The Metabolic Syndrome is also known as Syndrome X or Insulin Resistance Syndrome. This is a prediabetic disease. It affects about 45% to 55% percent of all adults in the U.S. and is considered as strong a risk for early heart disease as smoking. Those with the Metabolic Syndrome have three or more of the following:
• Abdominal obesity (waist measurement of more than 40 inches in men and 35 inches in women)
• Triglyceride level of 150 mg/dL or greater
• HDL cholesterol of less than 40 mg/dL in men or less than 50 mg/dL in women
• Systolic blood pressure of 130 mm Hg or greater
• Diastolic blood pressure of 85 mm Hg or greater
• Fasting glucose of 110 mg/dL or greater
Researchers are still in the process of proving the common cause of these problems, but most believe they are caused by obesity and insulin resistance — a problem that leads to Type 2 diabetes. The link between all conditions in the Metabolic Syndrome and insulin resistance is very strong.
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