Insulin Resistance Symptoms & Diagnosis

Symptoms

Except for obesity, there are no obvious symptoms. Those who are obese may have the following symptoms and signs:

• Sleep apnea
• Back or knee pain
• Shortness of breath
• Reduced exercise tolerance
• Fatigue
• Central obesity
• Elevated blood pressure

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about your medical history. A physical exam will be done.

Your doctor may order lab tests such as:

• Blood tests to measure:
  • Fasting blood sugar levels (glucose) or a two-hour post-glucose challenge blood sugar level
  • Fasting insulin
  • Triglyceride level
  • HDL cholesterol level
• C Reactive Protein, especially highly sensitive CRP
• Blood pressure
• Calculation of body mass index (BMI) from weight and height
• Calculation of the 10 year risk of cardiovascular disease

You may be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome if you have at least three of the following measures:

• Waist measurement—greater than 40 inches in Caucasian men (35 inches in Asian men) or 35 inches in Caucasian women (30 inches in Asian women)
• Fasting blood sugar (glucose)—greater than or equal to 100 mg/dL* (5.55 mmol/L)
• Serum triglycerides—greater than or equal to 150 mg/dL (1.7 mmol/L)
• Serum HDL (“good”) cholesterol—less than 40 mg/dL (1.0 mmol/L) in men and less than 50 mg/dL (1.3 mmol/L) in women
• Blood pressure—greater than or equal to 130/85 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg)