Insulin: Major Causes Of Resistance And Why

Inactivity

Exercise is one of the best ways to eliminate insulin resistance because exercise stimulates muscle tissue to burn fat. Exercise also allows muscle groups to absorb glucose from the blood without the help of insulin. A 2008 study found even a short bout of exercise increases an individual's glucose uptake through a mechanism that bypasses normal insulin signaling defects. The downside is these effects wear off after forty-eight hours; therefore, exercise needs to be done consistently to be effective. Most experts state getting at least thirty minutes of moderate to intense exercise five times a week is sufficient to maintain a healthy body.

Vitamin D Deficiency

In the past, low vitamin D levels in the blood have been linked to obesity, but recent research shows vitamin D may also play a role in diabetes and, thus, insulin resistance. One study showed regardless of weight, individuals with low vitamin D levels were at an increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome, prediabetes, and type two diabetes, which can all play some role in how the patient's body deals with insulin. Another study showed the progression of diabetes in pre-diabetic individuals went down by eight percent for every unit increase in vitamin D levels. Eating a healthy diet and getting plenty of exercise outdoors is a good way to increase vitamin D levels.