Understanding Insulin Resistance — The Hidden Driver of Diabetes : By Dr. Ravi Kiran

Most Type 2 diabetes does not start with sugar.

It starts with a deeper problem—insulin resistance.

This condition makes your body stop responding to insulin, even when insulin levels are normal or high. At Onus Robotic Hospital, we see insulin resistance in almost every patient before diabetes begins.

Let’s understand this clearly.

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Insulin resistance means:

Your cells stop responding to insulin efficiently.

Imagine insulin is knocking on the cell door, but the cell is not opening.

So the pancreas works harder and releases more insulin.

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•Excess abdominal fat

•Lack of physical activity

•High-carb diets

•Frequent snacking

•Sleep deprivation

•Stress

•Genetics

•Hormonal imbalance (PCOS, fatty liver)

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Most people have no symptoms, which makes it dangerous.

•Fatigue

•Belly fat

•Cravings for sweets/carbs

•Dark patches on neck or underarms (acanthosis nigricans)

•Elevated fasting insulin

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Initially, the pancreas compensates by producing more insulin.

But over time, beta cells wear out → insulin levels fall → sugar rises → diabetes develops.

This is how most Type 2 diabetes begins.

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YES.

Insulin resistance is reversible with the right lifestyle program.

•Weight loss

•Balanced / low-carb eating

•30–45 minutes of daily activity

•Improving sleep

•Reducing stress

•Right medications when needed

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Insulin resistance is the hidden cause behind most metabolic problems—weight gain, pre-diabetes, and Type 2 diabetes.

The earlier you address it, the more you can prevent long-term complications.