Hyperinsulinemia: Is it diabetes?

Is hyperinsulinemia a form of diabetes?

- Melanie / Pennsylvania

Answer

Hyperinsulinemia means you have too much insulin in your blood. It isn't diabetes. But hyperinsulinemia is often associated with type 2 diabetes.

Insulin is produced by your pancreas and helps regulate blood sugar. Hyperinsulinemia is a sign of an underlying problem that's causing your pancreas to secrete excessive amounts of insulin.

The most common cause of hyperinsulinemia is insulin resistance, a condition in which your body is resistant to the effects of insulin and your pancreas tries to compensate by making more insulin. Insulin resistance may also eventually lead to the development of type 2 diabetes.

Rarely, hyperinsulinemia is caused by:

• A tumor of the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas (insulinoma)
• Excessive numbers of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas (nesidioblastosis)

Hyperinsulinemia causes no signs or symptoms unless it causes low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Treatment of hyperinsulinemia is directed at the underlying problem.

MORE ON THIS TOPIC

• Hypoglycemia

RELATED

• Type 2 diabetes
• Prediabetes
• Diabetic hyperosmolar syndrome
• Diabetic ketoacidosis

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• 'Mayo Clinic on Managing Diabetes,' Second Edition (Softcover)