Insulin Resistance and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Is your body gaining weight and fat accumulating in the abdominal area? Are you noticing brown patches and skin tags appearing on your body and face? These are all signs your body is giving you to say you may have insulin resistance. Let’s explain the connection between insulin resistance and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
PCOS is strongly associated with insulin resistance. It should not be treated as a condition that affects only the ovaries, as it impacts ovulation itself and increases the risk of obesity, high levels of bad cholesterol, high blood pressure, weakened heart muscle, and vascular problems.
So what is insulin resistance?
Insulin is a hormone in the body that controls blood sugar levels. It allows glucose to enter the body’s cells by stimulating the liver and muscles to absorb sugar from the blood and convert it into energy. With normal insulin levels, both sugar and insulin levels are typically normal in fasting blood tests.
So when does insulin resistance occur?
It happens when the body’s tissues do not respond properly to normal levels of insulin. As a result, the body needs to produce extra insulin to compensate. This excess insulin increases the production and activity of male hormones (androgens), which is a major cause of PCOS.
During tests, blood sugar levels may appear normal, but insulin levels are elevated.
Too much insulin leads to inflammation and weight gain, and can eventually result in type 2 diabetes.
High insulin levels are no longer just a symptom of PCOS — whether you’re overweight or thin — but rather a major driving factor of the condition. Elevated insulin weakens ovulation and leads to increased secretion of testosterone in the ovaries.