How to Diagnose Insulin Resistance

Millions of people suffer from insulin resistance, making them potential candidates for developing heart disease and diabetes. This disease has no known cause and is virtually symptom-free. There are, however, indicators and laboratory tests that can be conducted to help physicians diagnose insulin resistance.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Knowledge of your blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
• Fasting blood sugar test
• Glucose tolerance test

1. Understand insulin resistance and its effects on the body. In cases of insulin resistance, your body's cells have difficulty responding to the insulin hormone. As a result, more insulin is excreted by your pancreas. Long-term sufferers of this condition also may develop high sugars or diabetes.
2. Know the risk factors associated with insulin resistance. These factors include a family history of diabetes, low HDL and high level of triglycerides (lipids), high blood pressure, obesity, excess weight surrounding the waist, over 40 years of age and/or belonging to a racial group noted for having an elevated incidence of insulin resistance, such as African, Hispanic, Asian or Native American.
3. Contact your physician if you experience any of the factors listed above. Since insulin resistance tends to produce no symptoms, proper diagnosis requires that laboratory testing be performed.
4. Have a glucose tolerance test executed when you have had only water for between 10 and 16 hours. Blood is then drawn to establish your baseline blood glucose level. After drinking a specified sweetened liquid containing 75 grams of glucose, blood will be drawn at regular intervals for six hours and your glucose level will be monitored. Normal levels are lower before drinking, quickly rise throughout the first several hours and gradually lower again. If you are diagnosed insulin resistant, your blood sugar level will increase and remain abnormally high. Also, your secreted insulin will be only partially absorbed by your tissues.
5. Fast your blood sugar for 12 hours to determine your blood glucose level. A level below 100 milligrams of glucose in every one deciliter of blood is considered normal. Levels ranging between 100 to 125 milligrams for every deciliter result in a diagnosis of insulin resistance.

Tips & Warnings

• Find out if you have a family history of diabetes and/or heart disease.
• Make an appointment with your physician to have your blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels checked.