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The #1 Sign of Good Metabolic Health
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“In endocrinology, insulin is far more than a blood sugar hormone. It is a central metabolic regulator that influences how the body processes carbohydrates, fats and protein. When tissues respond appropriately to insulin, energy is handled efficiently and the metabolic system remains coordinated,” explains Dr. Abdelmasih. “As an endocrinologist and obesity medicine physician, I see insulin resistance every day in clinical practice. It often develops long before diabetes is diagnosed and long before patients realize that something metabolically is shifting.”
“It reflects how effectively the body is managing energy at a cellular level,” Dr. Abdelmasih says.
When people talk about “testing insulin sensitivity,” they’re really talking about how doctors assess how well the body responds to insulin—and according to Cleveland Clinic, there isn’t one single test that gives a definitive answer. Instead, clinicians look at a combination of blood markers that together paint a picture of how efficiently your body manages blood sugar.
Another key marker is hemoglobin A1C, which reflects average blood sugar over the past two to three months. You can also ask for a lipid panel, which is a group of tests that measures specific lipids, or fat-like substances, in your blood.
Why Body Weight Is Not Always a Reliable Marker on Its Own
“An Olympic athlete may easily have a BMI of greater than 25 and the same BMI as a sedentary couch potato, but they would have very different metabolic risk,” Dr. Joseph Barrera, MD, endocrinologist with Providence Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, California, says.
Revving up physical activity can improve insulin sensitivity in as little as a few days.
Tweaking your diet can make a major difference as well. Dr. Abdelmasih emphasizes adequate protein consumption for muscle preservation and eliminating ultra-processed foods.
“A body weight loss of at least 5% is necessary to see a profound metabolic improvement,” explains Dr. Heberto Valdes, MD, an Endocrinologist at Baptist Health South Florida. “Dietary modifications should be the focus, with caloric restriction and a Mediterranean diet.”
Maintaining good metabolic health and restoring balance must be a lifestyle decision and involve sustainable habits you can stick with in the long run. It’s not a one-and-done fix.
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Sources:
Cleveland Clinic. (2023, August 16). Endocrinologist: What they do & when to see one.Randa Abdelmasih, MD, Endocrinologist, UTMB Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology & MetabolismDr. Joseph Barrera, endocrinologist with Providence Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, CaliforniaHeberto Valdes, MD, an Endocrinologist at Baptist Health South FloridaHence then, the article about this is the 1 sign of good metabolic health according to endocrinologists was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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