Today we understand more than we ever did about how cells grow, how they respond to stress, and how they signal each other – all decisions that affects your metabolism health. We also know more about the role of genes and the environment. We can use this knowledge for huge benefits to your sense of well-being.

Common symptoms include unwanted weight gain, chronic fatigue, excess abdominal fat, and brain fog.

Insulin resistance occurs when cells in your muscles, fat and liver don’t respond well to insulin. This means that your body must make more insulin to help you function. Over time, higher circulating insulin levels lead to the symptoms associated with insulin resistance.

Other than the symptoms mentioned in answer1, common symptoms of insulin resistance include dark circles around the eyes, hair loss, facial hair in women, belly fat, abnormal glycemic and fat levels. In terms of brain health, insulin resistance is closely linked to depression and dementia and increasingly to autism and bipolar disorder.

If you have a parent or grandparent who has(had) diabetes, Alzheimer’s or a stroke, chance are that you might be at risk for insulin resistance. However, it does not affect every member of a family. Two siblings may share the same diet and have very different metabolic responses. When insulin resistance is passed on from both the mother’s and father’s family, its effects are understandably greater.