Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsInsulin ResistanceSymptomsRisk FactorsDiagnosisTreament
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Insulin Resistance
Symptoms
Risk Factors
Diagnosis
Treament
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)can put you at risk forinsulin resistance. Watch for symptoms of insulin resistance that are common for females with PCOS. These include cravings andfrequent urination.
Insulin resistance is an inadequate response to the hormone insulin. People with PCOS are at greater risk of developing insulin resistance because this condition affects how the body uses insulin. If you have PCOS, there are steps you can take to manage insulin resistance before it develops into diabetes.
This article will explain what insulin resistance is, the signs of insulin resistance in PCOS, and which factors put you at risk of developing it. It will also discuss how insulin resistance is diagnosed and treated.
What Is Insulin Resistance?
When you develop resistance to insulin, your pancreas still secretes insulin, but your body stops storing glucose like it normally should. The sluggish response can cause glucose to accumulate in the blood and eventually change the way the body deals with sugar. This results in high blood glucose levels, a condition calledhyperglycemia. Worsening insulin resistance can eventually lead to diabetes.
Insulin Resistance vs. Diabetes: Explaining the Differences
Symptoms of Insulin Resistance
People with insulin resistance often have little, if any, symptoms. When they do, it may be a sign that the condition has progressed to diabetes. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should contact your healthcare provider right away.
Symptoms may include:
If you are experiencing these symptoms, your healthcare provider will likely order blood tests to see how well your body processes sugar. These include the fasting glucose level, hemoglobin A1C, and glucose tolerance tests.
Insulin Resistance Symptoms and Treatments in Females With PCOS
Risk of Insulin Resistance if You Have PCOS
In females with PCOS, the risk of insulin resistance is higher after age 40, and for those who are overweight, have high blood pressure, live a sedentary lifestyle, or have high cholesterol. You may also be more likely to develop insulin resistance if someone in your family has it too.
By and large, women of Hispanic, African American, or Native American origin are at higher risk of insulin resistance than White or Asian women.
Diagnosing Insulin Resistance
For afasting glucose level, you would need to suspend eating and drinking at least eight hours before the test. After a blood sample is drawn and sent to the lab, a diagnosis can be made based on the following results:
Theglucose tolerance testalso requires an eight-hour fast before the test can be performed. Upon arrival, your healthcare provider will draw blood to use as a baseline reference. You would then be asked to drink 8 ounces of fluid containing 75 grams of sugar. A second blood test would then be taken two hours later.
A diagnosis can be supported based on the following comparative values:
Normally, blood sugar will return to normal within three hours. The failure to do so is generally indicative of insulin resistance.
Hemoglobin A1C, also known as the A1C test or HbA1c, is a simple blood test that measures or reflects your average blood sugar over the last three months.
A1C results are interpreted as follows:
Within theprediabetes range, the higher your A1C, the greater your risk is for developing type 2 diabetes.
Causes and Risk Factors of Type 2 Diabetes
Treatment
If you are diagnosed with insulin resistance, there is a lot you can do toreversethe condition. In some cases, medications likemetforminmay be prescribed to help you better control your blood sugar levels.
Lifestyle changes can also help, whether you are prescribed medications or not.
Doing these things can help you reverse insulin resistance:
A few of the diets that are possibly beneficial for improving insulin resistance include theMediterranean diet, theDietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, and a diet consisting of foods with lowglycemic indexes.
Insulin Resistance: How to Test and Manage Symptoms
Summary
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can change the way your body responds to insulin, resulting in a condition called insulin resistance. Signs of insulin resistance in people with PCOS include cravings for certain foods and an increased need to urinate. If left untreated, insulin resistance can develop into type 2 diabetes.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and diabetes.NIH National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders.What is diabetes? Insulin resistance and prediabetes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes tests.American Diabetes Association.Diagnosis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).All about your A1CNIH National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders.Your game plan to prevent type 2 diabetes.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and diabetes.NIH National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders.What is diabetes? Insulin resistance and prediabetes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes tests.American Diabetes Association.Diagnosis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).All about your A1CNIH National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders.Your game plan to prevent type 2 diabetes.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and diabetes.NIH National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders.What is diabetes? Insulin resistance and prediabetes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes tests.American Diabetes Association.Diagnosis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).All about your A1CNIH National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders.Your game plan to prevent type 2 diabetes.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and diabetes.
NIH National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders.What is diabetes? Insulin resistance and prediabetes.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes tests.
American Diabetes Association.Diagnosis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).All about your A1C
NIH National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders.Your game plan to prevent type 2 diabetes.
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