What Does it Mean to Be Insulin-Resistant?

Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that allows your body to turn sugar into usable energy for its cells. If you become insulin-resistant, glucose (sugar) remains in your bloodstream, where it can wreak havoc on your tissues and organs.

At Revive Health Clinic in Lady Lake, Florida, our expert team offers a medical weight loss program for men and women who want and need to shed the pounds. Since being overweight or obese is a significant risk factor for diabetes, which can lead to insulin resistance, taking advantage of this program can greatly improve your health. Here’s what’s involved.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or no longer responds properly to the insulin it does produce. The two primary types of diabetes are:

Type 1

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, which means the body mistakenly attacks its own tissues, in this case the beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. As a result, you can’t produce insulin in response to food, and the sugar levels in your bloodstream remain high.

Previously called juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, this condition is more commonly diagnosed in young people. Since those living with type 1 diabetes can’t make their own insulin, they have to inject themselves with insulin several times a day to control their blood glucose levels.

Type 2

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the cells in your body become resistant to insulin, leaving high glucose levels in the bloodstream. In an effort to fix the problem, the pancreas produces even more insulin. Not only does this not have the desired effect, but after many years, the beta cells also burn out.

Being overweight or obese, not getting enough exercise, and eating an unhealthy diet are all risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes, which can affect people at any age. That makes it the most preventable form of the disease. Most people living with type 2 diabetes can manage their condition with lifestyle changes and oral medication.

If they still can’t manage their glucose levels, they may also need insulin injections.

Weight loss for diabetes

If you have type 2 diabetes, losing weight has benefits that go beyond just controlling your glucose levels. Losing just 5% of your body weight can not only improve your blood sugar, but it can also:

• Help your body use its own insulin better
• Reduce your need for medication to treat diabetes
• Improve your cholesterol levels
• Reduce your risk for heart disease
• Lower your blood pressure

What you eat is a key part of controlling your blood sugar, so, when you’re trying to lose weight, stick with nutrient advice for diabetes, and space your carbohydrates out evenly over the day.

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) says that, in order to lose weight, you should cut back on the amount of fat you eat, which helps to lower how many calories you take in. Plus, when you eat less fat, it helps to lower your cholesterol level.

A study that examined diets for weight loss in people with type 2 diabetes found that diets that were high in carbohydrates and those that contained good (monounsaturated) fats, both led to weight loss. Interestingly, though, both also led to lower LDL cholesterol levels — the “bad” kind.

Why a medical weight loss program?

A medical weight loss program not only gives you all the components you need to succeed on your weight loss journey, but it also offers accountability, which is lacking when you try to go it alone.

At Revive Health Clinic, our approach to healthy, sustainable weight loss includes:

• Calorie-controlled diet
• Increased exercise
• Nutrition counseling
• Behavioral therapy
• Meal planning
• Dietary supplements
• Hormone replacement therapy

We also offer GLP-1 (semaglutide) injections to those patients who need to shed significant weight. It works by suppressing your food cravings and helps you feel full sooner. It’s a great adjunct for patients whose health is being affected by their weight, such as type 2 diabetics.

Do you have type 2 diabetes, or are you significantly overweight and need to shed the pounds? Revive Health Clinic can help. To schedule a consultation, call our office at 352-290-0896, or book online with us today.