Hormonal
Insulin resistance (IR) is a central pathophysiological mechanism that drives the development and progression of multiple metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and certain cancers.
Insulin resistance is not just a blood sugar issue; it is a systemic driver of chronic disease. Addressing it through lifestyle changes (exercise, diet) or medications (like metformin or GLP-1 agonists) can potentially improve multiple health outcomes at once, including heart health, liver health, and diabetes management. Prioritizing insulin sensitivity is a high-leverage strategy for overall metabolic health.
Insulin resistance (IR) plays a crucial role in the development and progression of metabolism-related diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, tumors, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and provides the basis for a common understanding of these chronic diseases.
Why this rating
The paper is a comprehensive review citing numerous epidemiological and clinical studies, though it does not present new primary experimental data.
Source
The crucial role and mechanism of insulin resistance in metabolic disease
Xuefei Zhao et al. · Frontiers in Endocrinology · 2023
DOI 10.3389/fendo.2023.1149239
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- Obesity, particularly central/visceral obesity, is a primary cause of insulin resistance through mechanisms involving increased free fatty acids, chronic inflammation, and adipokine dysregulation.Good
- Chronic low-grade inflammation, driven by obesity and characterized by elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-6, CRP), directly interferes with insulin signaling pathways, contributing to insulin resistance.Good
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