TO DETERMINE IF YOU HAVE BELLY WEIGHT:
waist in inches________ divided by hip size in inches__________ equals:______________
If the answer is greater than 1.0 for men and 0.8 for women, this is central obesity; otherwise called metabolic obesity as there is too much weight around the waist.
If the answer to the waist in inches is greater than 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women, this is also indicative of belly weight.
DO YOU HAVE HYPERTENSION OR TAKE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATION?
What is your blood pressure reading? TOP NUMBER (SYSTOLIC):__________________
BOTTOM NUMBER (DIASTOLIC):____________
If the top number is greater than 140 or the bottom number is greater than 90 you have at least borderline hypertension.
Half of all people with high blood pressure are estimated to have insulin resistance as the cause.
**In combination with diabetes, the goal is to have even lower blood pressure numbers. The goal is 120 over 80 or less.
Do you have high triglycerides and low HDL-cholesterol (the "good" cholesterol)?
Triglycerides are a type of fat found in the bloodstream. Generally 1/5 of the triglyceride number is part of the total cholesterol number. If you have high cholesterol, you should find out if it is from high levels of triglycerides. Triglycerides over 200 are agreed by all to be too high, with over 1000 drastically increasing the chance for a severe case of pancreatitis and over 2000 dangerously high risk for heart attack or stroke.
Low levels of HDL-cholesterol, otherwise called the "good cholesterol" is a strong indicator of insulin resistance. An HDL cholesterol level of under 35 is another risk factor for heart disease and is part of the insulin resistance syndrome, especially if found in conjunction with high triglycerides and other correlates of insulin resistance such as belly weight and diabetes or a family history of diabetes.
Gout is a painful condition due to a build-up of uric acid. A simple and routine blood test can tell you if you have high levels of uric acid. The actual condition of gout is extremely painful due to the build-up of uric acid crystals in joints, especially of the feet. Gout is another strong indicator of insulin resistance.
It is not understood exactly how insulin resistance affects the build-up of uric acid. It is probably due to excess production of insulin which is found with the insulin resistance syndrome. It is currently treated by medication and occasionally avoidance of purines in the diet such as found in whole sardines and legumes. Whether these foods, which generally lessen insulin resistance, will one day be found to be harmless waits to be seen.
Do you have type 2 (adult-onset) diabetes?
If you have had two fasting blood sugar readings over 126 (mg/dl), you by definition have diabetes. Type 2 diabetes means you primarily have body cells that resist the use of your natural insulin. If you have diabetes and have the other correlates of insulin resistance such as belly weight, high triglycerides, hypertension, and gout then there is no question, you have type 2 diabetes. If you have type 2 diabetes and are taking insulin, you may be able to stop or at least reduce the amount of insulin you need by injection. This is not true for Type 1 diabetes.
If you have high-normal blood sugars above 100 (mg/dl), officially over 110, you have impaired glucose tolerance and are at risk of developing diabetes.
Do you have symptoms of hypoglycemia?
If you have a family history of diabetes and you experience symptoms of hypoglycemia with hunger such as physical tremors, muscle weakness, irritability, lightheadedness, and difficulty concentrating or a headache, you may be overproducing insulin due to having insulin resistance. The first goal is to help prevent symptoms of hypoglycemia by eating several small meals. Managing hypoglycemia may help you from developing heart disease or diabetes. If you are experiencing hypoglycemia and are taking insulin or diabetes pills, you must raise the blood sugar immediately with liquid sugar such as with 4 oz. orange juice and then retest the blood sugar to make sure it is back into the normal range (70 to 110).
Your family history of heart disease may be related to hyperinsulinemia or "excess insulin in the blood." Insulin resistance at the body cells promotes the over production of insulin. It is now believed that hyperinsulinemia helps the buildup of plaque inside the blood vessels -- sort of like the "gunk" that builds up in your kitchen sink. We know that people with diabetes have an increased risk of heart disease. But heart disease often precedes the diagnosis of diabetes. Having risk factors of insulin resistance such as central obesity and a family history of heart disease likely means you need to avoid excess amounts of carbohydrate such as found in desserts and beverages high in sugar. Hard fats such as butter and meat fat should be kept minimal but a type of fat known as monounsaturated fat, found in olive oil and most nuts, can help prevent or manage heart disease caused by hyperinsulinemia.
This condition is recognized to be correlated with insulin resistance. It is helpful to manage this syndrome the same way type 2 diabetes is managed: keep the carbohydrates low (but not too low) with a moderate amount of fat primarily in the form of monounsaturated fats.