Insulin Resistance: The Sneaky Metabolic Block That’s Making You Gain Weight (and Feel Exhausted)
If you’ve been struggling to lose weight, constantly feel tired, or find yourself craving sugar and carbs even after eating “healthy” — insulin resistance might be behind it.
It’s wildly common, massively misunderstood, and often completely missed in standard bloodwork.
Let’s change that.
💡 So What Is Insulin Resistance?
Insulin is a hormone made by your pancreas that helps shuttle glucose (aka sugar) from your bloodstream into your cells, where it’s used for energy.
When everything’s working properly, insulin acts like a key—unlocking your cells so fuel can get in.
But with insulin resistance, the lock gets jammed. Your cells stop responding to insulin properly, which means more glucose (and insulin) stays in your bloodstream.
The result?
– Your body stores more fat (especially around the belly)
– You feel tired, hungry, and crashy
– And your metabolism slows down to protect you
🚨 Signs You Might Be Insulin Resistant
Insulin resistance doesn’t always scream at you. Sometimes it whispers. Look for these clues:
– You gain weight easily (especially in your midsection)
– You feel hungry soon after eating
– You crave carbs or sugar (even when full)
– You’re exhausted but wired
– You crash after meals
– Your periods are irregular or you have PCOS
– You’ve been told your labs are “normal” but still don’t feel right
🔎 Why You Haven’t Been Diagnosed
Conventional medicine often waits until things hit the “diabetes” threshold to take action. But you can have insulin resistance for years—even decades—before that point. Most routine lab panels don’t include the right markers to catch it early.
As a naturopathic doctor, I look deeper. I often run these tests:
– 2h Insulin
– C-peptide
– HbA1C (a 3-month average of blood sugar)
– Free fatty acids
When we catch it early, we can reverse it. And the results are incredible.
🛠️ What to Do About It
Reversing insulin resistance is possible—and doesn’t require extremes. Here’s where we start:
– Balance your meals with protein, fiber, and healthy fats
– Move your body regularly, especially post-meal walks or strength training
– Prioritize sleep—seriously, it affects everything
– Targeted supplements, like berberine, inositol, or magnesium (based on your labs)
– Reduce snacking, especially if your meals aren’t balanced
– Lower stress, which spikes cortisol and worsens insulin resistance
Every body is different—but when we give your metabolism the support it needs, it starts working with you, not against you.
🩺 The Bottom Line?
Insulin resistance doesn’t mean you’re broken.
It means your body is trying to compensate for an imbalance.
And when we identify what’s off—we can correct it.
In health,
Dr. Renata, ND
PS—If you suspect insulin resistance might be part of your story, you don’t have to keep guessing. Book a discovery call and we’ll look at what your body’s really telling us—and what we can do to support it.