Medical Guides

What is Body Mass Index (BMI)?

It is the ratio of weight in kg to square of height in meters.
It is used for assessment of ideal weight.

BMI = Weight in kg /Height in metres2

Good: 20 – 23        Fair: 23 – 25        Poor: > 25

What is Insulin Resistance?

Insulin resistance is a condition in which, insulin produces less than normal response in the cells. This reduces glucose entry into the tissues. Insulin resistance is harmful as it leads to enhanced atherosclerosis, hypertension as well as abnormal lipid profile. Obese persons frequently develop insulin resistance. It is a part of the dysmetabolic syndrome.
* Fasting hyperinsulinaetnia in the presence of a normal or elevated blood glucose level implies insulin resistance.

*Insulin resistance does not have any specific symptoms.

*It is present in large number of type 2 diabetes.

What are the Problems due to High Insulin Levels?

* Increased Insulin level increase the conversion of dietary calories into fat, as it stimulates the secretion of an enzyme which increases the intake of fat from the blood stream into the body fat.

* Increased Insulin level increase the cholesterol levels: Insulin stimulates the liver to produce more cholesterol.

* Increased Insulin level increase the proliferation and growth of arterial smooth cells: This narrows the arteries leading to high blood pressure and ischemia (reduced blood supply to the muscles of the heart).

* Increased Insulin level increases the activity of the sympathetic nervous system leading to a situation similar to increased stress levels.

* Increased Insulin level increases the deposition of fat in the upper body increasing the visceral or central obesity.

As insulin resistance is the root cause of some of the common clinical disorders like obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels, it is important to reduce insulin resistance. This can be done by:

I. Weight loss
2.Exercise
3.Dietary modifications
4.Controlling the blood sugar levels
5.Controlling the blood pressure
6. Controlling the cholesterol levels.