insulin and PCOS

PCOS and Insulin Resistance

Insulin resistance is one underlying root cause of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). In fact, some studies report that up to 70 percent of all women with PCOS have some degree of insulin resistance (1). 
In this article, we’ll define insulin resistance, how to test for it, and how we treat insulin resistance and PCOS from a root cause and functional medicine approach.

What is Insulin Resistance?

Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas that helps to regulate your blood sugar levels. 
After eating a meal, your pancreas releases insulin into your bloodstream. The insulin binds to receptors on your cells which allows glucose (broken-down carbohydrates) to move into your cells to be used for energy. By moving glucose into your cells, insulin lowers your blood sugar levels back to baseline after a meal.
Insulin resistance occurs when your cells do not respond properly to insulin binding. As a result, your blood sugar remains elevated (sugar stays in blood instead of going into the cell) and your pancreas over secretes insulin in an attempt to normalize blood sugar levels and fuel your cells. 
In simpler terms, when insulin isn’t doing its job to direct sugar into the cell, this is called insulin resistance. Your body thinks more and more insulin is needed to do the job so the pancreas secretes more insulin. This is why we see high insulin levels in early stage insulin resistance.
For optimal health, we want to reduce insulin resistance and improve insulin sensitivity—your cells’ ability to bind to insulin.

PCOS and Insulin Resistance

Many women with PCOS have insulin resistance, even if their body mass index (BMI) is categorized as “normal.”  Diet, lifestyle, and genetics can all affect insulin resistance.

How does insulin resistance affect PCOS? 

Insulin resistance leads to high insulin levels in the bloodstream, which worsens inflammation and causes the ovaries to produce more androgens (i.e. testosterone). Excess androgens are often the cause of unwanted PCOS symptoms like acne, facial hair, weight gain, or weight loss resistance. Chronic low-grade inflammation and high androgen levels subsequently worsen insulin resistance creating a vicious cycle for women with PCOS (2). 
The combination of insulin resistance, excess androgens, and inflammation can prevent ovulation and lead to irregular menstrual cycles.
Fortunately, we can lower androgen levels and restore ovulatory menstrual cycles in women with PCOS by treating insulin resistance. 

Testing for Insulin Resistance

There is no one test that can directly screen for insulin resistance. Here at Root, we look at the entire clinical picture along with a few lab tests to assess insulin resistance in our patients with PCOS.

Fasting Blood Glucose

This is a measure of how much glucose (sugar) is in your blood after an overnight fast. A fasting blood sugar level between 70 and 85 mg/dL is ideal. However, we cannot rely on a fasting blood glucose level alone to screen for insulin resistance.

Hemoglobin A1C

Hemoglobin A1c is a blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past three months using a percentage point. An ideal a1c level is below 5.4 percent. While A1C is a helpful tool for an overall picture of your blood sugar levels, solely relying on A1C can significantly under-diagnose insulin resistance.

Fasting Insulin

Insulin resistance is characterized by increased insulin levels in the blood, so we also test for fasting insulin levels to give us a more complete clinical picture (2, 3). At Root®, we consider an ideal fasting insulin level to be below 7.

How to Treat Insulin Resistance

Treating insulin resistance in women with PCOS can lower androgen levels and promote normal, ovulatory menstrual cycles (4). 

Eating for Blood Sugar Balance

The food you eat plays a vital role in treating insulin resistance and PCOS. The goal is to fill your plate with colorful and anti-inflammatory foods rich in protein, fat, and fiber to support blood sugar balance.
By using this simple formula (protein + fat + fiber) when planning meals and snacks, you can normalize blood sugar levels, lower insulin release, and reduce inflammation.
meal plan

Root Foundational Meal Plan

A meal plan for life.
$24.99

Balance Your Lifestyle

Poor sleep, high-stress levels, and a sedentary lifestyle can all worsen insulin resistance (5). 
We believe in supporting the whole body, which is why we work with our patients to balance lifestyle and establish healthy habits to create whole-body health.
Assess your lifestyle quality by looking at your sleep habits, stress levels, and exercise routines. Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep each night, and reduce sleep disruptors like caffeine or alcohol close to bedtime. Additionally, try to engage in a stress-reducing activity each day. This may include yoga, meditation, reading, deep breathing, or walking. 
Exercise is another powerful tool that can effectively reduce insulin resistance. Even a short 15-minute walk at lunch makes a difference in the long run! 

Personalized Supplementation

We use our patients’ health history, lab results, and overall lifestyle to formulate individualized supplement recommendations.
However, there are a few supplements for PCOS that can generally reduce insulin resistance in PCOS. For example, we may recommend supplements like N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), green tea extract, or magnesium.
You can find many of these supplements in our Root Shop
PCOS supplements

PCOS Supplement Bundle

Our most popular supplements for PCOS bundled together for optimal results & savings.
$185.00
Magnesium glycinate

Magnesium Glycinate

Our favorite calming mineral that helps with over 300 functions in the body.
$32.00
NAC

NAC

NAC is the real MVP for hormone and metabolic health...
$42.00

Metformin and PCOS

Metformin is a prescription medication that lowers insulin and fasting blood sugar levels. It is often prescribed by conventional doctors to treat insulin resistance and PCOS. 
In women with PCOS, Metformin may improve insulin sensitivity and increase ovulation rates. However, it does have some negative side effects.
First of all, there is a clear association between Metformin use and subsequent vitamin B12 deficiency (6). Vitamin B12 has many important jobs in the body like forming red blood cells, nerve functioning, and optimizing energy levels. What’s more, Metformin commonly causes GI upset such as nausea, diarrhea, bloating, and gas (7). These side effects may be due to Metformin’s influence on the gut microbiome. Some studies suggest this drug may cause dysbiosis—an imbalance of the gut bacteria (8, 9).
While we recognize that Metformin can be a useful medication, we prefer to treat insulin resistance in PCOS at the root cause with diet, lifestyle, and targeted supplementation.

PCOS and Insulin Resistance

Insulin resistance is one underlying cause of PCOS and may affect up to 70 percent of all women with this condition. Fortunately, we can reduce insulin resistance, lower inflammation, and normalize your menstrual cycles with a targeted functional medicine approach.
There are several ways Root can help you take charge of your PCOS symptoms, including:

1.  The PCOS Symptom Reversal Method online course.
2.   Our signature functional medicine membership program that includes labs.
3.  PCOS Supplement Bundle. Our favorite PCOS supplements bundled together with savings.
PCOS Course

The PCOS Symptom Reversal Method

The most comprehensive course for understanding what is driving your PCOS, how to fix it at the root cause, and reverse your PCOS symptoms to feel your best. The ONLY course taught by functional doctors, dietitians and chefs who specialize in PCOS.
$497.00
Discover Root

Discover Root

Want to learn more about our functional medicine membership program?  
Schedule a free 15-minute call with one of our Member Advisors to see if a functional medicine approach is right for you.  Hope for healing is only a click away.
Learn More

Related Articles

pcos acne supplements

PCOS Acne Supplements

High androgens cause an overproduction of oil in your skin which can lead to clogged pores and acne breakouts. Insulin resistance may also cause acne in PCOS. This occurs when your cells become resistant to insulin, a hormone responsible for controlling blood sugar levels. Higher insulin levels triggers your body to release more testosterone and worsens the vicious cycle.

Adrenal PCOS

Adrenal PCOS

Most women with PCOS have a root cause of insulin resistance and high testosterone levels. However, DHEA-S is often the only androgen found to be elevated on bloodwork in women with PCOS with an adrenal gland root cause.