Difference Between Diabetes and Insulin Resistance

Diabetes and insulin resistance are two related conditions that affect the body's ability to regulate blood sugar levels. While they share some similarities, they are also different in many ways.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a disorder in which the level of blood glucose is too high because of problems with the pancreas or how body cells react to insulin.

Causes − There are a couple of causative factors that can result in the development of diabetes. Diabetes type 2 is usually caused by living an unhealthy lifestyle which includes not exercising and not eating healthy food. Gestational diabetes is caused sometimes by being pregnant and diabetes type 1 is caused by an autoimmune response in which the body attacks the cells that produce insulin.

Diagnosis − Diagnosis of diabetes relies on various blood sugar tests. A person can have an A1C test of blood sugar in which you do not need to fast, but it is better to have either glucose tolerance testing or fasting sugar tests as these are more accurate. A fasting test involves a patient not eating for the night before the test is administered and then the blood sugar is measured. A result of greater than 100 mg/dL on the fasting test and a value of 200 mg/dL or higher on the tolerance test is diagnostic for diabetes. An A1C test result of 6.5% or more may indicate diabetes.

Symptoms − Some of the symptoms, if you are diabetic, are increased hunger and thirst, problems with your eyesight, fatigue, nausea and a fruity odor on the breath. Sometime people also have symptoms of hypoglycemia as a result of the insulin treatment.

Diabetes Treatment − Treatment options may vary depending on what type of diabetes a person has. In some cases, exercise, weight loss and a change in diet can control blood sugar levels. In other cases, medications and injections of insulin may be needed in addition to a carefully controlled diet.

Complications − There are many problems caused by high blood sugar levels. Many organs can be damaged including the kidneys, eye, and heart. People often suffer nerve damage which means that they do not sense when they have an injury on an extremity. This means that sores and abscesses are common and these can become gangrenous resulting in limb amputation. Diabetes can cause ketoacidosis that can result in patients falling into a comatose state. Death from diabetes and its complications can occur.

What is Insulin Resistance?

Insulin resistance is the condition that occurs when your body does not react how it should to insulin, and your cells have difficulty taking in the sugar from the blood. People who are insulin resistant are often said to be in a state of prediabetes.

Causes − The condition of insulin resistance appears to be caused by a combination of factors including poor diet, being obese with a high body mass index (BMI) and a waist measurement of or in excess of 35 or 40 inches. Researchers have found that high levels of visceral fat as shown by waist circumference are more important than BMI in predicting the development of insulin resistance. Being inactive also seems to be a factor contributing to insulin resistance.

Diagnosis − Blood tests in which blood glucose is measured is the most effective way of detecting and diagnosing this condition. Oral glucose tolerance testing is particularly useful and a result of 140 to 199 mg/dL indicates the condition. An additional test for diagnosing this disorder is known as the A1C test, and this indicates insulin resistance if the values are 5.7 to 6.4%. A fasting blood sugar value of 100 mg/dL is also often a sign of prediabetes.

Symptoms − There are frequently no obvious symptoms to indicate that a person has insulin resistance. There may be, in some cases, a darkening of the skin in certain parts of the body such as the armpits or on parts of the neck.

Differences: Diabetes and Insulin resistance

One of the key differences between insulin resistance and diabetes is that insulin resistance is often a precursor to type 2 diabetes. In other words, if left untreated, insulin resistance can progress to diabetes. However, not everyone with insulin resistance will go on to develop diabetes.

Another difference between the two conditions is the severity of their symptoms. Insulin resistance may not cause any noticeable symptoms at all, or it may cause mild symptoms such as fatigue or difficulty losing weight. In contrast, diabetes can cause a range of symptoms including frequent urination, thirst, blurred vision, and slow wound healing.

Diagnosis of both conditions involves measuring blood sugar levels. Insulin resistance is typically diagnosed using a test called a fasting insulin level test or a glucose tolerance test. Diabetes is diagnosed using a blood glucose test, which measures the amount of glucose in the bloodstream.

Treatment for both conditions involves lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise, but may also include medications to help regulate blood sugar levels. In some cases, insulin therapy may be necessary to manage diabetes.

The following table highlights the major differences between Diabetes and Insulin Resistance −

Characteristics	Diabetes	Insulin Resistance
Definition	Diabetes is an illness that occurs in which a person’s blood sugar is excessively high due to cells being insulin resistant or pancreatic cells not secreting insulin.	Insulin resistance is the condition in which the cells do not respond to insulin.
Age affected	Diabetes can affect people at any age from childhood through to adulthood.	Insulin resistance is typically most evident in adults who are older than 45 years of age.
Causes	The causes of diabetes include autoimmune disease, living an unhealthy lifestyle and being overweight, and sometimes, pregnancy.	Insulin resistance is caused by being overweight and leading an unhealthy lifestyle.
Diagnosis	Diabetes can be diagnosed by blood tests; namely, a fasting test result of greater than 100mg/dL, a glucose tolerance test value of 200mg/dL or more and the A1C test value of 6.5% or more.	Insulin resistance can be detected by the same tests but the values are lower. Fasting glucose test would be 100 mg/dL, glucose tolerance test levels would be 144 to 199mg/dL and the A1C test result would be 5.7 to 6.4%.
Symptoms	People with diabetes have noticeable symptoms including increased hunger, thirst, and urination, nausea, fatigue and problems with eyesight. A noticeable fruity smell on the breath is also often evident.	People with insulin resistance often have no noticeable symptoms other than possibly some darkened skin on the neck and in the armpits.
Treatment	Treatment may vary depending on what type of diabetes a person has and may include exercise, a change in diet and weight loss, as well as medication and injections of insulin.	Insulin resistance is best treated with a change in diet, exercise and weight loss. In some cases, the medicine metformin may be prescribed.
Complications	Diabetes complications include kidney problems, heart problems, and vision problems. Patients may also experience ketoacidosis that could result in a coma; diabetes can cause death.	The complication of insulin resistance is the development of type 2 diabetes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes are related conditions that involve the body's ability to regulate blood sugar levels, there are important differences between the two. Insulin resistance is often a precursor to type 2 diabetes, but not everyone with insulin resistance will develop diabetes.

Symptoms of insulin resistance may be mild or absent, while diabetes can cause a range of more severe symptoms. Both conditions can be managed with lifestyle changes and medications, but diabetes is a lifelong condition that requires ongoing management.