Bitesize: Why Your Blood Sugar Looks ‘Normal'—But You’re Still Gaining Weight & Feeling Exhausted

Angela presents a bitesized edition alongside Morgan Nolte, in which they look at the critical differences between insulin resistance, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes, emphasising the often-overlooked role of insulin in blood sugar regulation.

They explain how insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, helps move glucose from the bloodstream into cells for energy storage, and how high insulin levels can lead to insulin resistance, where cells become less responsive, requiring more insulin to achieve the same effect.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Hidden Insulin Resistance: 88% of adults in the U.S. have some degree of insulin resistance, even if their blood sugar levels appear normal. Standard blood tests like fasting glucose and HbA1c often miss early warning signs.
• How Insulin Works: Insulin helps regulate blood sugar by moving glucose into cells for energy. Over time, if insulin levels stay high, cells become resistant, requiring more insulin to maintain balance, leading to metabolic dysfunction.
• Early Warning Signs: High blood pressure, unexplained weight gain (especially belly fat), sugar cravings, fatigue, brain fog, and joint pain can be early indicators of insulin resistance before it progresses to prediabetes or type 2 diabetes.
• Testing Beyond Blood Sugar: Checking fasting insulin levels (optimal is under 6) and using the HOMA-IR test can provide a clearer picture of insulin sensitivity. These tests can detect issues up to two decades before a diabetes diagnosis.
• Practical Solutions: Lifestyle adjustments, including a low-carb, high-protein diet, strength training, stress management, and prioritizing sleep, can improve insulin sensitivity, support metabolic health, and help reverse insulin resistance.

TIMESTAMPS & KEY TOPICS

• 00:05 – 88% of adults have insulin resistance, even with normal blood sugar.
• 00:24 – Introduction to the episode and guest Dr. Morgan Nolte.
• 02:11 – Why insulin resistance worsens with age, especially in women.
• 03:31 – Understanding insulin’s role in blood sugar regulation.
• 04:37 – How cells become resistant to insulin over time.
• 06:02 – Why fasting insulin is a critical but often overlooked test.
• 07:10 – Insulin resistance as a spectrum, from normal function to diabetes.
• 08:20 – How to get tested for fasting insulin at home or through labs.
• 10:22 – Why standard blood tests might not reveal insulin resistance.
• 12:07 – Signs of insulin resistance: blood pressure, cravings, fatigue.
• 13:54 – The connectio