These 4 Symptoms Could Be Your Body’s First Warning of Insulin Resistance, Doctor Says - TODAY.com

What the report says

TODAY reported that insulin resistance can develop with few obvious signs and may appear before prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes is detected. NBC News medical reporter Dr. Akshay Syal, a board-certified internist at Atria Health & Research Institute in New York, told TODAY.com that the condition is often silent and can occur even when routine blood sugar measures are not yet abnormal.

The article explains that insulin helps move glucose from food into cells for energy. In insulin resistance, the body responds less effectively, prompting the pancreas to produce more insulin to keep blood sugar controlled. TODAY, citing the CDC and research, noted that this process can precede prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes and has also been associated in studies with conditions including heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease and cancer.

Syal said the signs he would watch for include dark, thickened skin patches in folds such as the armpits or back of the neck; skin tags; unexplained weight gain or a growing waistline, especially around the abdomen; and unusual fatigue or heaviness after meals. TODAY reported that people with obesity or higher visceral fat are at particular concern, though the CDC notes insulin resistance can also affect people at normal weight.

For evaluation, Syal said fasting blood sugar, insulin levels and A1C trends may offer clues, though there is no widely available definitive test. He said continuous glucose monitors may help some people understand food responses, but warned they can create anxiety and should be interpreted with a trusted clinician. TODAY reported that exercise, weight loss when appropriate, fiber-rich foods and low-glycemic choices can help improve insulin resistance.