What is insulin resistance?
Insulin resistance is when your cells stop responding well to insulin, the hormone that helps glucose enter cells. Your pancreas compensates by making more insulin — until it can't.
Common early signs
- Persistent fatigue after meals
- Unexplained weight gain around the midsection
- Skin tags or dark patches (acanthosis nigricans)
- Cravings for sugar and refined carbs
- Brain fog
What helps (according to evidence)
- Resistance training — improves insulin sensitivity within weeks
- Reducing refined carbohydrates — not all carbs, just the ones that spike glucose
- Sleep — even one night of poor sleep raises insulin resistance measurably
- GLP-1 medications — when lifestyle alone is not enough
Talk to your clinician about HOMA-IR or fasting insulin testing if you suspect insulin resistance.
