What is Insulin Resistance Syndrome (IRS)?
IRS is sometimes referred to as Metabolic Syndrome, or Metabolic Syndrome X and was previously called Syndrome X. To understand IRS, it is important to understand what a syndrome is. A syndrome is different from a disease. To be diagnosed with a disease a person must meet a specific list of symptom or medical criteria. To be classified as having a syndrome, a person may have only some of the characteristics associated with that particular syndrome. Insulin Resistance Syndrome is a combination of problems. It is diagnosed when a patient has at least three factors identified as part of IRS. (See “Diagnosing Insulin Resistance Syndrome,” below).
