What Is insulin Resistance?

Have you heard of insulin resistance? One in three Americans suffer from this blood sugar-related syndrome, which can cause serious health issues, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, strokes, and even cancer.^1,2 

What Is Insulin Resistance?  

Insulin resistance is a condition where the hormone insulin cannot effectively regulate our blood glucose levels. Insulin resistance occurs when your body’s cells ignore insulin’s signals to absorb the circulating glucose, which then builds up in your bloodstream and triggers more insulin production. This increase in insulin and glucose can lead to many serious health problems and increase the aging process.  

The exact causes of insulin resistance are complex and still being investigated, but we do know that it can be influenced by chronically high blood sugar levels, as well as other factors like genetics, diet, lack of exercise, poor sleep, and environmental toxins.^3–5 

Symptoms of Insulin Resistance 

Do you have insulin resistance? Your body speaks to you and gives you signals every day as to how it is doing. These signs of insulin resistance may be a warning: 

• Trouble losing weight, even with a healthy diet and regular exercise 
• Fatigue, especially after meals
• High triglycerides, cholesterol, and/or blood pressure
• High blood sugar levels, which can lead to diabetes and metabolic syndrome  
• Blurred vision or other eye problems, such as cataracts or glaucoma  
• Erectile dysfunction in men   
• Infertility in women  
• PCOS in women
• Insomnia 

Diet for Insulin Resistance 

It’s important to maintain a healthy, balanced diet, especially when you have insulin resistance. This means reducing your intake of processed foods and limiting the amount of sugar you eat. Choosing non-starchy vegetables and increasing your fiber can help reduce high blood sugar linked to insulin resistance. Drinking plenty of water each day to stay hydrated is also essential. 

Limiting refined carbohydrates like sugar and white flour, and other processed foods that contribute to unhealthy blood sugar levels, is one of the most important dietary factors for healthy insulin function. 

Insulin Resistance Treatments 

Insulin resistance can be addressed by changing your diet and exercise habits. The more you work to maintain a healthy lifestyle, the better your body will be able to use insulin. There are also natural ingredients and nutrients you can take to address and treat insulin resistance, and maintain balanced insulin and blood sugar levels. 

Clinically Researched Modified Citrus Pectin for Healthy Insulin and Metabolic Function 

Modified Citrus Pectin is an important super-nutrient that supports healthy metabolic function by blocking the alarm protein, galectin-3. Extensive research shows that elevated galectin-3 is involved in insulin resistance and metabolic problems related to diabetes, obesity and more.⁶ Clinically researched MCP is the only available agent shown to block galectin-3, reduce chronic inflammation and organ damage, optimize cellular performance and promote healthy aging and longevity.  

Maitake for Insulin Resistance  

One study found that maitake mushrooms can be beneficial in managing blood sugar levels and insulin resistance. Data showed that when taking maitake mushrooms, results include healthy weight loss, lowered insulin levels, lowered blood sugar levels, and healthy cholesterol levels. It also increased insulin sensitivity and decreased insulin resistance–both factors in type 2 diabetes.⁷ 

A maitake mushroom supplement I recommend in my practice provides powerful metabolic support for people who specifically have type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome (aka pre-diabetes). In addition to maitake, this formula also includes targeted antioxidant nutrients that benefit insulin function and blood glucose balance, while reducing cravings and supporting sustainable energy. While this formula is important for those with metabolic conditions, it’s also great for anyone seeking support for efficient metabolism and better glucose balance. This supplement will add to our metabolic defense of glucose control.  

Probiotics and Diabetes 

Certain probiotics can significantly improve blood sugar balance in the body and can help circulate sugars from the bloodstream to your cells for healthy and sustainable energy production. Research shows that the right probiotic can reduce fasting blood sugar, reduce HbA1c, a marker of blood sugar control, boost insulin sensitivity and control insulin resistance.^8-10 

In my practice, I recommend a unique probiotic formula that provides healing benefits for gut health, helps balance glucose and insulin, and supports optimal immunity and overall vitality. 

While insulin resistance is a serious threat to our health, there are natural, healthy lifestyle changes and solutions we can apply every day to benefit our wellness long-term. With the right diet, lifestyle and supplement support, we can optimize glucose balance and insulin function, and promote overall health in every area, naturally. 

Sources: 

1. Jee SH, Kim HJ, Lee J. Obesity, insulin resistance and cancer risk. Yonsei Med J. 2005;46(4):449-455.  

2. Amin MN, Hussain MS, Sarwar MS, Rahman Moghal MM, Das A, Hossain MZ, Chowdhury JA, Millat MS, Islam MS. How the association between obesity and inflammation may lead to insulin resistance and cancer. Diabetes Metab Syndr. 2019 Mar-Apr;13(2):1213-1224. 

3. Donga E, van Dijk M, van Dijk JG, Biermasz NR, Lammers GJ, van Kralingen KW, Corssmit EP, Romijn JA. A single night of partial sleep deprivation induces insulin resistance in multiple metabolic pathways in healthy subjects. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010 Jun;95(6):2963-8. 

4. Roberts CK, Hevener AL, Barnard RJ. Metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance: underlying causes and modification by exercise training. Compr Physiol. 2013 Jan;3(1):1-58.5.  

5. Kim YA, Park JB, Woo MS, Lee SY, Kim HY, Yoo YH. Persistent Organic Pollutant-Mediated Insulin Resistance. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Feb 3;16(3):448. 

6. Kingwell K. Diabetes: Turning down galectin 3 to combat insulin resistance. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2016 Dec 29;16(1):18.  

7. Chen Y-H, Lee C-H, Hsu T-H, Lo H-C. Submerged-culture mycelia and broth of the maitake medicinal mushroom Grifola frondosa (higher basidiomycetes) alleviate type 2 diabetes-induced alterations in immunocytic function. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2015;17(6):541-556. 

8. Kocsis, T., Molnár, B., Németh, D. et al. Probiotics have beneficial metabolic effects in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Sci Rep 10, 11787 (2020). 

9. Yao K, Zeng L, He Q, Wang W, Lei J, Zou X. Effect of Probiotics on Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Meta-Analysis of 12 Randomized Controlled Trials. Med Sci Monit. 2017;23:3044-3053.  

10. Kim YA, Keogh JB, Clifton PM. Probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics and insulin sensitivity. Nutr Res Rev. 2018 Jun;31(1):35-51.