Insulin Resistance: Clinical Perspectives

Insulin resistance (IR) is the medical condition in which cells fail to respond to the hormone insulin. The function of insulin is to regulate the delivery of glucose into cells for energy. Cells that are insulin resistant cannot absorb amino acids, glucose and fatty acids. As a result, excess blood sugar fails to be absorbed by cells, which leads to the classic hyperglycemic triad of polydipsia, polyuria and polyphagia. Some of the factors contributing to insulin resistance are diet, sedentary lifestyles, genetics, disease, etc. It can be diagnosed through hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp, glucose tolerance testing, checking fasting insulin levels, etc. Simply by avoiding sugars, fasting and maintaining a no-carbohydrate diet, insulin resistance can be reversed. Exercise and weight loss can also lead to positive outcomes. The book aims to shed light on some of the unexplored aspects of insulin resistance and the recent researches in this domain. It presents studies performed by experts across the globe. It attempts to assist those with a goal of delving into this field.