Patient-Friendly Explanation

Think of insulin as a key that unlocks cells to let glucose in. With insulin resistance, the lock gets rusty and the key does not work as well, so glucose stays in your blood.

Clinical Definition

Insulin resistance describes impaired insulin-mediated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle, adipose tissue and liver. It is a precursor to type 2 diabetes and is strongly associated with visceral obesity.

Why It Matters

Weight loss is one of the most effective ways to improve insulin sensitivity. GLP-1 receptor agonists also directly improve insulin resistance.