Detect Diabetes Early: What are the 5 Markers of Metabolic Syndrome?
Metabolic syndrome is a combination of conditions that increase your risk of developing harmful diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
These conditions include high blood pressure, excess weight around the waist, high blood sugar levels, and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels.
Having just one or a few of these symptoms doesn't mean you have metabolic syndrome. However, any of these conditions can increase your risk for metabolic syndrome.
In combination, they significantly amplify that risk. In this blog post, we’ll cover five metabolic markers defining this syndrome.
Understanding Metabolic Syndrome
Before we jump into the metabolic markers associated with this condition, it's crucial to understand what metabolic syndrome is and why it's a concern.
Metabolic syndrome is not a specific disease.
Instead, it's a combination of risk factors — high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, unhealthy cholesterol levels, and abdominal fat.
Indeed, having one or more of these factors does not mean you have metabolic syndrome.
But it does mean you have a higher risk of serious health problems like heart disease or type 2 diabetes. Understanding these metabolic markers can help you take steps to lower your risk.
The Five Key Metabolic Markers
These are the five key signs of metabolic syndrome.
1) Abdominal Obesity
One of the most obvious signs of metabolic syndrome is carrying excess weight around your waistline. This condition is known as abdominal obesity.
The risks associated with abdominal obesity vary depending on race and gender; however, generally, for men, if their waist measures 40 inches or more, and for women measuring 35 inches or more around the waist, they may be at risk.
Excess fat, especially around the abdomen, can also make you less sensitive to insulin, so your body cannot use it when needed.
It’s important to realize that the extra fat here is the problem. Weight and waist measurements are only a snapshot. And even your body mass index (BMI) doesn’t give the complete picture.
We must look at body composition as a whole rather than relying only on the scale.
You could be in a healthy weight range according to your BMI, but you could still have too much fat on your body, which is driving insulin resistance. Other times, the opposite could be true. BMI doesn’t take into consideration the size or shape of your frame, your eating and exercise habits, or your genetics.
These measurements mentioned above are loose guidelines, and the other factors we discussed come into play, so please speak with a registered dietitian or healthcare provider before determining whether or not you fall into this category.
2) High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure (hypertension) is another key marker for metabolic syndrome.
A healthy blood pressure reading should be at or below 120/80 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury).
In metabolic syndrome, the blood pressure reading is generally 130/85 mm Hg or higher.
Blood pressure that is chronically high can damage your heart and lead to plaque buildup in your arteries. The build-up in your arteries results in an increased risk for heart disease and stroke.
3) High Blood Sugar Levels
High fasting blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) can be an early sign of type 2 diabetes.
An acceptable blood sugar level (fasting) should be below 100 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter). If it is any higher, it is a metabolic marker for metabolic syndrome.
4) High Triglycerides
Your blood carries a type of fat called triglycerides. Fuel or calories your body doesn't need to use immediately is converted into triglycerides.
Eating more calories than you can burn may lead to you having high triglycerides (hypertriglyceridemia).
High triglyceride levels (150 mg/dL or higher) indicate metabolic syndrome.
5) Low HDL Cholesterol
HDL cholesterol, or "good cholesterol," is vital to healthy metabolic function. When you have enough HDL cholesterol, it keeps bad cholesterol from building up in your bloodstream.
A low level of HDL cholesterol raises your risk for heart disease and is a marker for metabolic syndrome.
For men, this means levels less than 40 mg/dL. For women, it means levels less than 50 mg/dL.
The Importance of Identifying Metabolic Markers
These five key metabolic markers can help identify if you're at risk for other serious health conditions like heart disease and diabetes.
If you have even one of these markers, you need to consult with your healthcare provider or reach out to a registered dietitian who can guide you on lifestyle changes or treatments that can help reduce these risks.
Remember that prevention is key because there are no cures for metabolic diseases like diabetes.
Regular movement, a healthy diet, weight control, and not smoking are keys to preventing metabolic syndrome. Join the Blood Sugar Reset Program today to get your metabolic markers on track!