Last Updated on 5 November 2024 by Brisbane Livewell Clinic
Addressing Insulin Resistance in early stages with a holistic health approach provides a chance to significantly improve health and prevent disease progression. Insulin resistance (IR) is a metabolic disorder in which the body’s cells do not respond properly to insulin, a pancreatic hormone that regulates blood sugar levels.
The primary function of insulin is to regulate the metabolism of carbohydrates, protein, and fat through the absorption of glucose from the blood into the liver, fat, and skeletal muscle cells (1) IR creates a vicious cycle, continuing until the pancreas can no longer adequately meet the insulin demand created by insulin resistance, resulting in hyperglycaemia. (2) Insulin resistance is a precursor to type 2 diabetes (T2DM), (3) thought to precede the development of T2DM by 10 to 15 years. (2) A range of other diseases are also associated with IR including obesity, cardiovascular disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), metabolic syndrome, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). (2)
The Impact of Insulin Resistance
The metabolic consequences of insulin resistance can result in: (2)
- hyperglycaemia (elevated blood sugar levels)
- hypertension (high blood pressure)
- dyslipidaemia (high cholesterol)
- visceral adiposity (abdominal fat)
- hyperuricemia (high uric acid, causing gout or kidney stones)
- elevated inflammatory markers (chronic inflammation)
- endothelial dysfunction (narrowing of the arteries)
- prothrombic state (increased blood clotting)
Innovations to Improve Insulin
IR can be reversed, provided it is detected in its early stages, through healthy dietary habits, regular exercise, and the use of hypoglycaemic agents. (4) Lifestyle modification and nutritional intervention should be the primary focus of addressing insulin resistance. Strategies may include: (2) (5) (6) (7) (8)
- Overall calorie reduction to attain and maintain a healthy weight
- Avoidance of carbohydrates that stimulate excessive insulin, such as high glycaemic index carbohydrates
- Slow and mindful eating, considered a significant component of diet for insulin-resistant individuals
- Eating regular meals, which decreases the risk of the metabolic syndrome by 60–70%
- Consuming foods rich in dietary fibre, such as whole grains, non-starchy vegetables and raw fruit
- Reducing intake of simple sugars, sweet drinks and excessive fruit juice
- Increasing calorie intake during the first half of the day, especially from a low-glycaemic-index breakfast
- Decreasing animal protein intake, which intensifies insulin resistance
- Increasing plant-based foods to enhance insulin sensitivity
- Reducing alcohol intake, since excessive drinking may ultimately impair whole-body insulin action
- Physical activity to improve muscle insulin sensitivity, reduce insulin resistance and prevent associated complications
- Promoting muscle tone, responsible for nearly 80% of insulin-stimulated whole-body glucose uptake
- Decreasing sedentary behaviour by interrupting prolonged sitting every 30–60 minutes for peak blood glucose benefits
Insight into Nutritional Medicine
Minerals as a prescription for insulin resistance are an effective approach for blood sugar regulation. Chromium is an important factor for enhancing insulin activity, with several studies demonstrating that chromium supplements enhance the metabolic action of insulin. (9) Low magnesium levels also play a role in the development of insulin resistance (10) and therefore supplementation, often in combination with other nutrients, can help to improve outcomes and simultaneously support cardiovascular health.
An Integrative Approach to Insulin Resistance As a ‘precursor’ to poor health outcomes, insulin resistance is high on your natural medicine practitioners list of issues to look out for. By addressing the root cause and designing preventative strategies, IR can be overcome. Identifying insulin resistance is half the battle. Check in for a full health review and ask us about your metabolic health.
Want to learn more? We have these Blogs that may also interest you. Click HERE or HERE or HERE
Our Amazing Naturopaths at Brisbane Livewell Clinic
Shella Hall (Sunshine Coast and online)
Amy Angus (Wavell Heights and online)
Jen Strachan (Cannon Hill and online)
Nicole Odlum (Wavell Heights and online)
Dominique Johanson (Wavell Heights and online)
Locations We Service – Naturopathy
Naturopath Caloundra
Naturopath Wavell Heights
Naturopath Cannon Hill
Naturopath Sunshine Coast
Naturopath Brisbane Northside
Naturopath Brisbane
Naturopaths Brisbane
Brisbane Naturopaths
Naturopathy Brisbane
Best Naturopaths Near Me
Best Naturopath Near Me
Relevant Naturopath links
Why You May Wish to Consult a Naturopath
Gut Health
- Gut Health
- Solving Gut Issues by Treating SIBO
- Daily Ritual Gut Health
- 6 Digestive Problems that Cause Weight Gain
- How Stool Testing Helps IBS Sufferers Part 1: Digestive Markers
- How Stool Testing Helps IBS Sufferers Part 2: Microbial Markers
- Gut Health with Parasite Cleanse
- Natural Parasite Cleanse Australia
- The Gut-Brain Connection to Mental Health
- The Gut-Brain Connection: How to Feed Your Brain
- Controlling Constipation and Bloating
- How Stool Testing Helps Find the Causes of IBS and Other Digestive Health Problems
- Gut Health Brisbane
- Gut Health Specialist Brisbane
Hormone Health and Thyroid Issues
- Hormonal Health and Thyroid Issues
- PCOS and the Insulin Connection
- Identifying Insulin Resistance
- Looking at Luteal Phase Deficiency
- Experiencing Painful Periods? Here’s What Might Be Causing It
- When You Suspect You Have Thyroid Issues
- Subclinical Hypothyroidism: When You Suspect You Have a Thyroid Issue
- Thyroid Disorders from a Naturopathic Aspect
- Thyroid Health for the Winter Months
- Thyroid Disease: A Brief Guide to Common Disorders
- Naturopathic Thyroid Specialist Near Me
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s
- Thyroid
- Hyperthyroidism and Graves’ Disease
Detox and Cleansing
- Heavy Metal Toxicity: Strategies for Detoxing
- Detoxing Your Lifestyle, Not Just Your Body
- Naturopathic Detox Cleanse
- Naturopath Detox
- Do I Need a Heavy Metal Detox?
- Heavy Metal Detox Australia
Insomnia and Sleep Health
- Save Your Sleep with What You Eat
- Insomnia Linked to Mineral Deficiency
- Solving Insomnia: Naturopathy’s Five-Step Solution
- 5 Ways Insomnia Can Affect Your Life and What You Can Do About It
- Natural Treatment for Insomnia
- Naturopathic Remedies for Insomnia
Autoimmune Conditions
Mental Health
- The Gut-Brain Connection to Mental Health
- The Gut-Brain Connection: How to Feed Your Brain
- Treating Depression with Naturopathy: What You Should Consider
- A Naturopath’s Guide to Improving Mental Health
- Naturopathic Anxiety Medication
- Naturopath Anxiety
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD): How a Naturopath Helps
Women’s Health
- Women’s Health
- Hormonal Imbalance
- Naturopath Women’s Health
- Women’s Health Week: It’s All About Women’s Wellness and Wellbeing
- Treating Vaginal Thrush the Natural Way
- The Lowdown on Low Libido
- Regulating Menstrual Cycles with Chaste Tree
- Painful Periods and Naturopathy
- Preventing Post-Pill Acne
Fertility and Pregnancy
- Pregnancy
- Pre-Pregnancy Fertility Care with Naturopathic Nutrition
- Fertility Naturopath Brisbane
- Acupuncture and Naturopathy for Pre-Conception Care
- Pregnancy Care and Naturopathy
- Maximising Nutrition Before and During Pregnancy
- Getting Quality Sleep in the 3rd Trimester of Pregnancy
- Pregnancy Wellbeing and Naturopathy are Great Partners
- Naturopathy for the Management of Constipation During Pregnancy
- Prenatal Naturopath
- Postpartum Depression and Anxiety
- Keeping Calm About Colic
Men’s Health
- Men’s Health
- The Sperm Health Decline
- Better Prostate Health with Natural Medicine
- Naturopathy and Men’s Health
- Support Your Thyroid Health Naturally
DNA Testing
- DNA Testing & Personalised Medicine
- DNA Testing Brisbane
- DNA Testing Brisbane, Australia
- Methylation Test Near Me
- Testing Functional Medicine
- Genetic Methylation Test Brisbane
- DUTCH Test Providers Near Me
Leaky Gut Syndrome
Food Intolerances and Allergies
- 7 Useful Strategies for Overcoming Food Intolerance
- Hayfever and the Gastrointestinal Immune System
- Food Intolerance, Hypersensitivity, and Allergies Explained
- Everything You Need to Know About Food Intolerance
- Food Allergy Testing Near Me
- Food Intolerance Testing Brisbane
- Food Allergy Testing
- Food Intolerance Testing
- Food Intolerance Testing Package
Weight Loss
- Naturopathy for Weight Loss
- Natural Weight Loss for Summer
- A Naturopathic Approach to Achieving an Ideal and Healthy Weight
- Intermittent Fasting: A Naturopath’s Guide to Success
- Weight Loss Naturopath
- Kick-Start Weight Loss: 5 Science-Backed Tips
- Combining Therapies for a Healthy Weight
- Naturopath’s Weight Loss Programme
Nutrition and Mineral Deficiencies
- Nutrition and Naturopathy: Healthy Diet
- Optimising Nutrition for Skin Health
- The Seriousness of Sugar
- The Importance of Mindfulness and Meditation in Natural Medicine
- Nutrition Deficiency: Visible Body Look Signs
- Helping Cardiovascular Disease in Women
- Sports Nutrition and Your Ideal Protein Requirements
- Creating a Healthy Diet for Good Health and Wellbeing
- Maximising Nutrition Before and During Pregnancy
- Nutrition and Naturopathy: Healthy Diet
- Combining Therapies for a Healthy Weight
- Intermittent Fasting: A Naturopath’s Guide to Success
- Iron Deficiency and Anaemia: When Things Go from Bad to Worse
- Naturopathic Medicine: What You Need to Know
- National Herbal Medicine Week
- The Role of Nutrition and Naturopathy in Wellbeing
Parasites
- Natural Parasite Cleanse Australia
- Parasites from Traveling
- Natural Treatments for Those Pesky Parasites
- Clean Your Body of Parasites
- Parasite Cleanse
External References
Naturopathic Care for Anxiety: A Randomised Controlled Trial PLOS ONE
Global Naturopathy Research as Reflected by Scopus (2000–2019) – Emerald Insight
Selenium and Naturopathic Treatment of Hashimoto’s Disease – PubMed
Global Strategy for Traditional and Complementary Medicine – World Health Organization (WHO)
Naturopathy for Mental Health: Approaches to Anxiety and Depression – Journal of Integrative Medicine
Naturopathic Research Resources – World Naturopathic Federation
World Naturopathic Federation – Naturopathic Research Resources
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies – Overview of International Naturopathic Practice and Patient Characteristics
National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) – Evidence-Based Naturopathy for Chronic Disease Management
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine – Naturopathic Research Capacity in Clinical Practice
PubMed – Clinical Evidence for Selenium and Naturopathic Treatment of Hashimoto’s Disease
World Health Organization (WHO) – Traditional and Complementary Medicine Strategy
Journal of Integrative Medicine – Naturopathic Approaches to Anxiety and Depression
National University of Health Sciences – Resources for Naturopathic Research
Cambridge Media Journals – Naturopathy in Clinical Practice Guidelines
The American Journal of Medicine – The Integration of Naturopathy in Chronic Disease Management
External Resources
– National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
– Australian Government: Department of Health
– World Health Organization (WHO) – Traditional Medicine
– National Institutes of Health (NIH) – MedlinePlus: Complementary and Integrative Medicine
– Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine (ARCCIM)
– British Medical Journal (BMJ) Complementary Medicine
– Australian Traditional-Medicine Society (ATMS)
– University of Sydney – Complementary Medicine Research
– Australian College of Natural Medicine
– Natural and Traditional Medicine Program at the Australian National University