Burn Fat by Reversing Insulin Resistance

The single biggest hormonal disorder in today’s world is insulin resistance – the main underlying cause of obesity. Insulin Resistance is on the rise: One in two Americans has pre-diabetes and 75 percent are overweight. It is widely known that excess insulin is a result of the consumption of hyper-processed foods made of sugar and flour. But there is more to the picture. The good news is – insulin resistance is reversible.

 

The Role of Insulin in Health and Weight

Insulin Resistance affects half of all adults in the U.S. Insulin sensitivity is not only essential for optimal weight but also for optimal health, as it is the leading cause of many common health disorders such as obesity, pre-diabetes, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, vascular disease, and dementia. Holistic functional medicine approaches emphasize the importance of addressing insulin sensitivity to prevent and reverse these chronic conditions. Insulin resistance doubles a person’s risk for heart attack and stroke and is directly linked to a higher risk for certain cancers since insulin seems to fuel the growth of tumors.

 

The majority of people who are suffering from insulin resistance are unaware of their condition, as the condition can be asymptomatic. In fact, 90% of people with insulin resistance remain undiagnosed for decades even under the care of a doctor. The changes in the body begin long before a person is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, which is typically revealed through a routine blood test. It is estimated that 15-30% of people with prediabetes get type 2 diabetes within 5 years.

 

The Role Of Insulin

Insulin is a peptide hormone produced by the pancreas. It regulates blood sugar (glucose) in the body by helping glucose get into the cells in order to be used for energy. Insulin is essential to survival - every cell of our body has insulin receptors. After a meal, blood sugar levels naturally rise, prompting the pancreas to release insulin. Functional medicine practitioners often assess insulin function alongside lifestyle factors to design personalized interventions. Insulin helps the cells to absorb glucose from the bloodstream, thus blood sugar levels start to drop. Additionally, insulin reduces the production of glucose in the liver to lower blood glucose levels. Excess blood glucose is stored in the liver and muscle. When these processes function properly, blood sugar levels are kept stable. Insulin resistance occurs when those mechanisms are thrown off, aka insulin tells your cells that fuel is coming, but they don’t open up to receive glucose. Excess glucose builds up in the bloodstream, which after a while, gets stored as body fat. The pancreas produces more insulin in an attempt to make the cells respond, but in pursuit gets fatigued, resulting in insulin deficiency.

 

~ An increase in blood sugar is normal after ingesting food, it is the persistence of the high levels that is causing insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is the main underlying cause of diabetes. ~

 

Insulin is needed in the right amounts in the body - too high and too low levels are both problematic. Chronic low levels stimulate the liver to continuously produce glucose, whereas any excess gets dumped into the blood. Chronically high levels promote weight gain and inflammation since insulin is the main driver of fat storage.

 

Insulin resistance doesn’t happen overnight.  Insulin resistance can go for years unnoticed, as its symptoms are broad and unspecific. Note: You do not have to be overweight to have insulin resistance. 

 

Symptoms of Insulin Resistance

  • Weight gain

  • Weight loss resistance

  • Fatigue after meals

  • Excess fat around the waist

  • Premature aging

  • Uncontrolled sugar and/or carb cravings

  • Dark patches on the neck, elbows, knees, knuckles, and armpits

  • Chronic Fatigue

  • Excessive thirst

  • Excessive urination

  • Fatty liver

  • Low testosterone

  • Menstrual irregularities

  • Infertility

  • Elevated Fasting Blood Sugar

  • Acne

  • Fluid retention, swelling in ankles

 

Insulin resistance causes a person to get stuck in sugar-burning mode. This metabolic inflexibility permits a person to enter the fat-burning mode, which makes weight loss impossible.  

 

Root causes of Insulin Resistance

  •  Chronic stress (being stuck in fight or flight / unresolved emotional trauma)

  • Genetics

  • Age (People over age 45 are at a greater risk for type 2 diabetes)

  • Pathogens

  • High-carbohydrate diet (in particular from refined carbohydrates)

  • High-fructose corn syrup

  • Lack of exercise/movement

  • MCAS

  • Histamine Intolerance

  • Nutrient deficiencies

  • Hypothyroidism

  • Environmental hormones (such as plastics or phthalates). Phthalates can induce fat formation and inflammatory responses in the body, increase insulin resistance and contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes. People with high urinary phthalate concentrations are 48% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.

  • Pesticides

  • Non-stick coating (such as Teflon)

  • Elevated cholesterol or blood pressure levels

  • A history of heart disease or stroke

  • Polycystic ovary syndrome (Insulin resistance is found in 50-70% of females with PCOS)

  • Certain medications, including antipsychotics or steroid medications

  • Preservatives (e.g triclosan and paraben)

  • Hormonal disorders, including Cushing’s syndrome

  • Sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea

  • Smoking

  • Excess use of Artificial Sweeteners

 

There are certain blood markers to detect insulin sensitivity (you’ll find the functional ranges in the PDF below): Hemoglobin A1c, Fasting blood glucose, blood sugar levels (fasted and non-fasted), triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol. Find out if you have insulin resistance by ordering a comprehensive panel (including Glycemic Control, Glucose, Hemoglobin A1c, Glycated Serum Protein, Insulin Resistance, Adiponectin, Ferritin, Beta Cell Function, and Insulin) here.

While the conventional approach to insulin resistance is lifelong medication to control blood sugar with drugs or insulin, functional medicine has a different viewpoint on this. Insulin resistance is reversible via diet, stress management, and lowering inflammation. Want a solution to reversing insulin resistance and diabetes to finally shed stubborn fat? (Hint: there is a natural supplement that has been shown to drop blood sugar levels by 13% in just one week!) Find my favorite strategies in the PDF below.

 
 
 

Prices are in USD - please click on the document for a detailed description.

 
 
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