For example, pair an apple with peanut butter, whole grain crackers with cheese, or a banana with almonds. While you do not need to eliminate any foods from your diet completely, the key is to be aware of how certain foods affect your blood sugar levels and how to balance or offset those with other food choices, says Hoskins.

Hoskins recommends the following foods to provide a more stable energy source and support insulin sensitivity. These types of food are high in fiber and nutrients.

To know if it is a whole grain, read the label, says Hoskins. All fruits are packed with fiber and nutrients, but some are higher in sugar than others, like grapes and bananas.

So if you want to consume a larger portion, keep in mind that you can eat a cup of berries compared to half a banana for about the same sugar content, Hoskins says. With this in mind, some lower carbohydrate fruits include:.

While vegetables are always a good choice, keep in mind that some vegetables, like potatoes and sweet potatoes, are starchier than others and provide more carbohydrates.

Vegetables with little to no carbohydrate include:. Trying to make the changes in your diet needed to adhere to these food choices may seem overwhelming at first. To make it easier, Hoskins recommends the following tips:.

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Breadcrumb Home Advancing Health Conditions and Services Body Systems Diabetes 5 best foods to improve insulin resistance.

Conditions and Services Body Systems Diabetes 5 best foods to improve insulin resistance. March 2, Complex carbohydrates These types of food are high in fiber and nutrients.

Complex carbohydrates include: Whole wheat Oats Brown rice Quinoa Whole grain breads Whole grain pastas Whole barley Millet Bulgar wheat Buckwheat Whole rye Whole corn 2. Lean proteins Lean cuts of red meat Chicken Fish like salmon, tuna and trout Beans, lentils and legumes Nuts and seeds Nut butters 3.

Fruits All fruits are packed with fiber and nutrients, but some are higher in sugar than others, like grapes and bananas.

With this in mind, some lower carbohydrate fruits include: Watermelon, cantaloupe and peaches Oranges, mangoes and pineapple Berries such as raspberries, strawberries and blueberries 4. Vegetables While vegetables are always a good choice, keep in mind that some vegetables, like potatoes and sweet potatoes, are starchier than others and provide more carbohydrates.

Vegetables with little to no carbohydrate include: Broccoli Dark leafy greens Tomatoes Peppers Cucumbers Carrots 5. These include: Sweetened beverages like soda, regular fruit juices, sweet tea or lemonade Foods high in saturated fats like whole milk, butter, coconut oil and red meat Sugary sweets such as candy, cookies, cake and ice cream White bread, rice, pasta and flour-based foods Packaged, highly processed foods and snacks Canned fruits, which are often packed in sugary syrup find ones with no added sugar Fried foods Alcohol Tips for creating a balanced, insulin-resistant diet Trying to make the changes in your diet needed to adhere to these food choices may seem overwhelming at first.

To make it easier, Hoskins recommends the following tips: Set small, realistic goals. Commit to starting fresh the next day and getting back on track Need help controlling your blood sugars? Call us at Related articles. Over time, though, insulin resistance tends to get worse, and the pancreatic beta cells that make insulin can wear out.

Eventually, the pancreas no longer produces enough insulin to overcome the cells' resistance. The result is higher blood glucose levels, and ultimately prediabetes or type 2 diabetes.

Insulin has other roles in the body besides regulating blood glucose levels, and the effects of insulin resistance are thought to go beyond diabetes. For example, some research has shown that insulin resistance, independent of diabetes, is associated with heart disease.

Scientists are beginning to get a better understanding of how insulin resistance develops. For starters, several genes have been identified that make a person more or less likely to develop the condition.

It's also known that older people are more prone to insulin resistance. Lifestyle can play a role, too. Being sedentary, overweight or obese increases the risk for insulin resistance. It's not clear, but some researchers theorize that extra fat tissue may cause inflammation, physiological stress or other changes in the cells that contribute to insulin resistance.

There may even be some undiscovered factor produced by fat tissue, perhaps a hormone, that signals the body to become insulin resistant. Doctors don't usually test for insulin resistance as a part of standard diabetes care. In clinical research, however, scientists may look specifically at measures of insulin resistance, often to study potential treatments for insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes.

They typically administer a large amount of insulin to a subject while at the same time delivering glucose to the blood to keep levels from dipping too low. The less glucose needed to maintain normal blood glucose levels, the greater the insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance comes in degrees. The more insulin resistant a person with type 2 is, the harder it will be to manage their diabetes because more medication is needed to get enough insulin in the body to achieve target blood glucose levels.

Insulin resistance isn't a cause of type 1 diabetes, but people with type 1 who are insulin resistant will need higher insulin doses to keep their blood glucose under control than those who are more sensitive to insulin. As with type 2, people with type 1 may be genetically predisposed to become insulin resistant, or they may develop resistance due to being overweight.

Some research indicates that insulin resistance is a factor in cardiovascular disease and other complications in people with type 1. While fighting an invisible foe can feel frustrating and discouraging, know that you are not alone. There are effective tactics to combat insulin resistance.

There may even be some undiscovered factor produced by fat tissue, perhaps a hormone, that signals the body to become insulin resistant.

Doctors don't usually test for insulin resistance as a part of standard diabetes care. In clinical research, however, scientists may look specifically at measures of insulin resistance, often to study potential treatments for insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes.

They typically administer a large amount of insulin to a subject while at the same time delivering glucose to the blood to keep levels from dipping too low. The less glucose needed to maintain normal blood glucose levels, the greater the insulin resistance. Insulin resistance comes in degrees.

The more insulin resistant a person with type 2 is, the harder it will be to manage their diabetes because more medication is needed to get enough insulin in the body to achieve target blood glucose levels. Insulin resistance isn't a cause of type 1 diabetes, but people with type 1 who are insulin resistant will need higher insulin doses to keep their blood glucose under control than those who are more sensitive to insulin.

As with type 2, people with type 1 may be genetically predisposed to become insulin resistant, or they may develop resistance due to being overweight. Some research indicates that insulin resistance is a factor in cardiovascular disease and other complications in people with type 1.

While fighting an invisible foe can feel frustrating and discouraging, know that you are not alone. There are effective tactics to combat insulin resistance. Losing weight, exercising more or taking an insulin-sensitizing medication can help you get back to good blood glucose control and better health.

Breadcrumb Home You Can Manage and Thrive with Diabetes Understanding Insulin Resistance. What Is Insulin Resistance? Excess weight, especially belly fat , reduces insulin sensitivity and increases the risk of type 2 diabetes by making hormones that promote insulin resistance in the muscles and liver 9 , 10 , Losing weight is an effective way to lose belly fat, increase insulin sensitivity, and reduce your chance of developing type 2 diabetes if you have prediabetes Even if it is, they may want to supervise your weight loss journey.

There are certain changes you can make to your diet that can help you increase your insulin sensitivity. This includes both adding and limiting various foods and supplements to your diet. Fiber can be divided into two broad categories — soluble and insoluble.

Soluble fiber helps feed the friendly bacteria in your gut, which have been linked to increased insulin sensitivity 14 , Discover the top 20 foods high in soluble fiber.

Many studies have found that eating a diet rich in plant compounds is linked to higher insulin sensitivity. This is because colorful fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants bind to and neutralize molecules called free radicals that can cause harmful inflammation throughout the body 16 , 17 , Learn how much fruit you should eat per day and what to know about fruit as part of a diabetes eating plan.

Reducing your carb intake could help increase insulin sensitivity because high carb eating patterns tend to lead to spikes in blood sugar Eating regularly benefits insulin sensitivity, and eating low glycemic index GI carbs, in particular, is better because they slow the release of sugar into the blood, giving insulin more time to work efficiently 20 , Learn more about the types of carbs.

Added sugars , which are found mostly in highly processed foods, include primarily high fructose corn syrup and table sugar sucrose. Many studies have found that higher intakes of fructose can increase insulin resistance among people with diabetes 22 , The effects of fructose on insulin resistance also appear to affect people who do not have diabetes, as reported in a review of literature showing that consuming a lot of fructose over less than 60 days increased liver insulin resistance, independent of total calorie intake Learn which foods contain lots of added sugar.

Herbs and spices, including fenugreek , turmeric , ginger , cinnamon , and garlic , have shown promising results in increasing insulin sensitivity 25 , Other herbs that may have this effect include basil, dill, fennel, parsley, cumin, nutmeg, oregano, and rosemary.

Research has identified at least compounds contained in a variety of herbs and spices that may contribute to reducing insulin resistance Several studies have found that drinking green tea can help increase insulin sensitivity and reduce blood sugar 27 , These beneficial effects of green tea could be due to its powerful antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate EGCG , which helps increase insulin sensitivity Vinegar could help increase insulin sensitivity by reducing blood sugar and improving the effectiveness of insulin It also appears to delay the stomach from releasing food into the intestines, giving the body more time to absorb sugar into the bloodstream Unlike other fats, trans fats provide no health benefits and increase the risk of many diseases Evidence on the effects of high trans-fat intake on insulin resistance appears to be mixed.

Some human studies have found it harmful, while others have not 33 , Many different supplements can help increase insulin sensitivity, including vitamin C , probiotics , and magnesium. That said, many other supplements, such as zinc, folate, and vitamin D, do not appear to have this effect, according to research As with all supplements, there is a risk they may interact with any current medication you may be taking.

Some of the same strategies, such as managing weight or quitting smoking, are key to preventing heart disease and stroke. Exercise can also help. Muscles become more sensitive to insulin after exercise, helping the body reverse insulin resistance.

A diagnosis of insulin resistance can be worrying, but it is not necessarily too late to prevent diabetes. Learn about the best foods to eat and avoid to reverse prediabetes here. Insulin is essential for enabling the body to use glucose effectively and prevent blood sugar levels from rising too high.

When insulin does not work effectively, blood sugar levels can rise, and diabetes can develop. Many people with prediabetes can prevent type 2 diabetes from developing by taking lifestyle measures to counter insulin resistance and the development of diabetes early on.

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A study in mice suggests a potential mechanism that could explain why only some individuals with obesity develop type 2 diabetes. A type of medication used to treat type 2 diabetes could help lower the risk of developing kidney stones, a new study suggests.

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Medical News Today. Health Conditions Health Products Discover Tools Connect. What to know about insulin resistance. Medically reviewed by Lauren Castiello, MS, AGNP-C — By Adam Felman — Updated on February 17, What is it?

Insulin resistance and diabetes Symptoms Risk factors Diagnosis and testing Prevention Summary Insulin allows cells to absorb and use glucose. What is insulin resistance?