How can I lower my insulin levels with PCOS?
Diet and exercise are the most fundamental ways for patients to manage insulin levels and control PCOS symptoms. Encourage them to engage in at least moderate exercise for 30 minutes a day to regulate blood glucose levels, even if all they can fit in is a walk at lunch. Also provide general guidance for healthy eating.
Why are insulin levels elevated in PCOS?
“As it would happen, insulin is a fat-storage hormone that concentrates fat in your abdominal region,” says Dr. Abed-Alwahab. “High insulin levels can tell the ovaries to make more testosterone. That’s why some women with PCOS have symptoms of excess androgens, like dark hairs on the face and belly.”
What happens when insulin is reduced?
Eventually, it decreases your body’s ability to make insulin. As insulin levels drop, blood sugar levels rise. If levels don’t return to normal, you may get type 2 diabetes.
Do people with PCOS always have insulin resistance?
First, insulin resistance is a common but not universal feature of PCOS, even when diagnosed using the NIH criteria (1). It is a less common finding in the additional PCOS phenotypes diagnosed using the Rotterdam criteria (2). Many studies have shown that both lean and obese women with PCOS have insulin resistance (1).
Can insulin resistance PCOS be reversed?
A well-formulated ketogenic diet (WFKD) has been shown to reverse insulin resistance, reduce inflammation, as well as facilitate weight loss (10, 11). Therefore, women may be able to use a WFKD to ameliorate some of the powerful signals that are contributing to PCOS without the side effects of pharmaceutical treatment.
What is a normal insulin level for a woman?
University of Washington researcher Stephen Guyenet writes that “The average insulin level in the US is 8.8 mIU/ml for men and 8.4 for women.