Insulin Resistance

Treatment

Treatment of insulin resistance primarily involves changes in diet and lifestyle. This life style and dietary change will include losing excess weight, taking regular amounts of moderate-intensity physical activity, and increasing dietary fibre to lower blood insulin levels and increase the body’s sensitivity to it. Weight loss and exercise can:

• Decrease blood pressure levels
• Increase insulin sensitivity (ie decrease insulin resistance)
• Decrease triglyceride and LDL cholesterol levels
• Raise HDL cholesterol levels (with regular exercise)  

Patients who are identified by their doctors as having insulin resistance should work with their doctor and with other medical professionals to develop an individualised treatment plan and to monitor its effectiveness. Drug treatments may also be necessary to control any existing, underlying, associated conditions and diseases.