“Insulin Resistance” Quiz
August 2010 Issue of Forage for Thought
1. What is insulin’s job?
a. To allow glucose to enter the body cells, where it can be used for energy.
b. To elevate glucose levels within the blood, to combat stress.
c. To help produce glucose from fat.
d. To help produce glucose from protein.
e. To allow for proper excretion of urea.
2. The term, “insulin resistance” means:
a. The pancreas cannot produce enough insulin.
b. The cells to not adequately respond to insulin.
c. The brain no longer recognizes insulin.
d. The liver releases glucose in the blood.
e. The muscle cells are stressed and burn up all their glucose.
3. Insulin resistance results in:
a. Elevated blood glucose levels.
b. Increased fat storage.
c. Muscle wasting.
d. Choices a, b, and c are correct.
e. Only choices b and c are correct.
4. What are some possible causes insulin resistance?
a. Genetics
b. Obesity
c. High starch/sugar diets, over time.
d. Choices a, b, and c are correct.
e. Only choices a and c are correct.
5. How is insulin resistance reduced?
a. Exercise
b. Weight reduction
c. Stress reduction
d. Choices a, b, and c are correct.
e. It cannot be reduced, it’s genetic.
6. Insulin resistance leads to elevated blood insulin levels, which can result in regional fat deposits (i.e., cresty neck, crease going down back, etc.) and even laminitis.
a. All True
b. All False
c. Regional fat deposits, yes, but not laminitis.
d. Laminitis, yes, but not regional fat deposits.
7. Stress causes the release of the stress hormone, cortisol. This can create insulin resistance.
a. True
b. False
8. Reducing stress has no effect on body fat loss.
a. True
b. False
9. Supplementation of which one of the following nutrients should be closely monitored to avoid excessive levels in the insulin resistant horse:
a. Iron
b. Magnesium
c. Chromium
d. Omega-3 fatty acids
e. Vitamin E
10. Which one of the following nutrients cannot increase blood insulin levels:
a. Starch
b. Fat
c. Protein
d. Sugar
Insulin resistance (otherwise known as Metabolic Syndrome) is prevalent in today’s domesticated horses. What it is, how it is prevented, and what to do for your horse that is already insulin resistant, is discussed at length (in an easy-to-understand way), in Feed Your Horse Like A Horse: Optimize your horse’s nutrition for a lifetime of vibrant health.
Correct Answers:
1. A
2. B
3. D
4. D
5. D
6. A
7. A
8. B
9. A
10. B
1. What is insulin’s job?
a. To allow glucose to enter the body cells, where it can be used for energy.
b. To elevate glucose levels within the blood, to combat stress.
c. To help produce glucose from fat.
d. To help produce glucose from protein.
e. To allow for proper excretion of urea.
"A" is correct -- insulin brings glucose from the blood, into the cells, thereby lowering blood glucose levels under normal circumstances.
2. The term, “insulin resistance” means:
a. The pancreas cannot produce enough insulin.
b. The cells to not adequately respond to insulin.
c. The brain no longer recognizes insulin.
d. The liver releases glucose in the blood.
e. The muscle cells are stressed and burn up all their glucose.
"B" is correct -- cells take longer to respond to insulin, so the insulin in the blood stays high and so does the blood glucose level.
3. Insulin resistance results in:
a. Elevated blood glucose levels.
b. Increased fat storage.
c. Muscle wasting.
d. Choices a, b, and c are correct.
e. Only choices b and c are correct.
"D" is correct -- all three are results of insulin resistance since not only does glucose remain high, but insulin cause fat to remain stored, and it also also causes muscles to break down (in order to provide glucose, since it is not entering the cells).
4. What are some possible causes insulin resistance?
a. Genetics
b. Obesity
c. High starch/sugar diets, over time.
d. Choices a, b, and c are correct.
e. Only choices a and c are correct.
"D" is correct -- all three can lead to insulin resistance.
5. How is insulin resistance reduced?
a. Exercise
b. Weight reduction
c. Stress reduction
d. Choices a, b, and c are correct.
e. It cannot be reduced, it’s genetic.
"D" is correct -- exercise increases insulin receptors on the surface of cells, making cells more sensitive (less resitant) to insulin. Body fat reduces those receptors (increasing insulin resistance) and stress elevates cortisol (the stress hormone) which causes insulin resistance.
6. Insulin resistance leads to elevated blood insulin levels, which can result in regional fat deposits (i.e., cresty neck, crease going down back, etc.) and even laminitis.
a. All True
b. All False
c. Regional fat deposits, yes, but not laminitis.
d. Laminitis, yes, but not regional fat deposits.
"A" is correct -- we can visually determine insulin resistance by looking for regional fat deposits. Lamintis is also caused when insulin levels are elevated.
7. Stress causes the release of the stress hormone, cortisol. This can create insulin resistance.
a. True
b. False
"A" is correct -- elevated cortisol results in elevated insulin.
8. Reducing stress has no effect on body fat loss.
a. True
b. False
"B" is correct -- reducing stress actually reduces insulin levels and when insulin is reduced, the body can burn fat.
9. Supplementation of which one of the following nutrients should be closely monitored to avoid excessive levels in the insulin resistant horse:
a. Iron
b. Magnesium
c. Chromium
d. Omega-3 fatty acids
e. Vitamin E
"A" is correct -- too much iron has been shown (in humans) to cause insulin resistance. Therefore, caution is warranted for horses. Most horses get plenty of iron from forage and therefore, iron need not be supplemented.
10. Which one of the following nutrients cannot increase blood insulin levels:
a. Starch
b. Fat
c. Protein
d. Sugar
"B" is correct -- Starch (carbohydrates) cause glucose to flood the bloodstream, leading to insulin release. Glucose can also be derived from protein. Sugar is also a carbohydrate which results in glucose formation. But, fat cannot be used to make glucose. Insulin is released from the pancreas in response to glucose, nothing else.