A recent study by researchers at Shandong University in China found that insulin resistance is linked to an increased risk of several diseases and early death in women.
Insulin resistance occurs when cells in the muscles, fat, and liver don’t respond properly to the hormone insulin and can’t easily absorb glucose from the blood.
The causes of insulin resistance are not fully understood by researchers but excess weight and lack of physical activity are believed to be large factors, according to the US National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Related- Promising diabetes treatment that boosts insulin cells by 700% offers hope of reversing disease
Insulin resistance is commonly known for its role in diabetes, and the new study found that it is further connected to 31 other health conditions.
"We have shown that by assessing the degree of insulin resistance, it is possible identify individuals who are at risk of developing obesity, hypertension, heart disease, gout, sciatica, and some other diseases," Jing Wu, the lead author of the study from the department of endocrinology at Shandong Provincial Hospital in Jinan, China, said in a statement.
"This provides a basis for early intervention measures to reduce the risk of disease and also offers new ideas for disease prevention and treatment," she added.
The study used data from nearly 430,000 participants in the UK Biobank project, a database that holds genetic, medical, and lifestyle information of more than 500,000 people, to assess whether there is a link between insulin resistance and certain diseases.
The participants were aged between 40 and 69 years old and had TyG index scores, a measure of insulin resistance, ranging from 5.87 to 12.46 units.
The TyG index scores were calculated by examining each participant’s blood sugar and fat levels, including cholesterol.
Related- Intermittent fasting may help type 2 diabetics control blood sugar - study
Higher degrees of insulin resistance were often seen in men, smokers, older individuals, people who were less active, and those living with obesity.
The study findings are set to be presented at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Spain this week.
Higher risk of death
The study tracked the participants' health records for a median of 13 years and found that insulin resistance was linked to an increased risk of 26 conditions and a decreased risk of five, along with a higher risk of death in women.
"We found that every one-unit increase in insulin resistance increased the risk of gout by 65 per cent but decreased the risk of Parkinson's disease by 16 per cent," Wu said in a statement.
"Additionally, every one-unit increase in insulin resistance was linked to a 10 per cent higher likelihood of sciatica," she added.
Insulin resistance was most strongly linked to diabetes, with individuals having a 166 per cent higher likelihood of developing the disease.
It was also associated, though to a lesser degree, with a higher risk of developing other medical conditions.
Related- Cases of diabetes could double by 2050 to affect 1.3 billion people, new study reveals
Some of these include depression, sleep disorders, bacterial infections, pancreatitis, obesity, back pain, renal failure, and heart disease.
Still, insulin resistance was also associated with a lower risk of five diseases, including anaemia, Parkinson’s disease, and osteoporosis, which is a major cause of broken bones in older adults.
The researchers found that every one unit increase in insulin resistance for women was linked to an 11 per cent higher risk of death, but there was no such association for men.
"Raising public awareness of these modifiable factors is important, as it empowers individuals to take proactive steps towards better metabolic health," Wu said.
"While we didn’t look at ways of improving insulin resistance, previous research has shown that lifestyle modifications, such as regular exercise and following a balanced diet low in added sugars and refined carbohydrates, can help reduce the risk of insulin resistance".
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
