Insulin Resistance Symptoms
What you need to know about insulin resistance!
By: Shawn Jackson
Aside from the well known association of insulin resistance with the metabolic syndrome, abdominal obesity, elevated cholesterol levels, and high blood pressure; there are several other medical conditions that are associated with insulin resistance specifically. While the associations are clear, whether insulin resistance is the cause of these conditions is not yet known.
Fatty liver
The accumulation of fat in the liver is a manifestation of the disordered control of lipids that occurs with insulin resistance. The extent of liver damage can range from mild to severe. Newer evidence suggests that fatty liver may even lead to cirrhosis of the liver, and possibly liver cancer.
Arteriosclerosis
Insulin resistance is one of the factors associated with arteriosclerosis. Arteriosclerosis, also known as atherosclerosis, is a process of progressive thickening and hardening of the walls of medium-sized and large arteries. Arteriosclerosis is responsible for:
coronary artery disease (angina and heart attack),
strokes, and peripheral vascular disease.
Skin Lesions
Skin lesions include an increased number of skin tags and a condition called acanthosis nigricans - a darkening and thickening of the skin, especially in fold areas such as the neckline and axilla. This condition is directly related to the insulin resistance, though the exact causal mechanism is not known.
Reproductive abnormalities in women
Reproductive abnormalities include difficulty with ovulation and conception (infertility), irregular menses, or a cessation of menses. A condition that is significantly associated with insulin resistance is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is a problem that affects young women. It is associated with irregular periods or no periods at all, obesity, and increased growth of body hair. In contrast to women, there are no known reproductive abnormalities in men associated with insulin resistance.
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