Hi All,
Thought I would post this up for you..its taken from my Dr Hanas Bible...think in an earlier post/question someone was querying whether in might relate to them.
The body's insulin sensitivity is essential for determining how much the BG level will be lowered by a given dose of insulin. You might think that the same dose dose would have the same effect on the BG in any single individual, but unfortunately this is not the case. Certain factors increase insulin sensitivity while other decrease it.
Insulin resistance implies that a higher insulin concentration in the blood is needed to obtain the same BG lowering effect. You could also say that the insulin sensitivity is decreased. The decreased effect of insulin is caused by a restrained transport of glucose through the cellular wall when the BG level is high. The decreased uptake of glucose into the cells can be caused by a consriction of the blood vessels, resulting in a decreased blood flow. Insulin resistance will, in this sense, be a defence for the insulin-sensitive cells that are prvented from taking up to much glucose. These cells will not be exposed to glucose toxicity and will therefore not be affected by the long term complications of diabetes. The cells that are not dependent on insulin for their glucose uptake (e.g. the eyes, kidneys and nerves) will, on the other hand, have a high uptake of glucose. This will expose them to glucose toxicity leading to long term complications.
If your BG level has been high for a short period only (just for a day, for example) such as during an infection, your body will require higher insulin doses to acheive the same BG lowering effect. A meal of a given size and composition will accordingly need a higher dose of insulin than usual. This increased insulin need may continue for a week or so after the infection has subsided if you BG level has been high for a longer period of time. Some people have noted higher BG levels during periods when the pollen count is high if they have hay fever. This may be because they are less active while suffering from pollen allergy.
After some time with high insulin doses (and normal BG levels) you will start to experience hypoglycaemia, even though you have not changed either your insulin doses or the amount of food you eat. The body's sensitivity to insulin will change when the BG level is low, and the same insulin concentration in the blood will now lower the BG more effectivley, resulting in a lower dose of insulin for the same meal. As you experience this you will learn to decrease your insulin doses slightly as a preventative measure when you BG levels have been normal for a day or two (or up to a week depending on individual differences), thus preventing hypoglycaemia.
Compare your BG level with a thermostat that regulates the central heating in the house. If the thermostat is adjusted to 20c (68f) more energy will be needed to maintain this temperature if the outside temperature is colder than usual. In the same way, more insulin will be needed to keep the BG at the same level when insulin resistance is high. If the BG level has been high for a while, the ''glucostat'' will adjust and you will start having hypoglycaemia at a higher BG level than before. If you have had very low BG levels for sometime, the glucostat will readjust in the oposite direction and you will not experience hypoglycaemia until your BG level is very low.
Weight gain increases insulin resistance while weight loss decreases it. This is one of the reasons why it is difficult to maintain a normal BG level if you are overweight. Male pattern obesity (''apple fatness'') is particularly likely to increase insulin resistance. Other factors can also contribute to the level of insulin resistance.
Increased levels if stress hormones (adrenaline, noradrenaline) will reduce insulin resistance that develops with in 5-10 minutes. Stress also causes release of cortisol, which increases insulin resistance within hours.
During puberty, an increase in the secretion of growth hormone raise the BG level. This causes a resistance to insulin that contributes to the need for increased insulin doses during this time.
Smoking leads to an increasedd insulin resistance because nicotine decreases the uptake of glucose to the tissues of the body.
Regular exercise (at least every other day) leads to a decrease in insulin resistance that lasts between exercise sessions, while inactivity (for instance caused by being bed ridden) gives an increased resistance in days. Active atheletes, for example, need to lower all their insulin doses considerably. When the training season is over, doses are likely to need considerable adjustments upwards if higher BG levels are to be avoided. Sometimes 30-50% more insulin will be needed during periods of reduced activity.
Sorry this is a long post...Hope it helps
Heidi
🙂
Thought I would post this up for you..its taken from my Dr Hanas Bible...think in an earlier post/question someone was querying whether in might relate to them.
The body's insulin sensitivity is essential for determining how much the BG level will be lowered by a given dose of insulin. You might think that the same dose dose would have the same effect on the BG in any single individual, but unfortunately this is not the case. Certain factors increase insulin sensitivity while other decrease it.
Insulin resistance implies that a higher insulin concentration in the blood is needed to obtain the same BG lowering effect. You could also say that the insulin sensitivity is decreased. The decreased effect of insulin is caused by a restrained transport of glucose through the cellular wall when the BG level is high. The decreased uptake of glucose into the cells can be caused by a consriction of the blood vessels, resulting in a decreased blood flow. Insulin resistance will, in this sense, be a defence for the insulin-sensitive cells that are prvented from taking up to much glucose. These cells will not be exposed to glucose toxicity and will therefore not be affected by the long term complications of diabetes. The cells that are not dependent on insulin for their glucose uptake (e.g. the eyes, kidneys and nerves) will, on the other hand, have a high uptake of glucose. This will expose them to glucose toxicity leading to long term complications.
If your BG level has been high for a short period only (just for a day, for example) such as during an infection, your body will require higher insulin doses to acheive the same BG lowering effect. A meal of a given size and composition will accordingly need a higher dose of insulin than usual. This increased insulin need may continue for a week or so after the infection has subsided if you BG level has been high for a longer period of time. Some people have noted higher BG levels during periods when the pollen count is high if they have hay fever. This may be because they are less active while suffering from pollen allergy.
After some time with high insulin doses (and normal BG levels) you will start to experience hypoglycaemia, even though you have not changed either your insulin doses or the amount of food you eat. The body's sensitivity to insulin will change when the BG level is low, and the same insulin concentration in the blood will now lower the BG more effectivley, resulting in a lower dose of insulin for the same meal. As you experience this you will learn to decrease your insulin doses slightly as a preventative measure when you BG levels have been normal for a day or two (or up to a week depending on individual differences), thus preventing hypoglycaemia.
Compare your BG level with a thermostat that regulates the central heating in the house. If the thermostat is adjusted to 20c (68f) more energy will be needed to maintain this temperature if the outside temperature is colder than usual. In the same way, more insulin will be needed to keep the BG at the same level when insulin resistance is high. If the BG level has been high for a while, the ''glucostat'' will adjust and you will start having hypoglycaemia at a higher BG level than before. If you have had very low BG levels for sometime, the glucostat will readjust in the oposite direction and you will not experience hypoglycaemia until your BG level is very low.
Weight gain increases insulin resistance while weight loss decreases it. This is one of the reasons why it is difficult to maintain a normal BG level if you are overweight. Male pattern obesity (''apple fatness'') is particularly likely to increase insulin resistance. Other factors can also contribute to the level of insulin resistance.
Increased levels if stress hormones (adrenaline, noradrenaline) will reduce insulin resistance that develops with in 5-10 minutes. Stress also causes release of cortisol, which increases insulin resistance within hours.
During puberty, an increase in the secretion of growth hormone raise the BG level. This causes a resistance to insulin that contributes to the need for increased insulin doses during this time.
Smoking leads to an increasedd insulin resistance because nicotine decreases the uptake of glucose to the tissues of the body.
Regular exercise (at least every other day) leads to a decrease in insulin resistance that lasts between exercise sessions, while inactivity (for instance caused by being bed ridden) gives an increased resistance in days. Active atheletes, for example, need to lower all their insulin doses considerably. When the training season is over, doses are likely to need considerable adjustments upwards if higher BG levels are to be avoided. Sometimes 30-50% more insulin will be needed during periods of reduced activity.
Sorry this is a long post...Hope it helps
Heidi
🙂