Doctor Flags 4 Early Insulin Resistance Signs as 40% of Young U.S. Adults May Have It
Updated
Updated · TODAY · Jul 28
Doctor Flags 4 Early Insulin Resistance Signs as 40% of Young U.S. Adults May Have It
1 articles · Updated · TODAY · Jul 28
Summary
Four warning signs — dark skin patches, skin tags, unexplained abdominal weight gain and fatigue after meals — can point to insulin resistance before blood sugar tests turn abnormal, Dr. Akshay Syal said.
Early insulin resistance is often silent because the body initially makes extra insulin to keep glucose normal, meaning routine A1C checks may miss the problem even as it sets the stage for prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes.
About 40% of young U.S. adults may have insulin resistance, and studies cited in the report say nearly half of them do not have obesity, though visceral fat remains a major risk factor.
Syal said insulin and fasting glucose tests, upward A1C trends and over-the-counter continuous glucose monitors can offer clues, but CGM data can also fuel anxiety and should be reviewed with a physician.
Exercise, weight loss, more fiber and lower-glycemic foods can help reverse or prevent insulin resistance, which research has also linked to heart disease, Alzheimer’s and cancer.