Why do insulin resistance and diabetes lead to energy deficiency and respiratory system problems?

Insulin Resistance and the Metabolic Trap of Carbohydrates

In people with insulin resistance, the body's cells (especially muscles and the liver) lose sensitivity to insulin — the hormone that "opens" the cells to glucose. As a result:

• glucose cannot be fully utilized inside the cells as fuel;
• blood sugar levels remain high;
• at the same time, the body cannot effectively switch to burning fats because high insulin blocks lipolysis (fat breakdown).

Thus, a person is somewhat "trapped" in a carbohydrate metabolism that does not work efficiently — hence the chronic energy deficit at the cellular level, especially in the mitochondria.

Carbohydrate Oxidation vs. Fat Oxidation

Oxidation of glucose — quick energy, but it is accompanied by stronger fluctuations in sugar and requires a constant supply of glucose. Additionally, glucose can be metabolized in an anaerobic mode (without oxygen), leading to the formation of lactate (lactic acid), increased acidity, and inflammation.

Fat oxidation — a more stable, "clean," and oxygen-dependent process. Burning fatty acids produces more ATP and fewer free radicals. This reduces the burden on antioxidant systems and the respiratory system.

People with insulin resistance can hardly use fats as fuel, even with fat reserves — leading to the "paradox of obesity with cellular starvation."

Energy Deficit and Its Impact on the Surfactant Complex

Surfactant — a lipoprotein film produced by alveolar cells in the lungs. It:

• reduces surface tension in the alveoli and prevents their collapse;
• participates in gas exchange and oxygen saturation of the blood;
• is mainly composed of phospholipids, the synthesis of which requires sufficient energy, choline, proteins, and fats.

If a person lives on an inefficient carbohydrate metabolism, the cells experience an ATP deficit, especially under hypoxic conditions (for example, during inflammation, respiratory failure, or intoxication). This directly affects the lungs' ability to produce and renew surfactant.

Connection to Heart Attacks and Cardiovascular Risks

• Energy deficiency and constant spikes in glucose → damage to the endothelial cells of blood vessels.
• High insulin and glucose → oxidative stress, inflammation, platelet aggregation.
• Poor fat metabolism → deficiency of lipids necessary for membranes and surfactants.
• As a result — high risk of heart attacks, strokes, and systemic hypoxia, especially under stress, infection, or oxygen deficiency.