Help Insulin Clarification Kaplan

[DocMcMuffins]

Okay,

two separate question on kaplan gave the answer "increased insulin sensitivity causes decreased fat deposition." then "increased insulin levels causes increased fat deposition." So which is it??

I though increased insulin tells body to store glucose and thus fatty acids/fat=weight gain. Doesn't increased sensitivity mean the body will react more to insulin meaning an even greater amount of fat storage?? please help!!

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[medicalschool*]

Both statements are correct from Kaplan. However, increased insulin sensitivity means the body will be able to use glucose more effectively and thus store less as fat. Abnormally increased insulin levels are a response DECREASED insulin sensitivity (body produces more since it can't use it as efficiently), which in turn can lead to weight gain. Hope this helps!

 

[Medical Muse]

Both statements are correct, but in different contexts. Increased sensitivity to insulin in muscle cells results in increased uptake of glucose into the muscles. The muscles store the glucose for later use in the form of glycogen. For example, if a person with diabetes starts to exercise more, their muscle cells become more sensitive to insulin and pull the glucose from the blood stream. The muscle cells can use the glucose immediately or store it. If that same diabetic individual stopped exercising, then the muscles would become more resistant to insulin. The next carbohydrate-rich meal would result in an increase in insulin secretion by the pancreas. Insulin action on the adipocytes causes uptake of the blood glucose, which is stored as fatty acid.

The second statement in your question speaks directly to the pathogenesis of diabetes and the metabolic syndrome. The first sentence deals with the treatment-diet and exercise.