What is Insulin Resistance? 

It's the inability of insulin to regulate or uptake glucose. Insulin Resistance is like pre-pre diabetes.


Five ways Insulin Resistance impacts health:

  • It creates chronic low grade inflammation
  • Changes fat distribution
  • Impacts the ability to conceive
  • Increases cholesterol
  • Increases the risk of non-fatty liver disease


Insulin levels and HOMA-IR (a combination of lab work that can detect insulin resisintace) are significantly associated with the ability to conceive is through decreased cycle ovulation, conception, pregnancy and live birth rates. 


The Good News 

We can detect insulin resistance through lab tests and respond promptly. There are several proven interventions such as dietary adjustments, lifestyle modifications, and supplements that can effectively reverse insulin resistance. Thats why I advocate for getting annual lab work done, even though the recommended guidelines only suggest screening adults aged 35-70 every three years for pre-diabetes. Identifying insulin resistance early can reduce the risk of developing pre-diabetes and diabetes, as well as their related health issues.

Labs for Insulin Resistance 

4 lab tests that are helpful for Insulin Resistance: 


  • Fasting Blood Sugar
  • HbA1C
  • HOMA-IR
  • Lipid panel

5 Tips for Reducing Insulin Resistance 

  1. Get your vitamin D levels tested (having levels >75 reduce the risk of progressing to type 2 diabetes and improve cardio-metabolic health).
  2. Increase protein intake. Hitting your individual protein requirements is crucial for blood sugar regulation. 
  3. Incorporate Whey protein (f you’re okay with dairy). This is helpful for insulin release, decreases loss of lean tissue, and so much more.
  4. Increase fibre intake.
  5. Reach out to your Naturopathic Doctor to discuss supplementation options that are customized for you – there are a ton out there (such as berberine and resveratrol), but the right one for you depends on your lab work, your health history and symptoms.

The Most Common Nutrition Mistake I see People Make 

The most common nutrition mistake I see people making with insulin resistance is intermittent fasting. Over time, it doesn’t help, and the research doesn’t support this for insulin resistance. It does help with reducing calories, if over-fuelling is the issue, but there are a lot of other dietary practices that have been shown to improve insulin resistance. 

You Deserve Compassionate and Evidence-Based Support

If you haven't been screened, are struggling to lose weight, or suspect you may have Insulin Resistance, book a 15-minute free discovery call below to get started.