How is insulin resistance diagnosed?There is not one test that determines insulin resistance. The only conclusive test (insulin clamp) is not a simple test and is not normally used in clinical practice. Your physician can use the following tests to determine insulin resistance.
Waist Circumference – this test can be performed in the doctor’s office with a measuring tape. Not all people with insulin resistance are overweight but even thin people with insulin resistance tend to gain weight in the abdomen more than other areas. Body Mass Index (BMI) – can be used as an alternative to measuring waist circumference. Fasting Glucose Levels – a simple blood test that measures glucose levels after fasting for several hours (usually eight hours or overnight). Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) – a test that measures the body’s ability to use glucose. It is a test involving drinking a premeasured amount of a special sugar beverage (75 - 100 grams of glucose). Blood sugar is then tested at several intervals up to four hours. Glucose/Insulin Tolerance Test – a test that measures glucose and insulin levels. It can also be used in patients not yet exhibiting elevated blood sugar. C-peptide Test – measures the amount of this peptide in the blood. The level can show how much insulin the pancreas is releasing because c-peptide and insulin are made in equal amounts. Treating Insulin Resistance
Just as there is no one test to determine insulin resistance, there is no one cure. Some actions that can increase insulin sensitivity include:
Weight loss
Reduction in excessive, carbohydrate consumption – proper balancing of healthy carbohydrates, protein and fat
Oral medications (e.g. metformin) to increase insulin sensitivity
ExerciseWhy should you treat insulin resistance?
For people not yet diagnosed with diabetes, reducing insulin resistance is paramount to decreasing the probability of becoming diabetic. Since insulin resistance often goes hand in hand with obesity, it is also important to increase insulin sensitivity in order to attain successful and permanent weight loss.
Effectively treating insulin resistance can also reduce your probability of developing hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and all of the other potential side effects and complications of diabetes.
