EP 30: What is Insulin Resistance?

The Better Prescription

Welcome back to another episode of The Better Prescription Podcast. In today’s show we explore the pivotal, but often ignored issue of insulin resistance. Tuning in, you’ll hear in-depth explanations of insulin’s role in different parts of the body like our muscles, fat, liver, and brain and how insulin resistance causes a range of adverse symptoms and imbalances. Discover how the seemingly simple hormone, insulin, supports the body by stimulating glucose uptake, and why insulin resistance impairs the body on multiple levels. We unpack how the effect of insulin resistance on the brain can impair signaling and alter your feelings of satiety, as well its potentially link to Alzheimer's, which has often been referred to as type 3 diabetes in academic literature. Pre-diabetes is more common than you think: 84 million people, ages 18 and older have pre-diabetes. While genetics play a large role in the likelihood of developing immune resistance or diabetes, there are lifestyle changes that can prevent, treat and even reverse insulin resistance and pre-diabetes. Tune in to learn more about the pertinent topic and how healthier choices can help you and your loved ones address insulin resistance!

Key Points From This Episode:

• An introduction to today’s topic: insulin resistance.
• A summary of the hormone insulin and its many functions in the body.
• A breakdown of insulin resistance syndrome and its effects on the body.
• Learn about insulin’s pivotal role in glucose utilization and metabolism.
• Insulin’s effect on the muscles of the body.
• The relationship between insulin and fat tissue.
• Why insulin resistance prevents the breakdown of fat.
• The role of ketogenesis in insulin resistance.
• Why diabetic and insulin-resistant individuals struggle to lose weight.
• Insulin’s effect on the liver, where glucose uptake is not insulin-dependent.
• The pivotal role of insulin resistance in various aspects of endothelial functioning.
• Why insulin resistance is associated with endothelial dysfunction.
• Some of the diseases associated with endothelial dysfunction like hypertension, heart disease, and stroke.
• How endothelium produces nitric oxide and other key hormones.
• The negative effects that arise when these systems are out of balance.
• How insulin resistance increases the likelihood of blood clots.
• How insulin resistance affects the brain.
• The effect of insulin on your feelings of satiety.
• Insight into the potential link between insulin resistance and Alzheimer’s disease.
• Why pre-diabetes is more common than you think.
• Some of the factors that can increase your likelihood of insulin resistance, like obesity and genetic predispositions.
• How we use the COPE methodology to treat insulin resistance, diabetes, and pre-diabetes.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Anchor Wellness Center

Dr. Minni Malhotra

Dr. Minni Malhotra Email

The Institute for Functional Medicine