Cells That Stop Responding Well

Insulin resistance means your cells do not answer insulin as well as they should. Insulin is a signal. It tells cells to take in blood sugar.

Think of insulin as a key and each cell as a locked door. With insulin resistance, the lock is stiff. The key still fits, but the door opens more slowly.

So blood sugar stays in your blood longer, even with insulin there.

Muscle, fat, and liver cells can all answer insulin less well.

Muscle and fat cells take sugar out of the blood. Liver cells store sugar for later. When these cells respond slowly, less sugar leaves the blood.

So blood sugar stays in your blood longer. This can happen even when insulin is present.

Insulin resistance is common in type 2 diabetes and prediabetes. It can build for years before anyone notices.

The pancreas, a gland near your stomach, makes extra insulin to keep up. That extra effort can keep blood sugar near normal for a time.

So a normal reading does not always mean cells respond well. Ask your doctor if this worries you.

Key takeaways

• Insulin resistance means cells answer insulin's signal less well than they should.
• Muscle, fat, and liver cells can all be affected.
• It is a common feature of type 2 diabetes and prediabetes, and it can build for years.

Try it

Find your last blood sugar result and note the date. Bring it to your next visit.