When the body cannot properly use insulin to convert sugar from one’s diet into usable energy within the body’s cells, this condition is commonly known as insulin resistance. High blood glucose levels along with high insulin levels in the bloodstream tend to result in those who have insulin resistance.
Insulin resistance often occurs years before the development of type 2 diabetes, which is associated with a large number of other serious health concerns such as kidney problems, impaired sight, heart disease and more in older adults. Type 2 diabetes affects nearly one-fourth of adults over the age of 60 in the United States, and that number is likely to increase in the future.
Risk Factors for Insulin Resistance & Pre-diabetes in Seniors
According to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC) October 2008 article entitled “Insulin Resistance and Pre-diabetes,” risks for insulin resistance include:
- Being overweight
- Increased Body Mass Index (BMI)
- Inactive lifestyle
- Hypertension
- HDL or “good” cholesterol levels less than 35 mg/dL
- Triglyceride levels higher than 250 mg/dL
- History of heart disease
- History of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- History of gestational diabetes (diabetes diagnosed while pregnant)
- Having a baby weighing more than 9 pounds at birth
Additional common risks and other facts about insulin resistance can be found in the article entitled “What is Insulin Resistance? Basic Facts and Tips for Prevention.”
According to a March 2007 article by Andrea Howard et al in AIDS entitled “ Hepatitis C virus infection is associated with insulin resistance among older adults with or at risk of HIV infection,” several risks were associated with insulin resistance in a study involving 446 people without a history of diabetes mellitus who either had HIV or were at risk for HIV infection. In addition to the expected risks listed above and those related to family history and ethnicity, seniors with persistent hepatitis C infections were more likely to have insulin resistance.
Fat Distribution in Seniors and Insulin Resistance
According to the American Diabetes Association’s article by Dr. Kitt Mia Falk Peterson entitled “Mechanism of insulin resistance in aging,” a study is being conducted that may help scientists and healthcare providers determine more specific internal age-related factors for insulin resistance. Older adults tend to have a higher fat content in the muscles and liver when compared to younger people in general.
This higher fat content may block enzymes necessary for insulin to work properly. Even modest amounts of weight loss in obese individuals have been shown to improve a person’s ability to use insulin, perhaps because the liver becomes more lean. This study, which is projected to end in June 2013, seeks to look at potential differences in muscle mass and fat distribution comparing older and younger subjects to see if these internal differences may directly affect how the body can use insulin.
Insulin Resistance in Older Adults
Many seniors are high risk for the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. As expected, seniors who have risk factors such as a sedentary lifestyle, being obese, and having a family history of diabetes are more likely to have or to develop insulin resistance. Many other risks, such as hepatitis C infection, may be easily overlooked in the senior population. Current and future studies may be able to determine if normal changes in aging, such as fat distribution in the liver, may also play a role in an older adult’s risk for developing insulin resistance and diabetes.
Readers may also wish to read a series of informative articles with specific information regarding prevention, risks, barriers and options for treatment, and much more about pre-diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes in “Diabetes Information That Could Save a Life…Even if You Don’t Have Diabetes.”
This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice.
Katrena Wells - Katrena Wells is a RN in NC with 17 1/2 years of experience in oncology, an educator since 1995, and has taught exercise classes since ...
Join the Conversation