Understanding Insulin Resistance and Its Impact on Hormonal Balance & Healthy Ageing

When it comes to women's health, insulin resistance plays a much bigger role than most people realise.

It is estimated that 1 in 3 Adults has Insulin resistance! This is an insanely high number! And there is a correlation with 8 of the TOP 10 leading causes of death and blood sugar dysregulation...

So whether or not your insulin levels and blood sugar have been on your radar, they should be now. 

It's not just about blood sugar, weight gain or the risk of developing diabetes—it can also affect your hormones, particularly your sex hormones, leading to a whole host of frustrating and often confusing symptoms.

So, what exactly is insulin resistance?

Well, insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps your cells absorb glucose (sugar) from your bloodstream for energy. When your cells stop responding to insulin effectively, your pancreas compensates by producing even more insulin. This overproduction creates an imbalance that affects various systems in your body, including your hormonal balance.

Before we jump into the hormonal side of things, here are some common signs you might be dealing with insulin resistance.

Some common symptoms of Insulin Resistance:

- Weight gain, especially around the belly
- Cravings for sugary or starchy foods
- Feeling tired or sluggish, particularly after meals
- Difficulty losing weight, even when you're eating well and exercising
- Brain fog or trouble concentrating
- Increased hunger, even after eating
- Skin changes like dark patches (acanthosis nigricans)
- Mood swings and irritability

If you're nodding along to several of these, insulin resistance could be playing a big part in your health issues—and your hormones might be suffering because of it.

How does insulin resistance impacts your hormones, and why it might be behind some of the symptoms you’re experiencing?

1. Increased Androgen Production

One of the first things insulin resistance does is trigger an overproduction of insulin, which, in turn, can overstimulate your ovaries. This causes them to produce more androgens (male hormones) like testosterone. Now, while women naturally produce a small amount of testosterone, too much can lead to PCOS and symptoms such as acne, excessive hair growth (hirsutism), and hair loss.

 2. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Tying directly into #! If you're dealing with PCOS, insulin resistance might be at the heart of it. PCOS is a common hormonal disorder in women, and insulin resistance plays a huge role in its development. With insulin driving up androgen levels, normal ovulation is disrupted, leading to irregular or absent periods. Many women with PCOS also develop small cysts on their ovaries (although this is not always the case), and the hormonal imbalance can make it difficult to conceive.

3. Increase in SHBG

Insulin resistance can mess with other important hormones too, like sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). SHBG binds to hormones like estrogen and testosterone in your blood. When insulin resistance disrupts SHBG, it can cause wild fluctuations in estrogen and testosterone levels, throwing your entire reproductive system out of balance. This can lead to things like estrogen dominace which can be the root cause of many PMS symptoms, heavy periods, clotting, tender breasts and mood swings.

4. Menstrual Irregularities

Thanks to these hormonal imbalances, women with insulin resistance often notice their menstrual cycles becoming unpredictable. You might experience longer or shorter cycles, missed periods, or even heavy, irregular bleeding. This is because insulin resistance impacts your body's ability to ovulate regularly, which is needed for keeping your cycle on track.

5. Gestational Diabetes

If you’re planning on having children, insulin resistance is something to address now. During pregnancy, insulin resistance can increase, leading to gestational diabetes. This condition puts both mum and baby at risk, with potential complications.

6. Impaired Fertility

Insulin resistance can be a hidden reason for having difficulty conceiving. By disrupting ovulation and causing hormonal imbalances, it can throw off your fertility. Addressing insulin resistance is key if you’re looking to restore regular ovulation and improve your chances of conception.

7. Weight Gain and Fat Distribution

One of the most frustrating aspects of insulin resistance is its tendency to cause weight gain, especially around the middle. And here’s the kicker: the more weight you gain, especially abdominal fat, the worse insulin resistance gets, which then further disrupts your hormones. It's a vicious cycle, but one that can be broken.

8. Gonadotropin Release

Finally, insulin resistance can affect how your pituitary gland releases gonadotropins, the hormones responsible for regulating your menstrual cycle and ovulation. When these hormones are thrown off, it can lead to irregular ovulation and fertility issues, further highlighting how important it is to manage insulin resistance.

Ok, now if you do have insulin resistance, or are worried, I don't want you to freak out...

Firstly, you may be wondering, can I test for insulin resistance? And yes you can.

These are the blood tests you want:

• Fasting Insulin: The ideal number is 5, if you are above a 7 then you are verging on the resistant side
• Fasting Blood Glucose: Below 5.0mmol/L 
• HbA1C: Between 4% - 5.6% (above this you are leading into either insulin resistance/pre diabetes or diabetes)

*Note: fasted means, no eating or drinking anything except for water for 12 hours prior to blood test (this includes no supplements)

The good news is you can make significant improvements with the right approach. Managing insulin resistance is vital, not just for your blood sugar, but for restoring balance to your hormones.

I personally had insulin resistance and was able to reverse it with the right nutrition and lifestyle and lose 20kg 

Here’s where I see the most success in my practice and with myself:

- Balanced, nutrient-dense eating:that focuses on whole foods and stabilising blood sugar. This is through a LOW GI diet, plenty of green leafy vegetables, protein and healthy fats at each meal. And always making sure breakfast is LOW CARB.

- Regular physical activity in the form of strength/resistance training and walking, which can improve insulin sensitivity and hormone balance

- Stress management, since chronic stress can worsen both insulin resistance and hormonal imbalances. Getting cortisol balanced is essential, this can be done through herbal adaptogens, magnesium, regular protein, quality rest and sleep.

- Targeted supplements and herbal medicine, which can support insulin sensitivity and help restore hormonal balance

-Plenty of quality sleep, as poor sleep increases insulin resistance and disrupts hormone production. JUST ONE NIGHT OF BAD SLEEP GIVES YOU THE INSULIN RESISTANCE OF A TYPE 2 DIABETIC.

If you’re experiencing symptoms like irregular periods, weight gain, or struggling to conceive, addressing insulin resistance can be a game changer. It’s not just about balancing blood sugar—it’s about bringing your whole body, and your hormones, back into balance.

Ready to take control of your hormones and health? I can help you get to the root cause of your symptoms and support you in healing your body from the inside out.

There are two ways to work with me:

For personalised, intensive support book in for an online 1-1 naturopathic consult. I work with men and women all over the world to support their whole health healing. You can book a consult via this link: Book a 1-1 Here

Or try my 4 Week Kickstart program, based on the framework I have used with 1000's of clients to improve their insulin, balance their hormones, turn their bodies into fat burning machines and lower inflammation. This is a self guided program that includes done for you meal plans, shopping lists, longevity nutrition framework and so much more. You can find out more here: 4 Week Kickstart