What is insulin sensitivity?

What does "increased insulin sensitivity" mean?

• What does the phrase "increased insulin sensitivity" mean? I know it means something good, but not sure if it means more / less insulin released or other effects of it on the body

• Answer:

  Insulin is a hormone, released by the pancreas, which acts via specific 'insulin receptors' in cells. An increase in the level of insulin receptor production will mean that the cells are more sensitive to insulin. Those with type 2 diabetes are 'insulin resistant', which is essentially the opposite of insulin sensitivity. Essentially the insulin receptor is how cells 'know' how much insulin there is. If the cell produces more insulin receptor, it 'thinks' there's more insulin, and vice versa.