Health and Well Being Exams Diabetes

Diabetes used to be considered a rare disease. In fact many decades ago it was hardly a concern at all but in the modern era of longer life expectancies and declining requirements for physical labor type-2 diabetes is fast becoming an epidemic. Insulin resistance is the first step to the development of diabetes and as reducing insulin resistance should be made a priority in our healthcare system.

Diabetes statistics are now indicating that one in three American’s may face the condition head on in the coming years. Diabetes is considered to be very damaging to the body and plays a large role in decreasing life expectancies. It is currently in the top five causes of death in America and it is contributory to many other conditions such as heart disease and stroke. The one thing that is positive about it is that the main cause of roughly 90 percent of all diabetes cases is insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance is when the body slowly stops recognizing the presence of the hormone insulin as it flows through the blood stream. When the body doesn’t respond to it blood sugar levels remain elevated in the blood much longer than they should. This is why routine blood tests seek to identify elevated fasting blood sugar levels to detect the warning signs for insulin resistance and diabetes before it gets too advanced.

You can also test for insulin levels to see if insulin is high. This is one way to monitor your risk factors before blood sugar levels appear high. This test is less common however so you may have to ask for it specifically and possibly ask your doctor if it is relevant in your situation.

Most importantly however detecting insulin resistance, the cause of most diabetes cases, early in its existence is very important. Once you learn that you have it then you need to make the changes to your lifestyle necessary to reverse insulin resistance and maintain your good health for a lifetime. It’s not complicated but it may be hard to change habits. However if you take the time to understand the complications of progressive insulin resistance then just maybe it will be easier for you to make the required changes.