Image shows blog title Insulin Resistance Part 1

Insulin Resistance.

Gaining weight around your middle during perimenopause? Struggling with Sugar Cravings? Acne? PCOS? Fluid retention? It is very possible you are becoming or are already insulin resistant.

What is insulin resistance?

Insulin resistance is the condition of reduced sensitivity to the hormone insulin.

This leads to chronically elevated insulin levels, which can lead to type 2 diabetes and is sometimes referred to as pre-diabetes.

What is insulin and why is this important?

Insulin is the hormone secreted by the pancreas in response to blood sugar levels rising. Insulin helps get the glucose (sugar) from the blood into the cells where it can be effectively used for energy.

This is important because chronically elevated insulin levels can create an environment where fat storage ramps up, you have low energy, fat starts to accumulate in the liver (fatty liver) and you develop chronic inflammation.

It can be a vicious cycle.

Insulin Resistance & Perimenopause

Why is insulin resistance more of an issue in Perimenopause?

You may have already figured out that that the way you ate in your 20’s and 30’s may not be working for you anymore.

This is because estrogen is insulin sensitising.  A decline in estrogen can trigger a shift to insulin resistance.

Meanwhile, Insulin resistance can worsen the symptoms of perimenopause, so it can be a vicious cycle.

Perimenopause is really a pivotal point for many Women.  It is a critical window of opportunity to future proof your health.

Treating insulin resistance and restoring metabolic health is one of the foundations of treatment for perimenopause symptoms and indeed health problems in general.

So how do we become more insulin sensitive?

You are going to need to change the way you eat and your lifestyle.  The habits and lifestyle that contributed to the problem, are not going to fix it.

It is not always easy I get that, but it is worth it.  The number one treatment for insulin resistance is eating balanced meals to get your blood sugars  balanced.

This is why I talk so much about balanced meals and adequate protein. Getting this right really is the foundation of good health. Your wellbeing depends on you having balanced blood sugar levels.

This is also why I share my  balanced meal planner for hormonal harmony available for free (download yours here).  

In part 2 of this blog I will break down the how and give you some solutions to get started.

Read Part 2 – Reversing Insulin Resistance

If you know you will need support to implement any of the changes, and make them work for you and your lifestyle this is my speciality and you can learn more about working with me one-on-one here.

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Julie McGill

Perimenopausal mother to 4 and holistic clinical nutritionist helping women thrive through perimenopause, naturally.

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Image of Julie McGill Holistic Nutritionist
Hi, I'm Julie

I help Women thrive through perimenopause, naturally.  I’m a qualified & holistic clinical nutritionist, mum to 4 and also navigating my way through second puberty.

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