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Insulin resistance is another name for metabolic syndrome
which describes a mix of health conditions which may
have one common link, that is, a heightened risk of having
diabetes and early heart related illnesses.

The significance of the nexus of health conditions that
comprise the insulin resistance syndrome is it places an
individual at risk of developing type 2 diabetes and
atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). It is estimated
that about 70 to 80 million Americans have the
combination of diseases attributable to insulin resistance.

Following regular intake and digestion of food, it is
assimilated into the blood stream in the form of sugars,
primarily glucose along with other basic substances.
The ensuing rise in blood glucose levels signals the
pancreas (a body organ situated behind the stomach)
to boost its secretion of the hormone insulin. Insulin’s
primary function is to facilitate transferring glucose
from the bloodstream in to the cells and tissues of the
body so that it can be utilized for energy.

In insulin resistance, the body's cells have a diminished
ability to respond to the action of the insulin hormone.
Blood sugar then accumulates which triggers the
pancreas to secrete more insulin. Insulin resistance
develops when cells “resist” the action of the hormone
insulin to transfer glucose into the cells of the body for
energy metabolism. This syndrome could be the reasons
for insulin resistance which is characterized by high
levels of insulin in the blood as a marker of the disease
instead of a cause.

As time passes people who have insulin resistance
begin to develop high sugars or type 2 diabetes because
the high blood insulin levels is unable to compensate for
elevated sugars.

Conditions attributable to insulin resistance syndrome
consist of the following:

• Obesity
  
• Type 2 diabetes
  
• High blood pressure
  
• Abnormal levels of cholesterol
  
• Heart disease
  
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome