Insulin resistance is associated with diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and
hypertension both independently and as part of syndrome X. Environmental influences on SI
are incompletely understood. Exercise has a strong beneficial effect and obesity a strong
adverse effect. The balance of evidence suggests that a high-fat diet is likely to reduce
insulin sensitivity but the effects of dietary carbohydrates are more controversial. Extensive
studies in animals showed a detrimental effect of diets very high in fructose or sucrose …