Burn Fat by Reversing Insulin Resistance

Mar 7

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.