Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. It gives cells the ability to absorb sugar from the blood stream and then use it as energy. People who are insulin resistant can produce adequate amounts of insulin but are unable to use it effectively. As a result, they begin to store their sugar as fat instead of as energy. All cells in the body naturally have insulin receptors and this is how the hormone can target and mobilize the sugar available. When a person carries excess fat, the insulin receptors become blocked making it harder to utilize the hormone. The cells then cannot sense the insulin and as a result the pancreas is told to produce more, causing additional stress to the organ. This is referred to as Insulin Resistance. If untreated, the pancreas will fail and will not be able to produce any insulin. This is commonly referred to as Type 2 diabetes. Once a person’s pancreas has failed it is impossible to lower their blood sugar naturally and external sources of insulin will be needed to survive.
