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Poor eating habits, being overweight and taking too
little exercise can cause insulin resistance.
Wolfgang Wesiack, president of the German BDI association of internists,
advises switching from simple carbohydrates like sugar and white flour
to their complex cousins contained in whole-meal products, fruit and
vegetables.
These foods cause a slower and more gradual rise in blood sugar, so that
the body does not have to produce as much insulin in one go.
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Regular exercise is also important to delay insensitivity to insulin or
prevent it, the medical specialist says. Around 45 minutes of exercise a
day are ideal, implying that a full exercise training schedule is not
absolutely essential.
Brisk walks, climbing stairs and riding a bicycle are all activities
that could provide sufficient exercise.
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Insulin resistance can arise if a patient takes in large quantities of
food and drink with high sugar but little other nutritional content and
takes little exercise.
According to the BDI, this causes a rise in the blood sugar level, and
the pancreas has to produce a correspondingly higher level of insulin.
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This constant overload can lead to the body becoming insensitive to
insulin, and this is the precursor to Type 2 diabetes. However, a recent
BDI study indicates that normalising the blood sugar values can protect
against diabetes. |