Insulin resistance is a fertility blocker. Learn what you need to know about what it is and how it impacts your chances of having your dream family. Welcome to the Oh Goodness! Nutrition blog, where we delve into topics that can greatly impact your journey toward conception. I’m Hannah, your friendly fertility dietitian, and at Oh Goodness! Nutrition we use food as our superpower to align your hormones and help you build your dream family. So, let’s dive right in!
Insulin: The Blood Sugar Regulator
Insulin plays a vital role in regulating blood sugar levels within our bodies. When we consume food, the carbohydrates we ingest are broken down into glucose, which serves as the primary energy source for our cells. Insulin’s responsibility is to transport this glucose into cells located in our muscles, liver, and fat tissue, allowing them to utilize it as a source of energy.
The Consequences of Insulin Resistance
Unfortunately, when insulin fails to function properly, our cells are deprived of the energy they require. Consequently, the pancreas compensates by producing more insulin, leading to elevated blood sugar levels. Over time, this can lead to a condition known as insulin resistance, where the body becomes less responsive to insulin’s effects.
To help illustrate this concept, imagine your body as a bustling nightclub and insulin as the bouncer. When you consume food, it’s akin to inviting guests (glucose) to the club. The bouncer (insulin) welcomes these guests, directing them to the dance floor (muscles, liver, and fat cells) where they can enjoy themselves and contribute to the overall energy. However, if you consistently overeat or consume food too frequently, it’s akin to overwhelming the club with an excessive number of guests. The bouncer (insulin) becomes overwhelmed, leading to chaos and disorder within the club. This analogy mirrors what transpires when insulin resistance occurs, as the body becomes less responsive to insulin, resulting in chronic inflammation, hormonal imbalances, and metabolic issues.
How does Insulin Resistance Affect Fertility?
Insulin resistance can have a profound impact on fertility. Here are some key aspects to consider:
- Chronic Inflammation: Inflammation serves as a catalyst for various diseases and can disrupt the delicate DNA of both sperm and eggs, potentially affecting embryo development. Moreover, inflammation is believed to exacerbate insulin resistance, creating a vicious cycle.
- Hormonal Changes: Insulin resistance can cause the ovaries and adrenal glands to produce higher levels of androgens, including testosterone, which are typically associated with male characteristics.
- Infertility: The imbalance between estrogen and androgens resulting from increased androgen levels can disrupt ovulation, leading to conditions like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Additionally, insulin directly influences the ovaries, impeding the release of the luteinizing hormone (LH) required for ovulation.
- Metabolic Changes: Insulin resistance not only leads to elevated blood sugar levels, approaching the realm of diabetes and causing damage to nerves and blood vessels, but it also increases insulin levels and cortisol (a stress hormone). This alteration affects fat metabolism, resulting in the accumulation of visceral fat around organs, increasing the risk of fatty liver disease, heart disease, certain cancers, and strokes.
- Weight Gain: Insulin resistance can contribute to weight gain since the brain signals a need for more food, and the liver produces excess glucose to compensate for the cells’ insufficient energy supply. Consequently, losing weight, especially around the abdomen, becomes challenging.
- Gut Microbiome: Insulin resistance can stem from changes in the gut microbiome, which, in turn, plays a pivotal role in infertility cases related to PCOS. Furthermore, insulin resistance can further disrupt the balance of the gut microbiome.
What Causes Insulin Resistance?
Insulin resistance can arise from various factors, including gut microbiome composition, lifestyle choices such as diet and exercise, and environmental influences. It’s worth noting that insulin resistance can occur in individuals who are not overweight or lack a family history of diabetes.
A prevailing theory based on current research suggests that consuming excessive amounts of sugary and fatty foods while neglecting fiber-rich foods can harm the beneficial bacteria in the gut. This, in turn, can increase gut permeability, allowing toxins from bacteria (lipopolysaccharides) to enter the bloodstream. The resulting “leaky gut” triggers an immune response that hampers the body’s ability to utilize insulin effectively, leading to insulin resistance. Furthermore, insulin resistance and elevated insulin levels may promote testosterone production, influencing follicle development and contributing to fertility issues. Both exercise and environmental factors also impact the composition of gut bacteria.
Diagnosing Insulin Resistance
If you suspect you may have insulin resistance, several tests can help determine your insulin and blood sugar levels. The primary test is known as the Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), which indirectly measures insulin resistance using fasting glucose and fasting insulin levels. The higher your HOMA-IR score, the more likely you are to have insulin resistance. A knowledgeable GP can arrange this test for you.
TL;DR
Insulin resistance can significantly impact your fertility journey, but understanding its causes and consequences empowers you to take control. If you want to know more about what foods you need to eat to combat insulin resistance, check out this post.
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