If you’ve experienced that inexplicable weight gain around your middle that won’t budge, the mid-afternoon crash that leaves you reaching for caffeine or sugar just to stay awake, or the brain fog and fatigue that keeps you exhausted and frustrated, you may have insulin resistance.

The truth is these symptoms are not just inevitable signs of aging that should be dismissed. Although often ignored, these alarm sirens are signalling a breakdown in your metabolic health. Insulin resistance is the MOST COMMON, yet overlooked, epidemic hiding behind weight loss resistance and eventual development of Type 2 Diabetes.

At Primal Wellness Clinic, we specialize in not just managing symptoms, but rather tackling insulin resistance with proven functional medicine root-cause strategies. This allows us to guide you to reversing this condition completely, all while shedding weight and taking control of your future.

How does insulin resistance happen?

Insulin is the hormone that allows glucose to move from your bloodstream into your cells to use as energy. This keeps your blood sugar stable. Insulin resistance occurs when your cells stop listening to insulin, resulting in glucose spikes, pancreas overdrive, cellular fatigue, and ultimately prediabetes and then Type 2 Diabetes.

What are the symptoms of metabolic syndrome?

Before diabetes occurs, high circulating insulin causes massive damage by promoting inflammation, triggering fat storage, and disrupting hormones. This is known as metabolic health syndrome. If you have 3 or more of these 5 conditions, you will likely be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome: excessive fat accumulation around the waist, high blood pressure, high fasting glucose, high triglycerides, and low HDL (also known as “good cholesterol”)

High levels of insulin actually cause chaos with other hormones as well. Androgen production is commonly driven up in women, leading to PCOS and fatigue. If you experience chronic stress, this causes your body to release cortisol and raise your blood sugar. In an insulin resistant person, these stress induced blood sugar spikes create a vicious cycle of cortisol and insulin pumping. This continuous over-pumping of insulin and the exhausting struggle for blood sugar regulation causes widespread inflammation in the body. You might be surprised, but this cycle of inflammation and insulin resistance is a major driver of EVERY chronic disease. The inflammation further impairs your cells’ ability to respond to insulin, only making the resistance worse.

How can you improve insulin resistance naturally?

There are three parts of this equation that must work together in order to restore insulin sensitivity at the cellular level. The first part is… you guessed it... diet. Depending on your current metabolic health, certain targeted strategies can accelerate reversal better than others. Always consult with a trusted provider before starting any of these aggressive diets, especially if you are taking any blood sugar regulating medication, including GLP-1 injections.)

1. Low Carb Diet - This is where carbohydrates are intentionally kept low (below 50-100g per day) enough to significantly reduce glucose spikes and insulin demand.

2. Keto - The popular ketogenic diet drastically reduces carbohydrate intake, pushing the body into a state of ketosis, where it must rely almost entirely on fat for fuel.

3. Intermittent Fasting - These forced periods where no food is consumed, allows insulin to drop back to baseline. This rest period for your cells is critical to them becoming more responsive. Common protocols include 12:12 or 6:8 windows.

The second part of this equation is exercise. Movement truly is medicine and when it comes to combatting insulin resistance. One of the best methods of exercise for insulin sensitivity is weight training. This is because muscle cells require glucose, meaning simply having more muscle makes your body more efficient at clearing sugar from your blood. Another great method to add to your daily schedule is post-meal walks. Just a 15 minute walk after each meal, can SIGNIFICANTLY reduce glucose spikes by using the sugar you just consumed.

The last, but not least, element of this equation is calming your cortisol levels. Cortisol directly elevates blood sugar, exacerbating insulin resistance, so it is important to manage stress effectively. First and foremost, prioritize your sleep. Getting less than 7 hours of sleep dramatically worsens your insulin resistance, regardless of your diet. Grounding practices like meditation, yoga, and deep breathing can also help calm the nervous system and reduce unnecessary cortisol spikes. There are many apps available for download that can walk you through breathing exercises, meditations, or yoga. We recommended you incorporate one of these practices into your daily routine.

Can you use supplements to help with blood sugar?

While supplements won’t have the same impact as diet and exercise, there are some that can enhance insulin sensitivity and support metabolic health, especially when dealing with high inflammation. These natural compounds include: Berberine, Alpha-Lipoic Acid, Magnesium, and Chromium. Make sure to schedule your free consultation to talk to a provider, before starting any new supplements.

It’s time to put insulin resistance in reverse

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Both insulin resistance and prediabetes are reversible, HOWEVER, the window of opportunity requires immediate and informed action. At Primal Wellness Clinic, we don’t guess when it comes to treating insulin resistance. We utilize advanced testing to create a personalized protocol to natural reverse insulin in your unique body.

If you’re ready to take control and restore your metabolic health, schedule your complementary consultation now.