What is insulin resistance?

Insulin resistance occurs when the body's cells do not respond effectively to insulin. In a healthy state, insulin facilitates the uptake of glucose from the bloodstream into cells, where it can be used for energy. However, in insulin resistance, the cells fail to respond properly to insulin, leading to an ineffective glucose uptake.

This inability of the cells to respond means that the pancreas tries to compensate by producing more insulin, which can ultimately lead to higher levels of insulin in the blood and may result in conditions such as prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. In summary, this concept is crucial for understanding metabolic health as it highlights the dysfunctional relationship between insulin and the cells that should be utilizing it.