Alyssa had no symptoms of insulin resistance except perhaps that she is a little overweight and has trouble losing weight. I got the test mainly because I have been talking to Dr. Debbie Merke and she told me that some kids with CAH seem to have insulin resistance. She will be starting a clinical trial soon at NIH (our grants to NIH will support this) looking at insulin resistance in kids with CAH and treating them with metformin. I have learned that you can’t tell without the fasting glucose tolerance test (a small number of people with insulin resistance will have a dark, velvety plague or skin tags on the nape of the neck) whether a person is insulin resistant. So, I thought better safe than sorry. I did not really expect it to come up positive. We have our appointment next week and I’ll talk to her doctor about it in depth. I know that it is NOT good and can lead to long term health problems. I also know that it means she will always have trouble with her weight (a side effect of insulin resistance). I am just so sad and upset for her.

FYI. I had my knee surgery (surgery #2 this month!) and am recovering well. thanks for all of your good wishes.

 

I found this info below:

What is insulin resistance?
Insulin resistance occurs when the normal amount of insulin secreted by the pancreas is not able to unlock the door to cells.  To maintain a normal blood glucose, the pancreas secretes additional insulin.  In some cases (about 1/3 of the people with insulin resistance), when the body cells resist or do not respond to even high levels of insulin, glucose builds up in the blood resulting in high blood glucose or type 2 diabetes.  Even people with diabetes who take oral medication or require insulin injections to control their blood glucose levels can have higher than normal blood insulin levels due to insulin resistance.

 What are the symptoms of insulin resistance?
There are no outward physical signs of insulin resistance.  A glucose tolerance test, during which insulin and blood glucose are measured, can help determine if someone is insulin resistant.  Many people who are insulin resistant produce large enough quantities of insulin to maintain near normal blood glucose levels.

 Do all people with insulin resistance develop diabetes?
No.  Science has not yet determined why some people with insulin resistance eventually develop diabetes and others do not.  By maintaining an appropriate weight and a physically active lifestyle many individuals are able to reduce their chances of becoming insulin resistant and developing diabetes.

 Why is insulin resistance in the news?
More and more people in the U.S. are becoming obese, physically inactive, or both.  Obesity and physical inactivity aggravate insulin resistance.  Also, people who are insulin resistant typically have an imbalance in their blood lipids (blood fat).  They have an increased level of triglycerides (blood fat) and a decreased level of HDL (good) cholesterol.  Imbalances in triglycerides and HDL cholesterol increase the risk for heart disease.  These findings have heightened awareness of insulin resistance and its impact on health.

 

Best,

Kelly Leight