Understanding Insulin Resistance & Its Impact

Author: Josephine Cabrall
Fertility Specialist Naturopath | BHSc(NAT) | NHAA

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026

Insulin resistance describes a state where the cells of your body become resistant to the effects of the hormone insulin. Insulin is released from your pancreas in response to the presence of glucose in your bloodstream (i.e. after a meal) to help the glucose get into your cells and be used for energy.

When cells are resistant to insulin, they don’t respond to the knock-knock of insulin and let the glucose in. As a result, your pancreas sends out more and more insulin to try to get glucose out of the bloodstream, into the cells. In severe cases, this can lead to failure of the pancreas to produce enough insulin – type II diabetes.

Here’s how insulin resistance works

A line of blue glucose characters in red marching-band uniforms waits patiently while the one at the front holds a glowing key labelled Insulin up to a door labelled Cell. — Normally, when you eat, the magical key of insulin unlocks the cell door to let the glucose inside.

A blue glucose character in a red marching-band uniform has unlocked the door to a cell with a key and stands proudly beside it while the others wait their turn. — When your sugar systems are working well, insulin unlocks the door and welcomes glucose in.

A crowd of blue glucose characters waves keys labelled Insulin at a cell door that has been boarded up with planks and a Keep Out banner. — When you have insulin resistance, the glucose is trying to get into the cell, but can’t. Your cells are resistant to the magical insulin key. The key doesn’t turn the lock properly every time and needs a bit of jiggling.

A line of blue glucose characters in red marching-band uniforms frown at a cell door that has been boarded up with planks and a Keep Out! banner. — The insulin, along with the glucose, doesn’t know what to do next, so both keep flowing around your bloodstream, affecting other parts of your body.

A blue glucose character holds up a key labelled Insulin at a door labelled Ovary, while little red characters marked A for androgens tumble out, cheering. — The insulin keys can then stimulate your ovaries to produce androgens, like in PCOS, which can cause unwanted hormone production (androgens like testosterone).

Who gets insulin resistance?

Conditions linked to insulin resistance include polycystic ovarian syndrome, acne, hirsutism, fatty liver, heart disease, metabolic syndrome (pre-diabetes) and infertility in women.

You are far more likely to become insulin resistant if you:

Are obese or overweight
Are genetically predisposed
Don’t exercise
Eat a lot of sugar and refined carbohydrates

How do I know if I have insulin resistance?

Most often you don’t, however sugar cravings are a strong sign. If you can’t keep away from sugary treats of refined carbohydrates (think pasta, pastries, cakes, cookies and bread) for even one day, if you could kill for a chocolate bar at 3pm, or if fizzy, sugary drinks or other high-sugar treats are part of your everyday life, you could have insulin resistance.

Or if any of the above dot points fit you, you should have your insulin and glucose levels tests by your doctor. If they are high, you may need to look further into managing this.

How do I treat insulin resistance?

Change the things that you can change. You can’t change your genetics but you can lose weight, exercise more and quit sugar and refined carbohydrates. It won’t be easy at first, but the results will be worth it. Insulin resistance and its associated diseases are reversible. Read more about managing insulin resistance in PCOS.

What to do if you have PCOS

If you have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) we have written a book just for you that will help you overcome insulin resistance and manage PCOS naturally and effectively.

You should be formally diagnosed, and once that happens, you can visit a qualified, experienced practitioner who specialises in PCOS to help you.