When we speak of insulin resistance, we really are talking about the root cause of the metabolic syndrome. It is the initial stage of many of the chronic illnesses that are present today.
Although it is not the only cause, insulin resistance can be described as a large part of conditions such as increased weight gain, chronic inflammation, high triglycerides, abnormal cholesterol levels, pre-diabetes and diabetes.
I certainly feel that this condition is leading to vast increases in many of the chronic illnesses that we are dealing with on the health care front today.
Take obesity as an example. Not only is their an explosion in the obesity rate in the U.S., we are no longer dealing with only adults who have weight issues. Children are now facing some of the same health issues that are related to obesity that, in the past, were only adult problems.
Children and young adults are now being diagnosed with obesity, high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels and blood sugar problems. Type II diabetes is no longer called adult onset diabetes (because its not just in adults anymore).
Insulin resistance seems to be a primary contributor to these chronic health issues and until we deal with it head on, we will be faced with unhealthy and shorter lives.
SQ