Ask the Diabetes Educator Archive

8/8/05

Q:
Are insulin resistance and diabetes type 2 the same issue? Or if insulin resistance is only a precursor to diabetes type 2 then could you explain the differences?

A:
Truly focusing on diet/exercise is our first line of defense and can prove effective for many folks newly diagnosed. Insulin resistance is a precursor phase, and is experienced by millions of people worldwide. In most cases, this is due to sedentary lifestyle habits and not-so-great eating habits. The pancreas is still putting out sufficient insulin, but the cells are resistive to allowing it to do its job of taking sugar out of the blood stream and into the cells. Excessive body fat is often the first cause here. With 2 fasting blood sugar levels of 126, done by a lab, a diagnosis of "diabetes" ensues.