Frequently Asked Questions About Pre-Diabetes and Insulin Resistance

List of All Pre-Diabetes FAQs

Why does insulin resistance cause weight gain?

People with insulin resistance often make too much insulin in response to eating. They may also produce too much insulin in order to maintain normal blood sugar (blood glucose) levels.

The body cannot excrete excess insulin made by the pancreas; excess insulin is stored as fat in the body.  This is just one of the reasons why people with insulin resistance gain weight more easily than those who are not insulin resistant.

A simpler explanation is this:

• Insulin is a fat storing hormone - it triggers the body to store more fat;
  
  
• Insulin itself can be stored as body fat; and
  
  
• People with insulin resistance often make too much insulin.

People With Insulin Resistance Can Eat Normal Amounts of Food and May Still Gain Weight

The body requires more insulin to metabolize carbohydrates than it does fat and protein.  A low-calorie diet that is high in carbohydrates and unhealthily fats can trigger the pancreas to make too much insulin.

This means people with insulin resistance may consume a normal amount of food in terms of calories, but if it is from foods that trigger too much insulin response they can still gain weight.

One way to lose weight is to reduce the number of carbohydrates you eat. and to only eat low-glycemic carbohydrates.  Avoiding "fast acting" carbohydrate foods (foods that are high in sugar) also can reduce the amount of insulin your body needs to manufacture.  Fast acting foods include candy, juice, soda, and foods that contain sugar, corn syrup, and highly-processed starches.

Insulin Resistance Increases Hunger

Too much circulating insulin in the body can cause swings in blood sugar and moods.  This can lead to an increase in hunger and cravings for carbohydrates and fatty foods.  This creates a vicious cycle - a craving for the wrong types of food that when eaten, make you feel even hungrier, and gain more weight.

Fight Weight Gain by Eating Smarter

Making positive changes in your lifestyle now and following any medical treatment your doctor prescribes can often reverse pre-diabetes!

To lose weight faster, eliminate all sugar and processed foods from your diet. Eating carbohydrates triggers the body to produce insulin.

People who have metabolic disorders like PCOS, insulin resistance, and pre-diabetes may produce too much or too little insulin to metabolize carbohydrates properly.