become insulin resistant. Once this occurs,
the cells lose their sensitivity to insulin’s
message to store nutrients: the pancreas sends
a message (via insulin) to “store,” but the
cells don’t listen, and blood sugar levels
remain high.
Since high levels of blood sugar are very
unhealthy, the body really needs the cells to
store that energy—so it responds with an even
stronger message. Insulin resistance requires
that the pancreas produce even more insulin,
until the message is strong enough to force
nutrients into the already-full cells. However,
this “force-feeding” creates oxidative stress
and elevated fat levels in the blood, which
further damages the cells. The damaged cells
continue to try to protect themselves, further
increasing insulin resistance ... and the cycle
continues.