings, weight-gain and, eventually, rising blood-sugar levels.

Diet

A low-glycemic diet, which replaces low-fiber, quickly digested carbohydrates with high-fiber, slowly digested ones, promotes a slower, more moderate increase in blood sugar after meals and doesn't trigger the pancreas to produce as much insulin.

Weight loss

For overweight patients, losing as little as 7 percent of their body weight, even if that isn't sufficient to bring them to an ideal weight, is associated with decreased Insulin resistance.

Exercise

Daily vigorous exercise increases the rate at which the body's cells take up blood glucose. It increases the number of insulin receptors in muscles, which also increases insulin utilization.

Medications

The diabetes drug Glucophage also increases cell absorption of blood glucose, and it inhibits kidneys from releasing glucose; it is sometimes prescribed to treat insulin resistance.

Vinegar

A study published by Johnston, et al., in the January 2004 issue of Diabetes Care found that apple cider vinegar, consumed just before a high-carbohydrate meal, helped reduce the blood glucose spikes that normally follow such a meal. The subjects drank about 4 tsp. of apple cider vinegar mixed with 40g water and 1 tsp. saccharine.

References

• Vinegar Improves Insulin Sensitivity to a High-Carbohydrate Meal In Subjcts With Insulin Resistance or Type 2 Diabetes
• Insulin Resistance Symptoms
• Insulin Resistance