What is insulin resistance?

When the body becomes less responsive to the hormone insulin, insulin resistance leads to an increase in blood sugar levels because the body's cells do not use glucose as efficiently as they used to, which causes the pancreas to produce a lot of insulin to compensate for this imbalance, but after a period of time the condition develops and becomes type 2 diabetes.

Causes of insulin resistance in women

• الوراثة: Such as the illness of one of the parents due to among the causes of insulin resistance, such as hereditary lipoatrophy, or the presence of Werner or Donohoe syndromes.
• زيادة الوزنExcessive body obesity increases the risk of insulin resistance.
• انخفاض النشاط البدنيLack of physical activity and exercise, especially after the age of forty, increases the risk of insulin resistance.
• Improper nutritionIt is unhealthy nutrition, which consists of increasing the consumption of soft drinks and manufactured sweets, and reducing the consumption of fruits, vegetables, meat, and fish that are beneficial to the health of the body.
• Hormonal disorders: Such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), leads to insulin resistance.
• قصور الغدة الدرقية: It can cause insulin resistance, especially if obtaining appropriate treatment for this deficiency is delayed.
• Blood pressure medicationsTaking these medications for a long period is one of the causes of insulin resistance in women, so continuous medical follow-up is necessary to avoid this.
• Immunodeficiency medications: It can cause insulin resistance, so medical follow-up is required.
• Steroid treatmentThose taking these medications must follow up from time to time with a specialist doctor to ensure that this treatment does not interfere with insulin resistance.

Symptoms of insulin resistance in women

• Abdominal weight is higher than normal.
• Constant feeling of fatigue and exhaustion, even without physical effort.
• Frequent feeling of hunger and thirst from time to time throughout the day.
• Feeling like you are urinating frequently even when there is no cold in the surrounding climate.
• Menstrual disorders in terms of regularity or quantity.
• Cravings for sweet, high-sugar foods.
• Darkening around the neck, especially the back.
• The blood test analysis shows an increase in the level of triglycerides and blood sugar above the recognized normal safe levels.

Learn about: مركز علاج السكرى

Discover the complications of insulin resistance in women

• Insulin resistance leads to type 2 diabetes.
• Insulin resistance increases the risk of heart disease, such as heart attack and stroke.
• It can lead to high blood pressure.
• High blood cholesterol level.
• Increased incidence of kidney infection.
• Fertility problems in women.
• Increased risk of liver cirrhosis.
• It causes some depression.
• Problems of various eye diseases and poor vision.

Insulin resistance tests and their timing

The most prominent methods for detecting and diagnosing insulin resistance include the following:

اختبار السكر الصائم

• الغرض: It is used to measure blood sugar levels after an all-night fast.
• الطريقة: A blood sample is taken after an entire night's fast.

اختبار تحمل الجلوكوز 

• الغرض: It is used to measure the response of the body's cells to glucose.
• الطريقة: A blood sample is taken after an all-night fast, then a drink containing glucose is taken, and then repeated blood samples are taken to measure blood sugar levels.

Blood insulin test

• الغرض: It is used to measure insulin levels in the blood.
• الطريقة: A blood sample is taken to measure the insulin level.

Insulin resistance test

• الغرض: It is used to determine the body's response to insulin.
• الطريقة: Repeated blood samples are taken to measure blood sugar and insulin levels after consuming a drink containing glucose.

Other analyses

• Glycated hemoglobin test: Used to measure average blood sugar levels over the past three months.
• Cholesterol and triglyceride testing: It is used to measure cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood.

When is an insulin level test performed in women?

• If symptoms of insulin resistance are present in women, such as: weight gain, fatigue, and increased hunger and thirst.
• If there is a family history of insulin resistance or diabetes.
• If there are risk factors that suggest the emergence of insulin resistance, such as obesity, lack of physical activity, and eating an unhealthy diet.

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Medications to treat insulin resistance in pharmacies

There are several types of medications and active substances that can be used to treat insulin resistance, Include the following:

• Metformin.
• Pioglitazone. 
• Rosiglitazone.
• Glipizide.
• Dapagliflozin.
• Liraglutide. 
• Exenatide.
• Chromax.
• Rybelsus Tablet.
• Diabetonorm.
• Cidophage.

تنبيهYou must consult a doctor before choosing or taking any medication to treat the symptoms of insulin resistance in women or men, as each case has a degree of severity and progression of the disease, and may require specific treatment based on the cause, symptoms, and result of the tests. Here we recommend Al Mousa Hospital to contact them for a medical examination to find out the appropriate medication that does not conflict with any other diseases or medications you have.

Measures to prevent insulin resistance

• Eat foods rich in fiber such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
• Avoid eating foods rich in sugars and saturated fats.
• Exercise regularly, especially strength training, to improve insulin sensitivity.
• Maintain a healthy weight by eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly.
• If you gain weight, you should avoid gaining it around the abdominal area.
• Quit smoking to reduce the risk of insulin resistance and heart disease.
• Reducing stress and excess psychological pressure.
• Sleep enough hours, especially at night.
• Drink water regularly to maintain healthy hydration.
• Follow your doctor regularly to monitor your blood sugar levels and adjust treatment as needed.
• Conduct periodic medical examinations to detect insulin resistance and heart disease.
• Abstaining from alcohol to reduce the risk of insulin resistance and liver disease.
• الحصول على قسط كافٍ من النوم.
• Reducing the risk of insulin resistance.

الأسئلة الشائعة:

Is insulin resistance diabetes?

Insulin resistance is not diabetes itself, but it is a medical condition that precedes diabetes, and represents a major risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Do symptoms of insulin resistance appear on the skin?

Yes, symptoms of insulin resistance on the skin include areas such as the neck and armpits, and the appearance of skin tags in more than one area on the upper body.

Can insulin resistance be treated at home?

This is not possible, but it is possible to alleviate the symptoms of insulin resistance at home, by eating healthy food, getting enough sleep, exercising, and staying away from... التدخين.

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In conclusion.. تنصح Al-Mousa Hospital All citizens, if you feel any symptoms of insulin resistance in women, you must go to us to diagnose those symptoms and conduct the necessary medical tests using the latest scientific means and methods and present the results to the best specialist doctors, to prescribe the optimal treatment for your health condition, in addition to a medical team communicating to follow you up throughout the week to check on your precious health.