Insulin Resistance

Hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance are glycemic disorders that are rampant today and are being found in children at an alarming rate. These are precursors to type 2 diabetes. They put a person at increased risk for fatty liver, Alzheimer's disease, cognitive decline, high blood pressure, heart disease, strokes and blood clots. 

Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas to help regulate sugar levels to maintain homeostasis. Insulin helps store nutrients after excessive energy intake. It stimulates the uptake of glucose into cardiac muscles, skeletal muscles, adipose tissue and metabolic metabolism which is mostly done in the liver. 

Insulin is important because it is one of the most crucial ways the body regulates glucose levels. There are many other systems and organs that also help maintain glucose levels but none as important as the pancreas. Thyroid hormones are needed to burn the glucose once in the cells. The adrenals are needed to control glucose regulation. Cortisol has a critical effect on glucose homeostasis. Cortisol works in the liver, skeletal muscles, adipose tissue, and inhibits insulin secretion in B-cells. Zinc is needed to produce, release and extend the action of insulin. Chromium is needed for the transport of insulin and helps the insulin attach to cell walls. Calcium is needed for insulin release. Calcium is also used to help cell permeability and cell membrane function. Magnesium inhibits insulin release and is used inside the cell for glucose regulation. So, as you can see, regulation of glucose is a very complex part of our body and it is done all day long. Most of the time glucose regulation is done without any hiccups. So, how does the dysfunction begin?

How Insulin Resistance Starts

How insulin resistance begins is still under debate. Scientists know it can be caused by diet, sedentary lifestyle, overconsumption of caffeine, mineral imbalances, heavy metal toxicity, pregnancy and hormone imbalances. Hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance are triggered by the loss of first phase glucose stimulated by insulin secretions. It is an adverse reaction to inflammatory mediators on neuronal functions. When the body is in a chronic state of over nutrients (over eating) it puts stress on the pancreases. The pancreas puts out extra insulin and overtime the pancreas makes more B-cells to keep up with the production of insulin. The cells build up a resistance (reduced insulin signaling) to the excess insulin which in turn doesn’t allow the insulin in the cells. This causes elevated blood sugar levels ie. type 2 diabetes. Too much sugar in the cell increases cell dysfunction and causes the pancreas to produce more insulin and it becomes a vicious cycle. 

How to Identify Insulin Resistance

How do we fix this cycle? First off the cycle is easiest to fix if it is caught early. Functional medication is about helping people have optimal health and not waiting until type 2 diabetes has set in. When symptoms like increased weight around the midsection, brownish color on the neck, increased fasting insulin, decreased Vitamin D levels, elevated hA1C, abnormal hs-CRP, elevated uric acid, high level of calcium, low chromium, zinc, and manganese all are indicators of the beginning of dysfunction. This is the time to take the crucial stops to reverse the labs before they get worse. 

Treating Insulin Resistance

How do we treat hyperinsulinemia or insulin resistance? Well we must stop the flow of insulin or remove insulin. This means reducing exposure to glucose. In type 2 diabetes patients are often time given insulin to reduce the elevated blood sugar but that isn’t fixing the problem. The problem is too much insulin and the solution has to be decreased glucose. Thankfully, people have found herbs and vitamins to help support the healing process but the most effective way to reverse this is by a combination of exercise, diet, and supplements. 

Research has shown that an hour walking a day is as effective as running to help decrease hemoglobin A1C. But the most effective way is by HIIT workouts or resistance training along with brisk walking. But, this is not always best for someone who has very elevated cortisol levels. Eating a mediterranean diet, cardio-metabolic, or anti-inflammatory diet with intermittent fasting are the most effective ways to help boost your metabolism to burn fat while eating a low glycemic index diet. These should be individualized based on the person's full health history and lab work and should be monitored by a professional.  

There are several herbs and supplements which have been found to help as well. Hydroxycitric Acid was found to help reduce insulin resistance and treat obesity. Gymnema Sylvestra, Barberry, thioctic acid, alpha lipoic acid, biotin, vanadium are also helpful supplements to treat insulin resistance. There are many foods that help to reduce insulin resistance. Phytonutrients such as fenugreek seeds, cinnamon, soy, beta glucan from oats and barley help to lower blood sugar. Proteins and fats from legumes, dairy/almond milk, nuts and seeds, non-starchy vegetables.