Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSimilarities and DifferencesInsulin Resistance SymptomsPrediabetes SymptomsProgression to DiabetesInsulin Resistance Without DiabetesTreatmentMonitoring and New Habits
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Similarities and Differences
Insulin Resistance Symptoms
Prediabetes Symptoms
Progression to Diabetes
Insulin Resistance Without Diabetes
Treatment
Monitoring and New Habits
Insulin resistance, also known as impaired insulin sensitivity, is when your muscle, fat, and liver cells do not respond well to the insulin in your body. Prediabetes is when your blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes.
Insulin resistance can lead to prediabetes and eventually type 2 diabetes, but not all people with insulin resistance progress to type 2 diabetes.
This article reviews insulin resistance and diabetes, including similarities and differences, symptoms, treatment, and monitoring.

Insulin Resistance vs. Diabetes Quick Facts
Insulin resistanceand diabetes are connected, though they are not the same. Below are similarities and differences between the two.
Similarities
Insulinis a hormone made in thepancreasthat helpsglucose(sugar) exit the bloodstream and enter cells to be used for energy. The body’s ability to make and use insulin is associated with both insulin resistance and diabetes.
Over time, insulin resistance can lead toprediabetes. If care is not taken toreverseit, it can progress to type 2 diabetes. The more insulin resistance someone with diabetes has, the harder it can be to manage blood glucose levels.
Diabetes is when blood glucose levels are too high because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or the body does not properly use the insulin it makes.
Some medications for type 2 diabetes aim to make cells more sensitive to insulin (the opposite of insulin resistance). For example,metforminis a commonly used medication for increasing insulin sensitivity.
Insulin-sensitizing medications can help manage both insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

Differences
While there is overlap between the two conditions, not everyone with insulin resistance has diabetes; nor does everyone with diabetes have insulin resistance.
Though insulin resistance can progress to prediabetes and, eventually, type 2 diabetes if left unmanaged, it’s also associated with other medical conditions. These includepolycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS),metabolic syndrome,metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease,and cardiovascular (heart) disease.
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic medical condition. It is generally not reversible, but options such as lifestyle changes andmetabolic surgerymay help type 2 diabetes go intoremission.
On the other hand, insulin resistance is not necessarily a chronic condition and can be reversed.
Insulin and Type 1 DiabetesInsulin resistance does not cause or lead totype 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which the body attacks the beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. People with type 1 diabetes make very little or no insulin.Because of this, they need to take insulin via injection, inhaler, or an insulin pump in order to survive.However, people with type 1 diabetes can develop insulin resistance over time.
Insulin and Type 1 Diabetes
Insulin resistance does not cause or lead totype 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which the body attacks the beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. People with type 1 diabetes make very little or no insulin.Because of this, they need to take insulin via injection, inhaler, or an insulin pump in order to survive.However, people with type 1 diabetes can develop insulin resistance over time.
Insulin resistance does not cause or lead totype 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which the body attacks the beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. People with type 1 diabetes make very little or no insulin.
Because of this, they need to take insulin via injection, inhaler, or an insulin pump in order to survive.However, people with type 1 diabetes can develop insulin resistance over time.
How to Tell If You Have Insulin Resistance
There is no single test used to diagnoseinsulin resistance. Some methods exist to estimate insulin resistance.The most accurate test is complex and reserved for research.
To assess whether you might have insulin resistance, a healthcare provider may order blood tests, such as fasting insulin or anoral glucose tolerance test(OGTT).They might also order blood tests to check yourcholesterol (total, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein) and triglyceride levels.
In addition to the results of the blood tests, a healthcare provider may take into account your medical history and current symptoms to determine if you have insulin resistance.
Symptoms
Oftentimes people with insulin resistance have no noticeable symptoms. Nevertheless, there are some things to look out for if you suspect you have insulin resistance. These include:
How to Tell If You Have Prediabetes
Prediabetes is often diagnosed using ablood test, such asfasting plasma glucose (FPG) levelor anA1c test(which indicates the average of your blood glucose levels over the past two to three months). The following test results indicate prediabetes:
Less commonly, a healthcare provider may use the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) to test for prediabetes. This involves drinking a sugary (glucose-filled) beverage and having your blood drawn two hours after drinking the beverage. A diagnosis of prediabetes may be made if your glucose level comes back between 140 and 199 mg/dL after an OGTT.
Most people with prediabetes don’t have any noticeable symptoms. If people with prediabetes have insulin resistance, they may experience the symptoms described above.
As prediabetes progresses to type 2 diabetes, symptoms ofhigh blood glucosemay develop, such as:
When Does Insulin Resistance Progress to Diabetes?
As insulin resistance progresses, the cells in the pancreas that make insulin can wear out. When this happens, the pancreas cannot make the amount of insulin needed to properly manage blood glucose levels and keep them in a normal range. Blood glucose levels rise too high, and eventually prediabetes or type 2 diabetes develops.
This progression often happens very slowly and without notice, often taking years. People with prediabetes have up to a 50% chance of developing type 2 diabetes within five to 10 years.
This is why it’s important to engage in healthy lifestyle habits and get regular medical checkups if you have risk factors for either insulin resistance or prediabetes.
Though it is often an early marker in the development of type 2 diabetes, not everyone with insulin resistance has diabetes.
A study of over 6,200 American adults aged 18 to 44 years old without diabetes found that 40% had insulin resistance.Nearly half of those with insulin resistance did not have obesity.
Having insulin resistance can put you at risk of other medical conditions, or it may occur in other medical conditions. Besides diabetes, insulin resistance is often present in:
How to Treat Insulin Resistance vs. Diabetes
Thetreatment for insulin resistanceis often the same as prediabetes treatment. Your healthcare provider may prescribe medication to help your body be more insulin sensitive.
Your healthcare provider may also recommend making changes to lifestyle habits, such as:
Eating for Insulin Resistance and PrediabetesWhile there is no one specific diet recommended for insulin resistance or diabetes, some healthy eating patterns are often encouraged, such as including the following foods in your diet:Whole fruitsVegetablesLean meats or plant-based protein sourcesWhole grainsBeans and legumesNuts and seedsHealthy fatsSome eating patterns that follow this include theMediterranean diet, theDASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet, and the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet.Limit foods high in added sugars or those with highly refined carbohydrates, saturated fats, and sodium. These often include sweets such as sugar-sweetened beverages, cookies, cakes, donuts, pastries, ice cream, chips, french fries and other deep fried foods, convenience or fast foods, and bacon and other processed meats.
Eating for Insulin Resistance and Prediabetes
While there is no one specific diet recommended for insulin resistance or diabetes, some healthy eating patterns are often encouraged, such as including the following foods in your diet:Whole fruitsVegetablesLean meats or plant-based protein sourcesWhole grainsBeans and legumesNuts and seedsHealthy fatsSome eating patterns that follow this include theMediterranean diet, theDASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet, and the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet.Limit foods high in added sugars or those with highly refined carbohydrates, saturated fats, and sodium. These often include sweets such as sugar-sweetened beverages, cookies, cakes, donuts, pastries, ice cream, chips, french fries and other deep fried foods, convenience or fast foods, and bacon and other processed meats.
While there is no one specific diet recommended for insulin resistance or diabetes, some healthy eating patterns are often encouraged, such as including the following foods in your diet:
Some eating patterns that follow this include theMediterranean diet, theDASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet, and the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet.
Limit foods high in added sugars or those with highly refined carbohydrates, saturated fats, and sodium. These often include sweets such as sugar-sweetened beverages, cookies, cakes, donuts, pastries, ice cream, chips, french fries and other deep fried foods, convenience or fast foods, and bacon and other processed meats.
Ongoing Monitoring and Adopting New Habits
If you have one or more other risk factors for diabetes, you should be tested for insulin resistance or diabetes. Even if you don’t have risk factors, experts recommend getting tested for prediabetes once you turn 45 years old.If the results are normal but you have other risk factors, you should be retested at least every three years.
Adopting new lifestyle habits that support health can make a big difference in reversing insulin resistance and delaying or preventing type 2 diabetes. Choose physical activities you enjoy and will engage in regularly, follow an eating pattern that is realistic and includes foods you like, and set a bedtime routine that allows for consistent sleep each night.
Summary
Insulin resistance is when your muscle, fat and liver cells do not respond well to the insulin in your body. Prediabetes is when your blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes is a chronic medical condition in which blood glucose levels are too high. Insulin resistance can lead to prediabetes and eventually type 2 diabetes, but not all people with insulin resistance progress to type 2 diabetes, and not everyone with diabetes has insulin resistance.
Symptoms of insulin resistance include acanthosis nigricans, skin tags, blurred vision, weight gain, irregular menstrual periods, acne, and hirsutism.
Symptoms of high blood glucose levels include Increased thirst, frequent urination, increased hunger, extreme fatigue, blurred vision, cuts or bruises that are slow to heal, and tingling, numbness, or pain in the extremities.
Along with assessing your symptoms and medical history, a healthcare provider can order blood tests, such as fasting insulin and glucose, to determine if you have insulin resistance. Fasting glucose level or an A1c test is often used to diagnose prediabetes.
Insulin resistance can progress to type 2 diabetes when the pancreatic cells that make insulin wear out from producing high levels of insulin, and can no longer make the amount of insulin needed to properly manage blood glucose levels.
Aside from diabetes, insulin resistance may be present in other medical conditions, including obesity, PCOS, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease.
Treatment for insulin resistance and prediabetes may include medication and lifestyle changes, such as regular physical activity, healthy eating patterns, regular sleep patterns, and losing weight, if needed.
18 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.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Insulin resistance & prediabetes.World Health Organization.Diabetes.Herman R, Kravos NA, Jensterle M, Janež A, Dolžan V.Metformin and insulin resistance: a review of the underlying mechanisms behind changes in GLUT4-mediated glucose transport.Int J Mol Sci. 2022;23(3):1264. doi:10.3390/ijms23031264Purwar A, Nagpure S.Insulin resistance in polycystic ovarian syndrome.Cureus. 2022;14(10):e30351. doi:10.7759/cureus.30351Gluvic Z, Zaric B, Resanovic I, et al.Link between metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance.Curr Vasc Pharmacol. 2017;15(1):30-39. doi:10.2174/1570161114666161007164510Khan RS, Bril F, Cusi K, Newsome PN.Modulation of insulin resistance in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.Hepatology. 2019;70(2):711-724. doi:10.1002/hep.30429Kosmas CE, Bousvarou MD, Kostara CE, Papakonstantinou EJ, Salamou E, Guzman E.Insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease.J Int Med Res. 2023;51(3):3000605231164548. doi:10.1177/03000605231164548Riddle MC, Cefalu WT, Evans PH, et al.Consensus report: definition and interpretation of remission in type 2 diabetes.Diabetes Care. 2021;44(10):2438-2444.Oram RA, Jones AG, Besser RE, et al.The majority of patients with long-duration type 1 diabetes are insulin microsecretors and have functioning beta cells[published correction appears inDiabetologia. 2014 Jan;57(1):262].Diabetologia. 2014;57(1):187-191. doi:10.1007/s00125-013-3067-xCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.4 ways to take insulin.Wolosowicz M, Lukaszuk B, Chabowski A.The causes of insulin resistance in type 1 diabetes mellitus: is there a place for quaternary prevention?Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(22):8651. doi:10.3390/ijerph17228651Gutch M, Kumar S, Razi SM, Gupta KK, Gupta A.Assessment of insulin sensitivity/resistance.Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2015;19(1):160-164. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.146874Medical University of South Carolina.Measuring insulin resistance.Hussein K, Karami M.Association between insulin resistance and abnormal menstrual cycle in Saudi females with polycystic ovary syndrome.Saudi Pharm J. 2023;31(6):1104-1108. doi:10.1016/j.jsps.2023.03.021Sadowska-Przytocka A, Gruszczyńska M, Ostałowska A, et al.Insulin resistance in the course of acne - literature review.Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2022;39(2):231-238. doi:10.5114/ada.2021.107101Amiri M, Mahmoudieh L, Sheidaei A, Fallahzadeh A, Ramezani Tehrani F.Insulin resistance and idiopathic hirsutism: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression.J Cosmet Dermatol. 2022;21(11):5346-5359. doi:10.1111/jocd.15070American Diabetes Association.Understanding type 2 diabetes.Parcha V, Heindl B, Kalra R, et al.Insulin resistance and cardiometabolic risk profile among nondiabetic American young adults: insights from NHANES.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2022;107(1):e25-e37. doi:10.1210/clinem/dgab645
18 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.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Insulin resistance & prediabetes.World Health Organization.Diabetes.Herman R, Kravos NA, Jensterle M, Janež A, Dolžan V.Metformin and insulin resistance: a review of the underlying mechanisms behind changes in GLUT4-mediated glucose transport.Int J Mol Sci. 2022;23(3):1264. doi:10.3390/ijms23031264Purwar A, Nagpure S.Insulin resistance in polycystic ovarian syndrome.Cureus. 2022;14(10):e30351. doi:10.7759/cureus.30351Gluvic Z, Zaric B, Resanovic I, et al.Link between metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance.Curr Vasc Pharmacol. 2017;15(1):30-39. doi:10.2174/1570161114666161007164510Khan RS, Bril F, Cusi K, Newsome PN.Modulation of insulin resistance in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.Hepatology. 2019;70(2):711-724. doi:10.1002/hep.30429Kosmas CE, Bousvarou MD, Kostara CE, Papakonstantinou EJ, Salamou E, Guzman E.Insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease.J Int Med Res. 2023;51(3):3000605231164548. doi:10.1177/03000605231164548Riddle MC, Cefalu WT, Evans PH, et al.Consensus report: definition and interpretation of remission in type 2 diabetes.Diabetes Care. 2021;44(10):2438-2444.Oram RA, Jones AG, Besser RE, et al.The majority of patients with long-duration type 1 diabetes are insulin microsecretors and have functioning beta cells[published correction appears inDiabetologia. 2014 Jan;57(1):262].Diabetologia. 2014;57(1):187-191. doi:10.1007/s00125-013-3067-xCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.4 ways to take insulin.Wolosowicz M, Lukaszuk B, Chabowski A.The causes of insulin resistance in type 1 diabetes mellitus: is there a place for quaternary prevention?Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(22):8651. doi:10.3390/ijerph17228651Gutch M, Kumar S, Razi SM, Gupta KK, Gupta A.Assessment of insulin sensitivity/resistance.Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2015;19(1):160-164. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.146874Medical University of South Carolina.Measuring insulin resistance.Hussein K, Karami M.Association between insulin resistance and abnormal menstrual cycle in Saudi females with polycystic ovary syndrome.Saudi Pharm J. 2023;31(6):1104-1108. doi:10.1016/j.jsps.2023.03.021Sadowska-Przytocka A, Gruszczyńska M, Ostałowska A, et al.Insulin resistance in the course of acne - literature review.Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2022;39(2):231-238. doi:10.5114/ada.2021.107101Amiri M, Mahmoudieh L, Sheidaei A, Fallahzadeh A, Ramezani Tehrani F.Insulin resistance and idiopathic hirsutism: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression.J Cosmet Dermatol. 2022;21(11):5346-5359. doi:10.1111/jocd.15070American Diabetes Association.Understanding type 2 diabetes.Parcha V, Heindl B, Kalra R, et al.Insulin resistance and cardiometabolic risk profile among nondiabetic American young adults: insights from NHANES.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2022;107(1):e25-e37. doi:10.1210/clinem/dgab645
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.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Insulin resistance & prediabetes.World Health Organization.Diabetes.Herman R, Kravos NA, Jensterle M, Janež A, Dolžan V.Metformin and insulin resistance: a review of the underlying mechanisms behind changes in GLUT4-mediated glucose transport.Int J Mol Sci. 2022;23(3):1264. doi:10.3390/ijms23031264Purwar A, Nagpure S.Insulin resistance in polycystic ovarian syndrome.Cureus. 2022;14(10):e30351. doi:10.7759/cureus.30351Gluvic Z, Zaric B, Resanovic I, et al.Link between metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance.Curr Vasc Pharmacol. 2017;15(1):30-39. doi:10.2174/1570161114666161007164510Khan RS, Bril F, Cusi K, Newsome PN.Modulation of insulin resistance in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.Hepatology. 2019;70(2):711-724. doi:10.1002/hep.30429Kosmas CE, Bousvarou MD, Kostara CE, Papakonstantinou EJ, Salamou E, Guzman E.Insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease.J Int Med Res. 2023;51(3):3000605231164548. doi:10.1177/03000605231164548Riddle MC, Cefalu WT, Evans PH, et al.Consensus report: definition and interpretation of remission in type 2 diabetes.Diabetes Care. 2021;44(10):2438-2444.Oram RA, Jones AG, Besser RE, et al.The majority of patients with long-duration type 1 diabetes are insulin microsecretors and have functioning beta cells[published correction appears inDiabetologia. 2014 Jan;57(1):262].Diabetologia. 2014;57(1):187-191. doi:10.1007/s00125-013-3067-xCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.4 ways to take insulin.Wolosowicz M, Lukaszuk B, Chabowski A.The causes of insulin resistance in type 1 diabetes mellitus: is there a place for quaternary prevention?Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(22):8651. doi:10.3390/ijerph17228651Gutch M, Kumar S, Razi SM, Gupta KK, Gupta A.Assessment of insulin sensitivity/resistance.Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2015;19(1):160-164. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.146874Medical University of South Carolina.Measuring insulin resistance.Hussein K, Karami M.Association between insulin resistance and abnormal menstrual cycle in Saudi females with polycystic ovary syndrome.Saudi Pharm J. 2023;31(6):1104-1108. doi:10.1016/j.jsps.2023.03.021Sadowska-Przytocka A, Gruszczyńska M, Ostałowska A, et al.Insulin resistance in the course of acne - literature review.Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2022;39(2):231-238. doi:10.5114/ada.2021.107101Amiri M, Mahmoudieh L, Sheidaei A, Fallahzadeh A, Ramezani Tehrani F.Insulin resistance and idiopathic hirsutism: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression.J Cosmet Dermatol. 2022;21(11):5346-5359. doi:10.1111/jocd.15070American Diabetes Association.Understanding type 2 diabetes.Parcha V, Heindl B, Kalra R, et al.Insulin resistance and cardiometabolic risk profile among nondiabetic American young adults: insights from NHANES.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2022;107(1):e25-e37. doi:10.1210/clinem/dgab645
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Insulin resistance & prediabetes.
World Health Organization.Diabetes.
Herman R, Kravos NA, Jensterle M, Janež A, Dolžan V.Metformin and insulin resistance: a review of the underlying mechanisms behind changes in GLUT4-mediated glucose transport.Int J Mol Sci. 2022;23(3):1264. doi:10.3390/ijms23031264
Purwar A, Nagpure S.Insulin resistance in polycystic ovarian syndrome.Cureus. 2022;14(10):e30351. doi:10.7759/cureus.30351
Gluvic Z, Zaric B, Resanovic I, et al.Link between metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance.Curr Vasc Pharmacol. 2017;15(1):30-39. doi:10.2174/1570161114666161007164510
Khan RS, Bril F, Cusi K, Newsome PN.Modulation of insulin resistance in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.Hepatology. 2019;70(2):711-724. doi:10.1002/hep.30429
Kosmas CE, Bousvarou MD, Kostara CE, Papakonstantinou EJ, Salamou E, Guzman E.Insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease.J Int Med Res. 2023;51(3):3000605231164548. doi:10.1177/03000605231164548
Riddle MC, Cefalu WT, Evans PH, et al.Consensus report: definition and interpretation of remission in type 2 diabetes.Diabetes Care. 2021;44(10):2438-2444.
Oram RA, Jones AG, Besser RE, et al.The majority of patients with long-duration type 1 diabetes are insulin microsecretors and have functioning beta cells[published correction appears inDiabetologia. 2014 Jan;57(1):262].Diabetologia. 2014;57(1):187-191. doi:10.1007/s00125-013-3067-x
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.4 ways to take insulin.
Wolosowicz M, Lukaszuk B, Chabowski A.The causes of insulin resistance in type 1 diabetes mellitus: is there a place for quaternary prevention?Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(22):8651. doi:10.3390/ijerph17228651
Gutch M, Kumar S, Razi SM, Gupta KK, Gupta A.Assessment of insulin sensitivity/resistance.Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2015;19(1):160-164. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.146874
Medical University of South Carolina.Measuring insulin resistance.
Hussein K, Karami M.Association between insulin resistance and abnormal menstrual cycle in Saudi females with polycystic ovary syndrome.Saudi Pharm J. 2023;31(6):1104-1108. doi:10.1016/j.jsps.2023.03.021
Sadowska-Przytocka A, Gruszczyńska M, Ostałowska A, et al.Insulin resistance in the course of acne - literature review.Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2022;39(2):231-238. doi:10.5114/ada.2021.107101
Amiri M, Mahmoudieh L, Sheidaei A, Fallahzadeh A, Ramezani Tehrani F.Insulin resistance and idiopathic hirsutism: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression.J Cosmet Dermatol. 2022;21(11):5346-5359. doi:10.1111/jocd.15070
American Diabetes Association.Understanding type 2 diabetes.
Parcha V, Heindl B, Kalra R, et al.Insulin resistance and cardiometabolic risk profile among nondiabetic American young adults: insights from NHANES.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2022;107(1):e25-e37. doi:10.1210/clinem/dgab645
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