Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is a group of health problems that can raise your risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

The problem is that you may have these risk factors without knowing it. High blood pressure, high blood sugar, and unhealthy cholesterol levels often don’t cause noticeable symptoms.

If you have concerns about your blood sugar, weight, blood pressure, or cholesterol, the endocrinologists at Diabetes & Glandular Disease Clinic in San Antonio can evaluate your risk and create a treatment plan based on your health.

Metabolic syndrome isn’t one disease. It’s a group of related health problems that occur together.

The five main features are:

• A large waistline
• High blood pressure
• Elevated blood sugar
• High triglycerides
• Low HDL, or “good,” cholesterol

Having one of these doesn’t mean you have metabolic syndrome. A diagnosis is generally made when you have at least three.

Each condition can affect your health on its own. When several occur together, your risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke increases.

Metabolic syndrome doesn’t usually have one clear cause. Insulin resistance and excess fat around the abdomen play major roles.

Insulin is a hormone that helps move sugar from your blood into your cells for energy. With insulin resistance, your cells don’t respond to insulin as well as they should. Your pancreas may make more insulin to compensate, but over time, your blood sugar can rise.

Insulin resistance is closely linked to other features of metabolic syndrome, including high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, and high blood pressure.

Excess abdominal fat can also make insulin resistance worse. Fat stored around the organs can affect how your body uses insulin and contribute to inflammation.

Other factors that may increase your risk include:

• Being overweight
• Not getting enough physical activity
• Eating a diet high in added sugars and highly processed foods
• Smoking
• Heavy alcohol use
• Poor sleep
• Increasing age
• A family history of diabetes or metabolic syndrome

Certain health conditions, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and sleep apnea, are also associated with a higher risk.

Metabolic syndrome often doesn’t cause noticeable symptoms. High blood pressure, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, and insulin resistance can go unnoticed without routine checkups and blood tests.

As blood sugar rises, some people may develop symptoms such as increased thirst or frequent urination.

Talk with your doctor about your risk if you have abdominal weight gain or a family history of:

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol

Your doctor may use your medical history, physical exam, blood pressure, waist measurement, and blood tests to determine whether you have metabolic syndrome.

For most adults, metabolic syndrome is diagnosed when at least three of these five factors are present:

1. Large waist circumference: Generally 40 inches or more for men or 35 inches or more for women.
2. High blood pressure: A systolic blood pressure of 130 mm Hg or higher, a diastolic blood pressure of 85 mm Hg or higher, or treatment for high blood pressure.
3. High fasting blood sugar: 100 mg/dL or higher, or treatment for elevated blood sugar.
4. High triglycerides: 150 mg/dL or higher, or treatment for high triglycerides.
5. Low HDL cholesterol: Below 40 mg/dL for men or below 50 mg/dL for women, or treatment for low HDL cholesterol.

Your doctor will look at these results along with your overall health and medical history.

Metabolic syndrome means several risk factors are affecting your health at the same time. Without treatment, your risk of serious health problems can increase.

These may include:

• Type 2 diabetes
• Coronary artery disease
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Kidney disease
• Circulation problems
• Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)

Managing these risk factors can lower your risk of developing complications.

Treatment depends on which risk factors you have. Your doctor may recommend changes that improve several parts of metabolic syndrome at once.

Your treatment plan may include:

• Getting more physical activity
• Making healthier food choices
• Losing weight if needed
• Getting enough sleep
• Quitting smoking

You may also need medication to:

• Lower blood pressure
• Lower cholesterol or triglycerides
• Manage blood sugar
• Support weight loss when appropriate

Because metabolic syndrome involves several related health concerns, regular follow-up is important. Your doctor can monitor your blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol, and other risk factors and adjust your treatment as needed.

Metabolic syndrome can affect several parts of your health at once. But you don’t have to wait until it leads to diabetes or other complications to take action.

At Diabetes & Glandular Disease Clinic, our San Antonio endocrinologists can evaluate your blood sugar and other metabolic risk factors and develop a treatment plan based on your needs. Contact DGD today to schedule an appointment.

1. Can Metabolic Syndrome Be Reversed?

The risk factors that make up metabolic syndrome often improve with treatment. Weight management, physical activity, dietary changes, and medication may improve your numbers enough that you no longer meet the criteria for metabolic syndrome.

Continued follow-up is still important because these risk factors can return.

2. Should I Be Tested for Metabolic Syndrome?

Your doctor can check for the risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome during routine medical care. This may be especially important if you have excess abdominal weight, high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, elevated blood sugar, or a family history of diabetes.

3. Is Metabolic Syndrome the Same as Diabetes?

Metabolic syndrome isn’t the same as diabetes, but it can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Many people with metabolic syndrome have insulin resistance or elevated blood sugar that hasn’t yet reached the diabetes range.

Treating these risk factors early may help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes.