What are insulin resistance, diabetes, and the other impairments of insulin and glucose metabolism?
One of the complicating factors of understanding the blood sugar and insulin issues associated with PCOS is all the different names out there. Below is a brief description of the various terms and there is more information under the insulin connection section. Insulin Resistance is when a fasting insulin level is greater than 10 mIU/ml. There are some other testing methods used. Some would say a fasting glucose:insulin ratio less than 4.5:1 indicates insulin resistance. Another method is doing a glucose tolerance test and checking insulin along with blood sugar. If the insulin level at 2 hours is 5 times the fasting level, insulin resistance is diagnosed. The most common testing is the fasting level. Central obesity is considered a risk factor for insulin resistance. Hyperinsulinemia is when insulin levels are high in relation to glucose levels. It goes along with insulin resistance. Hyperinsulinemia in PCOS correlates with increased cardiovascular risk independent of obesity. Impaired
