The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Facets of Insulin Resistance
January 2020
in “
Medical Journal Armed Forces India
”
TLDR Insulin resistance is a complex condition that can lead to many diseases and has few treatment options.
In 2020, a study on insulin resistance (IR) identified three types of IR based on the site of pathology. IR, a condition where cells respond subnormally to insulin, can lead to various disorders including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), polycystic ovarian disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, cardiac dysfunction, kidney disease, and Alzheimer's disease. The study also found that IR could provide a survival advantage during starvation or stress by diverting glucose to the brain and fatty acids to peripheral energy requirements. However, in the context of energy surplus, these mechanisms can lead to obesity and T2DM. The study concluded that IR remains a significant challenge with limited pharmacological options for treatment.
