Insulin Resistance and Urolithiasis as a Challenge for a Dietitian

Abstract

Many obesity and diet-related diseases have been observed in recent years. Insulin resistance (IR), a state of tissue resistance to insulin due to its impaired function, is a common coexisting condition. The most important predisposing factors are excessive visceral fat and chronic low-grade inflammatory response. However, IR's pathogenesis is not fully understood. Hence, the diagnosis of IR should be carried out carefully because many different diagnostic paths do not always give equivalent results. An additional disease that is often associated with IR is urolithiasis. The common feature of these two conditions is metabolic acidosis and mild inflammation. A patient diagnosed with IR and urolithiasis is a big challenge for a dietitian. It is necessary to check a thorough dietary history, make an appropriate anthropometric measurement, plan a full-fledged diet, and carry out the correct nutritional treatment. It is also essential to conduct proper laboratory diagnostics to plan nutritional treatment, which is often a big challenge for dietitians. The diet's basic assumptions are based on the appropriate selection of carbohydrates, healthy fats, and wholesome protein sources. It is also essential to properly compose meals, prepare them, and plan physical activities tailored to the abilities. The study aims to summarise the necessary information on IR with concomitant urolithiasis, which may be helpful in dietary practice.

Keywords: diet; dietitian; inflammation; insulin; insulin resistance; urolithiasis.

Figure 1

The insulin action is in a healthy state. (FFA—free fatty acids; TAG—triglycerides).

Figure 2

The vicious circle of insulin resistance.

Figure 3

Mechanism of insulin resistance. (FFA—free fatty acids; TAG—triglycerides; VLDL—very-low-density lipoprotein).

Figure 4

Linking the Western diet with insulin resistance and the occurrence of urolithiasis.

Figure 5

Effect of a high-protein diet on blood pH.