The key difference between insulin resistance and prediabetes is that insulin resistance is a condition where the cells in the muscles, fat, and liver do not respond to insulin that regulates blood glucose sugar levels, while prediabetes is a condition where the blood sugar level is higher than the normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes.
Insulin resistance and prediabetes are two conditions associated with diabetes. Insulin resistance occurs when cells in the body do not respond to insulin properly. The human body will try to make up for insulin resistance. However, over time, the pancreas may no longer be able to produce enough insulin to overcome insulin resistance. This will lead to prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Insulin Resistance
3. What is Prediabetes
4. Similarities – Insulin Resistance and Prediabetes
5. Insulin Resistance vs Prediabetes in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Insulin Resistance vs Prediabetes
What is Insulin Resistance?
Insulin resistance occurs when cells in the body do not respond properly to insulin. Insulin resistance may be a temporary or chronic condition. In addition to prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance is also associated with several other conditions like obesity, cardiovascular disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, metabolic syndrome, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Insulin resistance can be caused by acquired factors (excess body fat, physical inability, diet and certain medications), hormonal disorders (Cushing’s syndrome, acromegaly and hypothyroidism), and genetic conditions (type A insulin resistance syndrome, Rabson-Mendenhall syndrome, and Donohue syndrome). The symptoms of insulin resistance include increased thirst, frequent urination, increased hunger, blurred vision, headaches, vaginal and skin infections, slow healing cuts and soles, darkened skin in the armpit or back and sides of the neck, skin tags and eye changes leading to diabetes-related retinopathy.
Figure 01: Insulin Resistance
Moreover, insulin resistance can be diagnosed through medical history, family history, physical exams, and blood tests (glucose tolerance test, glycated hemoglobin A1c, and lipid panel. Furthermore, treatment options for insulin resistance may include eating a healthy diet, physical activity, losing excess weight, and medications for coexisting conditions (blood pressure medication, metformin for diabetes, and statins to lower LDL cholesterol).
What is Prediabetes?
Prediabetes is a medical condition where the blood sugar level is higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. Therefore, prediabetes is a warning sign of type 2 diabetes. This condition affects 1 in 10 American adults. Prediabetes does not normally have any signs and symptoms except for darkened skin on certain parts of the body, including the neck, armpits, and groin. However, when it moves to type 2 diabetes, the signs and symptoms may include increased thirst, frequent urination, increased hunger, fatigue, blurred vision, numbness, frequent infections, slow-healing sores, and unintended weight loss. Moreover, the exact cause of prediabetes is not known. But family history and genetics may appear as major factors.
Figure 02: Heart Disease Risk Factors
Prediabetes can be diagnosed through blood tests such as glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test, fasting blood sugar test, oral glucose tolerance test, and prediabetes tests for children. Furthermore, treatment options for prediabetes may include eating healthy foods, being more active, losing excess weight, stopping smoking, and taking medications (metformin (Glumetza), medications to control cholesterol and high blood pressure).
What are the Similarities Between Insulin Resistance and Prediabetes?
- Insulin resistance and prediabetes are two conditions that are associated with diabetes.
- Insulin resistance triggers the development of prediabetes.
- Genetics may play a big role in developing both conditions.
- Both conditions can be diagnosed through physical examination and blood tests.
- They are treated through lifestyle changes and specific medications.
What is the Difference Between Insulin Resistance and Prediabetes?
Insulin resistance is a condition where the cells in the muscles, fat, and liver do not respond to insulin, which regulates blood glucose sugar levels, while prediabetes is a condition where the blood sugar level is higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. Thus, this is the key difference between insulin resistance and prediabetes. Furthermore, insulin resistance can be caused by acquired factors (excess body fat, physical inability, diet and certain medications), hormonal disorders (Cushing’s syndrome, acromegaly and hypothyroidism), and genetic conditions (type A insulin resistance syndrome, Rabson-Mendenhall syndrome, and Donohue syndrome). On the other hand, prediabetes can be caused by family history and genetics.
The below infographic presents the differences between insulin resistance and prediabetes in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Insulin Resistance vs Prediabetes
Insulin resistance and prediabetes are two associated conditions. This is because insulin resistance triggers the development of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. However, insulin resistance is a condition where the cells in the muscles, fat, and liver do not respond to insulin which is the hormone that regulates blood glucose sugar levels, while prediabetes is a condition where the blood sugar level is higher than the normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. So, this is the summary of the difference between insulin resistance and prediabetes.
Reference:
1. “Insulin Resistance: What It Is, Causes, Symptoms & Treatment.” Cleveland Clinic.
2. “Prediabetes.” Mayo Clinic.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Diabetes and insulin resistance” (Public Domain) Openclipart.org
2. “Heart Disease Risk Factor Infographics – Diabetes and Prediabetes” By NIH Image Gallery (CC BY-NC 2.0) via Flickr