|  | Conditions Treatments | Diabetes

The Impact of Exogenous Insulin on Insulin Resistance

Doctors prescribe exogenous insulin (injected insulin) for people with insulin resistance when other forms of therapy fail to keep blood glucose levels in a healthy range. Exogenous insulin can have a positive impact in preventing diabetic complications.

  1. Features

    • Insulin resistance and the subsequent development of Type 2 diabetes have genetic causes, according to the National Institutes of Health. Other causes can include lack of physical activity, excess weight around the waist, high blood pressure and abnormal levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. The cells of people with insulin resistance are "turned off" to the regular action of insulin, according to Diabetes Health. This prevents glucose from entering the cells so it can be used.

    Progression

    • The body reacts to insulin resistance by producing higher and higher levels of insulin, and eventually may exhaust its ability to produce its own insulin. At this point, individuals who initially had insulin resistance may now have an insulin deficiency.

    Treatment

    • Doctors first of all recommend that individuals with insulin resistance exercise and maintain a normal weight. If help is still needed to maintain healthy blood glucose levels, they may prescribe the drugs metformin or thiazolidinedione, that overcome insulin resistance in the liver or muscles or sulfonylurea drugs, that stimulate the body to make more insulin. Some doctors are also prescribing injectible incretin hormone substitutes that help raise insulin during meals. Eventually doctors often add exogenous insulin to the treatment plan. People with Type 2 diabetes can take many different combinations of drugs and dosages over the course of time.

    Significance

    • Doctors vary in deciding exactly when to begin exogenous insulin therapy. "Patients' misguided fears about needles, hypoglycemia, and weight gain, often lead to reluctance and physician inertia," according to Diabetes Health. However, with the help of a diabetes educator, people can learn about injection tools and methods that greatly minimize discomfort. Doctors can prescribe timing and types of insulin that lessen the possibility of hypoglycemia, and can forestall possible weight gain by combining insulin therapy with oral medications.

    Famous Ties

    • There are many celebrities who have Type 2 diabetes. Two who have spoken publicly about taking insulin injections are Wilford Brimley and Patti LaBelle.

Diabetes - Related Articles