There is a deep connection between high BP and sugar

April 13,Kathmandu.Everything is going well in life, you are not suffering from any problem. You seem to be fine, but in the routine checkup, if the doctor tells you that your blood pressure is high, then you may be a little surprised. Even more shocking is that if your BP is high, then there is a high possibility that your blood sugar will also be high. Actually, high blood pressure is directly connected to insulin resistance, due to which type-2 diabetes can also occur.

Now you may have this question in your mind that why does insulin resistance increase? There can be many reasons behind this. For example, this can happen due to high BP or fatty liver. In all these conditions, the body's metabolism can be affected. Due to which insulin stops working properly and gradually blood sugar starts increasing.

What is insulin resistance?

Our body uses glucose for energy, which we get from food. A hormone called insulin does the job of delivering this glucose to the cells.

Why does insulin resistance raise blood sugar?

Dr.  says that when the cells of our body do not open easily with the key called insulin, then the cells are not able to take in glucose easily. As a result, glucose i.e. sugar keeps accumulating in the blood. When a blood test is done, more sugar is found in it.

Under what conditions can insulin resistance increase?

Dr. says that insulin resistance does not only increase due to excess sugar intake or obesity, but some health conditions can also trigger it. Due to some diseases, the efficiency of insulin can be affected. It is also possible that our cells are not as sensitive to insulin as before.

Understand in detail why insulin resistance increases due to all these conditions-

Low estrogen levels

Estrogen is a hormone that helps control blood sugar, especially in women. If estrogen levels fall due to menopause or hormonal imbalance, cells become lax in recognizing insulin. Due to this, insulin resistance can increase and weight also increases rapidly.

Fatty Liver

When excess fat accumulates in the liver, it reduces the body's sensitivity to insulin. People with fatty liver are at higher risk of type 2 diabetes because their liver cannot process insulin signals properly.

menopause

After menopause, women's bodies go through hormonal changes, especially a drop in estrogen and progesterone. Both of these hormones help insulin function properly. When their levels decrease, it becomes difficult to control blood sugar, which can lead to insulin resistance.

High blood pressure

There is a deep connection between high BP and insulin resistance. When blood pressure is high, the arteries start hardening, which reduces blood flow in the body and reduces the effect of insulin. In such a situation, insulin is not able to work properly and sugar starts accumulating in the blood.

Hypothyroidism

When the thyroid gland becomes sluggish and the body starts producing less thyroid hormone, the metabolism slows down. This leads to weight gain, insulin resistance and blood sugar is not under control. This is the reason why people with hypothyroidism have a higher risk of diabetes.

Common questions and answers related to insulin resistance

If BP is high then can diabetes occur?

Yes, there is a direct link between high blood pressure and insulin resistance. When your BP is high, the arteries can become narrow and stiff, affecting blood circulation in the body. In this condition, the effectiveness of insulin decreases, and the cells are unable to take up glucose properly. As a result, sugar starts accumulating in the blood and the risk of type-2 diabetes increases.

How to reduce insulin resistance?

To reduce insulin resistance, some changes in habits are necessary:

Control your weight- If you are overweight then try to reduce your weight gradually.

Exercise daily – brisk walking, cycling, yoga or any physical activity makes the body cells more sensitive to insulin.

Follow a healthy diet- Include fiber-rich foods, green vegetables, nuts, and healthy fats in your diet. Avoid sugar and processed foods.

Reduce stress- Taking too much stress increases the cortisol hormone, which can further increase insulin resistance. It can be controlled through meditation, yoga and good sleep.

Can insulin resistance cause diabetes?

Yes, if insulin resistance persists for a long time, it can slowly turn into type-2 diabetes. Initially, the body tries to control sugar by producing more insulin, but when the pancreas becomes unable to produce more insulin, the blood sugar level starts increasing and diabetes occurs. Therefore, it is very important to control insulin resistance in time.

How can insulin resistance be detected?

Its symptoms may be very mild in the beginning, but there are some signs to look out for:

If you are seeing these symptoms then consult a doctor and get tested.

Can insulin resistance still occur if I am not overweight?

Yes, being overweight is a reason, but not the only reason.

Some people look slim but the visceral fat in their body can increase insulin resistance. Also, reasons like fatty liver, high BP and hormonal imbalance can also trigger it.