Dr. Sears,
Q: I would like to know impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance is the same thing.
A: They are different but related. Impaired glucose tolerance indicates that it is difficult to bring down blood glucose levels after a meal. It is caused by insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is the inability of the insulin receptors on the cell surface to efficiently respond to insulin’s signaling thereby decreasing the uptake of blood glucose. Insulin is caused by silent inflammation in accumulated fat droplets in the muscle cells.