Insulin Resistance and PCOS
Have you ever felt your blood sugar drop? It can manifest as shaking, insatiable hunger, sweating, anxiety-ridden dizziness, and it’s hard to ignore. Even a mild low blood sugar experience of shakiness and discomfort sends off that little signal to your brain that questions you - have you eaten in a while?
Any of those sensations can be incredibly jarring to experience mentally. Now imagine the physical impact that’s taking place inside the body. On a typical day, blood sugar levels should stay fairly regular - varying only to complete normal processes throughout the body, like processing meals.
But what processes meals? Insulin. Insulin is a substance our amazing bodies produce to regulate these processes and keep glucose (sugar) at bay in our blood. But, it doesn’t always work the way we want it to boo. Different factors like PCOS can make some of us more susceptible to insulin issues. More specifically, insulin resistance.
So let’s talk about it babe, what is it? Does PCOS cause insulin resistance? And how can I reduce insulin resistance in PCOS?
What is Insulin Resistance?
Insulin resistance, also known as insulin sensitivity, is a condition where your body isn’t responding like it should to insulin being released. But let’s back it up even more babe, build the foundation. What’s insulin?
Insulin is a hormone your pancreas creates to regulate your blood sugar level. Under normal circumstances, it’s produced when your body breaks down whatever you had to eat. As your body starts to segment what it needs for energy, glucose enters the bloodstream, aka sugar. Your pancreas’s job is to produce insulin to categorize your glucose to be used for muscles, liver, and fat cells. Afterward, your blood sugar goes down, and thus insulin does as well too.
But, when you have a sensitivity to insulin, your body doesn’t categorize glucose the same way. Your muscles, liver, and even fat cells don’t pick up glucose- they become resistant to insulin - and your blood sugar doesn’t stabilize. Thus, resulting in abnormal blood sugar levels, up and down, up and down. We’re talking big spikes and drops. All the while, your body is struggling to keep up with the pace of trying to process this glucose.
These spikes and drops can cause intense and noticeable symptoms such as:
Increased hunger and thirst
Blurred vision
Headaches
Slow-healing cuts and infections
Frequent urination
Mood instability
These rapidly changing levels and symptoms wreak havoc on your body and all of its functions. As you can imagine, a domino effect can start to take place. So babe, if you’re wondering if insulin resistance can impact your hormones and conditions like PCOS, negatively reduce fertility, and stall or prevent weight loss, the answer is yes.
Is it fixable? I’m excited to again say, YES! Keep reading to see if you might be suffering from insulin resistance and how to keep it from being the possible root of your PCOS.
How to Test for Insulin Resistance
The thought of insulin resistance PCOS sounds intense I know - and in reality, it really can be! But there are ways to test for it and start down the path of taking control of your insulin resistance.
There are several factors that go into testing for insulin resistance. First, your doctor may ask you general questions about your lifestyle and this is the first step to painting a picture of the reactions going on inside your body. Then, they’ll likely do a physical exam, much like an annual physical. Last, your doc may run some blood tests including fasting glucose and/or insulin, an oral glucose tolerance test, and an A1C test to measure your blood sugar levels over an extended period of time.
If your doctor doesn’t run all of these tests, don’t be afraid to ask or find a physician that works best for YOU!
One last note on testing, if you have PCOS (a fellow cyster), you should absolutely be tested for insulin resistance. Talk to your gynecologist or primary care doctor to see if this is a factor in your diagnosis, it’s worth it.
Does Insulin Resistance Cause PCOS?
YES. There is a profound correlation between the two. If you’ve been diagnosed with PCOS by your doctor, it’s possible you have the insulin-resistant form of PCOS. It’s the most common and can be a very destructive one as well.
As mentioned above, insulin resistance impacts more than just one system of the body - elevated and aggravated blood sugar has full body impacts. Battling insulin resistance can increase the likelihood of weight gain, diabetes, high blood pressure, impacting other hormones like increased testosterone in the ovaries, causing high androgens and a PCOS diagnosis. And with PCOS, we know the drill:
Fertility challenges
Hair growth on the face/body
Acne
Weight Gain
Cravings
Fatigue
Irregular periods
And the list goes on, resulting in a spiral of trying desperately to manage symptoms with birth control, hormonal steroids, and other drugs like Metformin. One band-aid gets placed on top of another.
But cyster, I know it feels totally crazy, but you’re not alone. There are tons of PCOS cysters out there fighting the same fight as you boo. Tons of which I’ve helped become the boss of their PCOS, grabbing insulin resistance, and taking it under control. Are you ready to do the same babe? Check out my PCOS Boss Academy below!
How to Reverse Insulin Resistance with PCOS
Despite what some doctors may have told you, when it comes to Insulin resistance PCOS, Metformin isn’t your only option. Avoid the metformin poops (IYKYK babe), and use lifestyle changes instead to kick it to the curb.
Are you ready? You can start working on your insulin resistance as soon as today, there are simple steps to take. Start planning on a PCOS insulin resistance diet - and incorporate supplements designed for insulin resistant cysters just like you. Here are my top recommendations of formulas specifically designed to support a healthy cycle and women suffering from PCOS:
Protein, protein!
As a woman with PCOS, protein is your bread and butter to curbing sugar cravings and balancing your blood sugar. Yet, getting enough protein can seem hard to obtain. Incorporating a good protein powder (that’s low in sugar) is hard to find - here’s a personal favorite that works for me and my clients and is specifically made for your PCOS.
Magnesium - More than for Muscles
You might be surprised to hear this, but magnesium is one of the best hormones for women’s health. Not only can it relax you at the end of the night, but magnesium also supports healthy bowel movements, digestion, inflammation, and yes, blood sugar issues. If you have PCOS boo, you need this one.
The Androgen Blocker
As mentioned, one of the top impacts that blood sugar issues caused by insulin resistance can have on hormones is excess androgens. And cyster, I know we all know a thing or two about excess androgens… hair loss on the head, hair growth (in the wrong places), acne, and weight gain. Incorporating a quality androgen blocker blend like this one can be the jumping-off point to support your fight against insulin resistance.
Stop fighting with your PCOS, and make PCOS your bitch babe. Lose PCOS weight, put a stop to sugar cravings, and kiss blood sugar spikes goodbye! See ya never!
Looking for more support? You’ve got it boo. Come join me and hundreds of other cysters in the PCOS Boss Academy. In this program, you can fight against PCOS with the support of my guidance as a registered women’s dietitian and other women. Let’s get to work!