Researchers have pointed out that Insulin resistance during adolescence is an important indicator of diabetes and heart disease in adulthood.
Obesity is indicated by a body-mass index of 30 or higher. The key factor to ward off diabetes and heart disease is to ensure that people do not gain weight in childhood and adolescence, which will certainly reduce the risks of disease during adulthood. Therefore, researchers have stressed the importance of developing strategies to curb obesity and maintain a healthy BMI, which can offset insulin resistance later in life.A study conducted by researchers tracked 357 students in Minneapolis public schools who were subjected to thorough physical examinations and blood tests at the age of 13. The insulin clamp, which is an advanced blood test, measured their capacity to manage insulin. The tests were performed at different stages, at age15 and then at 19. According to the researchers insulin resistance at age 13 is a sign of high blood pressure and high levels of blood fats at age 19, which are signals of heart disease and stroke.Dr. Stephen Daniels, chairman of the department of pediatrics at the University of Colorado, and a spokesman for the American Heart Association said, 'One of the difficulties of insulin resistance is how to check for it. In a clinical setting, you can use the fasting insulin level to help get an idea of insulin resistance. But it is a bit complicated there, because measurements for insulin are not standardized.'
Understanding and preventing obesity would be the best route to take for now, towards offsetting diabetes and heart disease in adulthood.
