What it means
A cluster of conditions linked to insulin resistance. It is usually diagnosed when a person has at least three of five: a large waist, high triglyceridestry-GLIS-er-idesThe main type of fat in the blood and in body fat, measured in a lipid panel.Full entry , low HDL ("good") cholesterol, high blood pressure and high fasting blood sugar. Having them together makes heart diseaseHART dih-ZEEZA general term for any condition that affects the structure or function of the heart.Full entry , stroke and type 2 diabetestipe too dy-uh-BEE-teezA form of diabetes in which the body does not respond well to insulin and does not make enough of it to keep blood glucose normal.Full entry much more likely.
For the nurse
Teach lifestyle changes as the first treatment: weight loss, regular exercise, a diet low in saturated fat and added sugar, and stopping smoking. Measure the waist and blood pressure at visits.
At a glance
| Spanish | síndrome metabólico |
|---|---|
| Also written | insulin resistance syndrome, syndrome X |
Related terms
hypertension
Blood pressure that stays higher than normal, at or above 130/80 mm Hg by current US guidelines.
type 2 diabetes
A form of diabetes in which the body does not respond well to insulin and does not make enough of it to keep blood glucose normal.
polycystic ovary syndrome
A hormone disorder in women in which the ovaries make more male hormones than usual and often do not release an egg each month.
triglycerides
The main type of fat in the blood and in body fat, measured in a lipid panel.