Symptoms of Insulin Resistance and PCOS
(Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) can vary widely from woman to woman,
ranging from being a cause of infertility to excess weight
gain or obesity. They can also include Hirsutism (excessive facial or body
hair), Alopecia (male pattern hair loss), obesity, acne, skin tags, Acanthosis
Nigricans (brown skin patches), high cholesterol levels, exhaustion or
lack of mental alertness, decreased sex drive and excess male hormones
like testosterone, as well as sleep apnea ( breathing problems during sleeping)
and thyroid trouble.
 Insulin
Resistance is a root cause of PCOS. It is a direct link to the weight gain so often seen in women
with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Insulin is the hormone responsible for
allowing glucose, or blood sugar, to be absorbed by the cells of the body,
where it is converted to energy. If you are Insulin Resistant your cells
react sluggishly to insulin. When you eat a meal, whether it's steak, fish
or vegetables, the body breaks it down into a usable energy form, namely
glucose.
In a simplified explanation, the food you consume becomes sugar that will
be transported to the tissues, muscles and organs of the body via the blood
stream. Following a meal, particularly one that is high in carbohydrates,
you will have elevated levels of glucose in the blood stream, which signal
the pancreas to release even more insulin until the excess glucose is absorbed
by the cells.
When you are Insulin Resistant, excessive amounts of free-floating glucose
remain in the blood stream, until it is sent to the liver and converted
to excess body fat. In addition, hyperinsulinemia (elevated insulin in
the blood) encourages your liver to produce even more than normal fatty
substances called triglycerides which are directly related to a greater
risk of heart disease
Insulin Resistance promotes fat storage because glucose cannot properly
enter the cells to be used as energy. Elevated levels of insulin in the
blood stream cause a series of biochemical reactions with wide-ranging
consequences that can lead to a variety of other serious health conditions,
such as coronary heart disease, hypertension, Diabetes and some cancers.
| "Strolling can help obese adults burn
more calories per mile than brisk walking and might even lower
the risk of arthritis and injuries to the joints than picking up
the pace."
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MSNBC: Slow walking best
for obese adults |
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The interactions of Insulin Resistance, PCOS and obesity are complex and
still under medical review. Many scientists believe that this is a case
of the "chicken or the egg" - Insulin Resistance contributes
to obesity and is an underlying cause of PCOS, but obesity in turn worsens
Insulin Resistance, which then has an effect on the development of Polycystic
Ovarian Syndrome.
The American Heart Association recommends that health care professionals "routinely
monitor body weight (especially the index for central obesity), blood glucose,
lipoproteins and blood pressure; treat individuals' risk factors ...and
carefully choose anti-hypertensive drugs because different agents have
different effects on insulin sensitivity."
| Benefits of 10% weight loss |
| Mortality |
- >20% decrease in total mortality
- >30% decrease in diabetes related deaths
- >40% decrease in obesity related cancers
|
| Blood pressure |
- fall of 10 mmHg systolic
- fall of 20 mmHg diastolic
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| Diabetes |
- 30 - 50% fall in fasting glucose
- 50% fall in risk of diabetes developing
- 15% decrease in HbA1c
|
| Lipids |
- 10% decrease in total cholesterol
- 15% decrease in LDL cholesterol
- 30% decrease in triglycerides
- 8% increase in HDL cholesterol
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Helping Patients, PatientPlus |
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Because there is no single solution that addresses all the symptoms
of PCOS or Insulin Resistance, you must rely on a multi-faceted approach
to reversing these conditions. We feel that what is needed is a complete system, including nutraceuticals
(vitamins, herbs and minerals that are disease specific), a realistic exercise
program, nutritional guidance and a support network that, together, can help you
change unhealthy lifestyle choices.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome ( PCOS) is often caused by Insulin
Resistance-related obesity. An ingredient of the Insulite
PCOS System called InsulX is primarily designed to help reverse Insulin
Resistance by increasing the number of insulin receptor sites on the cell
wall. This enables cells to accept glucose more efficiently for energy
and reduces circulating blood sugar - a major factor in weight gain.
You may be interested in some of our Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQs) about PCOS and the Insulite PCOS System.
Click
here to read about PCOS and Hormones
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