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Published Jan 10, 2020

#295 Defining Diabetes: Insulin Resistance

Jenny Smith and Scott Benner unravel the complexities of insulin resistance in both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, debunking myths and highlighting the significance of accurate diagnosis. They also introduce innovative insulin management techniques like "overbolusing," while offering insights from Scott's unique diabetes blogging journey.
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  • Definition

    and provide a comprehensive definition of insulin resistance, emphasizing its distinct characteristics in Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Jenny explains that insulin resistance is essentially the body's inability to use insulin effectively, often leading to increased insulin production by the pancreas in Type 2 diabetes. This condition is different in Type 1 diabetes, where factors like weight management and conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) can influence insulin resistance 1.

    Insulin resistance is essentially the body's pushback in appropriately using insulin.

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    Scott highlights the importance of understanding insulin resistance to avoid misdiagnosing it as a permanent condition, especially in scenarios like dehydration, where insulin may not work as expected 2.

       

    Misconceptions

    Addressing common misconceptions, Scott and Jenny clarify that insulin resistance is often misunderstood and misattributed to situations where it may not be the actual cause. Scott shares an example of a young athlete whose blood sugar management improved once the real issues were addressed, rather than attributing it to insulin resistance 2. Jenny adds that temporary insulin resistance can occur due to hormonal changes, such as during pregnancy, but it is not a permanent state 3.

    It's not that you're going to be insulin resistant for the next 90 years after the child is born.

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    They emphasize the importance of correctly identifying the cause of insulin needs to avoid unnecessary stress and mismanagement of diabetes 3.

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