Insulin resistance does not always look the same in women and men. The hidden signs can be very different, and that is why this condition often goes unnoticed until it becomes more serious. In this video I explain how insulin resistance shows up differently in women compared to men, the overlapping signs you need to watch for, and why these differences exist in the first place.

For women, hidden signs often include PCOS, irregular periods, acne, skin changes, stubborn belly or hip fat, and mood swings. For men, the signs can be low testosterone, belly fat, fatigue, brain fog, gynecomastia, and gradual loss of muscle mass. Both men and women may also experience sugar cravings, constant hunger, energy crashes, and changes in blood pressure or cholesterol.

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Summary of the video

  • Core message

    • Insulin resistance often looks different in women vs. men, which is why it’s frequently missed.
    • It usually doesn’t show up on a standard blood test; insulin can be elevated 5–15 years before blood sugar rises.

  • Hidden signs in women

    • PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome): Presented as a major hidden sign; stated that insulin resistance is the root cause of ~90% of PCOS cases.
    • Cycle and fertility changes: Irregular periods; potential infertility.
    • Androgen-related skin/hair changes: Adult acne around the chin/jawline; excess hair growth; sometimes hair loss on the head.
    • Weight pattern: Stubborn weight gain (belly; also hips/thighs) that doesn’t respond despite “doing everything right.”
    • Skin changes: Dark, velvety patches on the neck/underarms; skin tags, especially clusters around neck/chest/armpits.
    • Energy/mood/appetite patterns: Sugar/carb cravings; needing to eat frequently; energy swings; mood changes; sleep changes.
    • These signs are often brushed off as normal, stress, or “just the cycle.”

  • Hidden signs in men

    • Body composition: Central/belly fat (“dad bod”), with visceral fat around organs; thinner arms/legs.
    • Low testosterone: Leads to fatigue, low sex drive, mood swings, and muscle loss.
    • Hormone imbalance effects: “Man boobs” (fat deposition in the chest).
    • Cognitive/energy issues: Constant fatigue and brain fog; reliance on caffeine/sugar to get through the day.
    • Skin changes: Dark patches and skin tags (same as women).
    • Symptoms often develop gradually and are mistaken for normal aging.

  • Overlap (both women and men)

    • Sugar/carb cravings, energy crashes, and changes in blood pressure or cholesterol are described as universal red flags of insulin resistance.

  • Why the differences appear

    • Hormonal effects: Estrogen/progesterone/testosterone influence insulin sensitivity and which symptoms appear first.
    • In women, high insulin disrupts estrogen/progesterone → reproductive signs (irregular cycles, PCOS, acne, infertility).
    • In men, insulin lowers testosterone → body-composition changes (more belly fat, less muscle), low libido, fatigue.

  • Testing mentioned

    • Ask for fasting insulin and fasting glucose and, ideally, a HOMA-IR score.
    • Note in video: fasting insulin often isn’t routinely tested and may not be covered by insurance, despite detecting problems years earlier.
    • An at-home “Weight Biology Kit” by SoWell Health is mentioned (physician-reviewed results, includes fasting insulin and other metabolic markers).

  • What you can do (as presented)

    • Lower carbs, especially refined carbs and sugar.
    • Build muscle with resistance training to improve insulin sensitivity.
    • Manage stress and get enough sleep (cortisol raises insulin).
    • Walk after meals; prioritize protein.
    • Small lifestyle changes add up.

  • Closing points

    • Insulin resistance is reversible.
    • First step: awareness of signs; second step: testing.

I marked this post nsfw because maybe pseudogynecomastia might not be what everyone wants to see in their feed.

  • xep@discuss.onlineMEnglish
    2·
    3 months ago

    Sorry you had to deal with that, considering any research on humans would also not be able prove causation. I’m absolutely flabbergasted by the number of people on high horses on the internet and how immediately dismissive they can be.

    Between us and that other close friend of mine (n = 3!) I am absolutely convinced that metabolic health is strongly correlated with libido and healthy erections.

    Honestly I thought it was only a teenager thing, but after I got into keto/carnivore … there back, guess I’ve been metabolically unwell my whole adult life.

    I was the exact same way, and had dismissed it as a “getting old” problem. Like you said, we shouldn’t normalise disease.