Insulin resistance often develops gradually—long before it shows up on standard blood sugar tests. Many women feel “off” but are told everything is normal, even as symptoms persist. The key is recognizing early signs and understanding that insulin resistance is more than a lab value—it’s a pattern of physiology that affects metabolism, energy, mood, and weight regulation.
What Is Insulin Resistance?
Insulin resistance means your cells aren’t responding to insulin efficiently, so your body produces more to maintain stable blood sugar. Over time, this compensation can break down—leading to elevated glucose, metabolic dysfunction, and increased risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stubborn weight gain.
But before blood sugar becomes abnormal, insulin resistance may already be affecting how you feel.
Signs You May Be Insulin Resistant
You don’t have to be diabetic—or even prediabetic—to have insulin resistance. Clues include:
- Trouble losing weight despite eating well and exercising
- Weight gain around the abdomen
- Cravings or energy crashes between meals
- Feeling shaky, irritable, or “hangry” if meals are delayed
- Afternoon fatigue or brain fog
- Sleep disruption or nighttime waking
- A family history of type 2 diabetes, PCOS, or gestational diabetes
- Labs that are “normal” but don’t match how you feel
Insulin resistance can be present even when fasting glucose and A1C are normal. That’s why symptoms matter—and why we look beyond surface-level labs.
What Labs Help Identify Insulin Resistance?
Standard tests often miss early dysfunction. At Peace and Calm Health, we evaluate deeper markers that reveal how your metabolism is really working. These may include:
- Fasting insulin
- HOMA-IR (a marker of insulin sensitivity)
- Triglyceride-to-HDL ratio
- Waist circumference and body composition
- Cortisol rhythm and stress patterns
- Sleep quality and recovery markers
We also consider your symptoms, history, stress load, nutrition, movement, and gut health—because insulin resistance doesn’t happen in a vacuum.
Why It Matters in Midlife
Midlife hormone shifts—especially during perimenopause and menopause—can make women more insulin resistant, even if they’ve never had issues before. Declining estrogen, rising cortisol, disrupted sleep, and changes in muscle mass all influence how your body handles blood sugar.
This is one reason why weight gain, energy crashes, and mood swings become more common in midlife, even when nothing else has changed.
What You Can Do About It
The good news: insulin resistance is often reversible with the right support. You don’t have to wait until your labs are “bad” to take action.
Addressing insulin resistance may include:
- Personalized nutrition and meal timing
- Strength-based movement to improve muscle insulin sensitivity
- Cortisol and nervous system regulation
- Gut microbiome and inflammation support
- Sleep optimization
- Targeted supplements and metabolic strategies
- In some cases, medications or hormone therapy as part of a comprehensive plan
The earlier you intervene, the easier it is to shift your metabolism in a better direction.
Science Section (Selected References)
- Early detection of insulin resistance with fasting insulin and HOMA-IR
- Insulin resistance and midlife women: Role of estrogen decline
- Triglyceride-to-HDL ratio as a marker of insulin resistance
- Lifestyle reversal of insulin resistance: Diet, stress, and muscle mass
How Peace and Calm Health Functional Medicine Can Help
At Peace and Calm Health Functional Medicine in Lakewood, CO, we help women uncover hidden drivers of fatigue, cravings, weight changes, and mood shifts—many of which trace back to early insulin resistance.
Dr. Jennifer Horton, DO, evaluates your full picture: labs, symptoms, stress patterns, sleep, lifestyle, and metabolism. Based on that, she creates a personalized plan that may include:
- Functional and conventional testing (including fasting insulin and HOMA-IR)
- Nutrition strategies that stabilize blood sugar and improve energy
- Gut health support to reduce inflammation and improve insulin signaling
- Cortisol and sleep rhythm regulation
- Muscle-building support and metabolic movement
- Referrals for GLP-1 or hormone therapy when appropriate
It’s never just about numbers. It’s about listening to your body and supporting the systems that keep you resilient and well.
👉 Book your Clarity Call: https://www.drjenniferhorton.com/work-with-me
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Medically reviewed by Dr. Jennifer Horton, DO, ABFM, IFMCP
This content is for educational purposes and does not substitute personalized medical advice.
