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Medical Author:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Medical Editor:

Robert Ferry Jr., MD

Robert Ferry Jr., MD

Robert Ferry Jr., MD, is a U.S. board-certified Pediatric Endocrinologist. After taking his baccalaureate degree from Yale College, receiving his doctoral degree and residency training in pediatrics at University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA), he completed fellowship training in pediatric endocrinology at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

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In this Article

• Insulin resistance facts
• What is insulin resistance?
• What causes insulin resistance?
• What is the relationship between insulin resistance and diabetes?
• What medical conditions are associated with insulin resistance?
• Who is at risk for insulin resistance?
• How is insulin resistance diagnosed?
• How is insulin resistance managed?
• Lifestyle changes (diet, weight loss, exercise)
• Medications
• What's new in insulin resistance?
• Patient Comments: Insulin Resistance - Symptoms
• Patient Comments: Insulin Resistance - Describe Your Experience
• Find a local Endocrinologist in your town
• Insulin Resistance Index

Individuals are more likely to have or develop insulin resistance if he or she:

• is overweight with a body mass index (BMI) more than 25 kg/m2. You can calculate your BMI by taking your weight (in kilograms) and dividing twice by your height (in meters).
• is a man with a waist more than 40 inches or a woman with a waist more than 35 inches
• is over 40 years of age
• is of Latino, African American, Native American or Asian American ancestry
• has close family members have type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or arteriosclerosis
• has had gestational diabetes
• has has a history of high blood pressure, high blood triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, arteriosclerosis (or other components of the metabolic syndrome)
• has polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
• displays acanthosis nigricans

A trained health care practitioner can identify individuals likely to have insulin resistance by taking a detailed history, performing a physical examination, and simple laboratory testing based on individual risk factors.

In general practice, the fasting blood glucose and insulin levels are usually adequate to determine whether insulin resistance and/or diabetes is present. The exact insulin level for diagnosis varies by assay (by laboratory). However, a fasting insulin level above the upper quartile in a non-diabetic patient is considered abnormal.