Metabolic Syndrome / Insulin Resistance
Insulin resistance/insensitivity is closely linked with obesity, and occurs when the body stops being responsive to insulin. This leads to higher and higher levels of insulin being secreted by the pancreas in an attempt to maintain normal blood sugar levels.
An association between certain metabolic disorders and cardiovascular disease has been known since the 1940s. In the 1980s this association became more clearly defined and the term Metabolic Syndrome (also known as Syndrome X, dysmetabolic syndrome or Insulin Resistance) was coined to designate a cluster of metabolic risk factors that come together in a single individual.
Metabolic syndrome is thought to affect approximately 20-30% of the population in industrialised countries.
It is a condition that can pave the way to both diabetes and heart disease, two of the most common and important chronic diseases today. Metabolic syndrome increases the risk of type 2 diabetes anywhere from 9-30 times over the normal population, and the risk of cardiovascular disease from 2-4 times that of the normal population. Other problems that stem from metabolic syndrome include fatty liver, kidney damage, obstructive sleep apnoea, polycystic ovary syndrome, increased risk of dementia with aging, and cognitive decline in the elderly.
As is true with many medical conditions, genetics and the environment play important roles in the development of metabolic syndrome. Environmental issues such as low activity levels, sedentary lifestyle, and progressive weight gain also contribute significantly to the risk of developing metabolic syndrome. It is present in about 5% of people with normal body weight, 22% of those who are overweight and 60% of those considered obese. Adults who continue to gain 5 or more pounds per year raise their risk of developing metabolic syndrome by up to 45%.
What is being measured
- LDL cholesterol
- HDL cholesterol
- VLDL cholesterol
- triglycerides
- total cholesterol/HDL
- triglycerides/HDL
- Hs C-reactive protein
- Fasting insulin
- Haemoglobin A1C
Type of Test
Blood
Before Taking this Test
Fast overnight (at least 8 hours)
Inform practitioner about medication and supplement use, including aspirin and cholesterol lowering drugs
See instructions inside test kit for details
Turnaround Time
11 days
Follow Smart Nutrition