If you've ever been told your lab work is "normal" but you still feel exhausted, struggle with weight, battle cravings, or know something isn't right, this episode is for you. In this final replay of the original insulin resistance series, Lindsie explains why insulin resistance is so often overlooked, even though it's one of the driving forces behind PMOS (formerly PCOS). You'll learn why standard blood work frequently misses the earliest signs of metabolic dysfunction, what lab tests to request, and how to confidently advocate for your health. As the conversation around PCOS shifts toward PMOS, understanding insulin resistance has never been more important. This episode empowers you to move beyond "eat less and exercise more" and start asking better questions about what's really happening inside your body. Whether you're newly diagnosed or have spent years searching for answers, you'll walk away with practical knowledge, greater confidence, and hope that lasting change is possible.
✔️ Normal lab work doesn't always mean optimal health.
✔️ Insulin resistance develops years before blood sugar becomes abnormal.
✔️ Prevention should begin long before diabetes develops.
✔️ Your symptoms deserve investigation—even if routine labs are "normal."
✔️ The goal isn't to fight your body—it's to understand and support it.
If this episode helped you:
⚠️ Podcast Disclaimer
This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health routine.
(0:00) The old story was just eat less and move more, right? So a lot of times you go to the doctor (0:07) and when you kind of get to that phase where you say I'm trying everything and not losing weight, (0:14) the scale's not budging, my clothes are still tight, they say just eat less and move more. (0:20) But the new story is let's get curious, let's look under the covers, let's support your body (0:26) and not fight against it. Welcome back to PCOS Unfiltered, where we ditch the one-size-fits-all (0:34) advice.I'm Lindsay, nurse turned health coach, author of Healing Beyond the Diagnosis, (0:39) and your body wisdom guide. Here, I help you understand the messages behind your symptoms (0:43) so you can work with your body instead of against it. Today is a special replay.It's the third and (0:50) final episode in the original insulin resistance series from when I first started this podcast. (0:55) And honestly, I couldn't think of a better time to bring it back. With the recent shift from PCOS (1:01) to PMOS, we're finally recognizing what so many women have experienced all along, that metabolic (1:07) health and insulin resistance deserve to be at the center of the conversation, not treated as an (1:12) afterthought.And that's exactly why this episode is still so relevant today. In this episode, (1:17) we're answering one of the biggest questions I hear, if insulin resistance is so common, (1:21) why aren't we testing for it sooner? You'll learn why it often gets missed, (1:26) what labs to ask for, and how to become a more confident advocate for your own health.
(1:30) Before we dive in, I have some very exciting news.The Healthy Ever After app is now live, (1:37) and it is your one-stop shop for our community, podcast resources, recipes, exclusive content. (1:44) And when you join, you'll instantly receive my free summer sanity guide. You'll find the link (1:48) in the show notes for it.As always, this podcast is intended for educational and informational (1:53) purposes only, and is not a substitute for professional medical guidance. As always (1:58) consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your diet exercise or (2:02) treatment plan. Now let's jump into today's episode.Hey there, welcome back. You've made (2:15) it to the final part of our three-part series on insulin resistance. So in episodes one and two, (2:20) we talked about what insulin resistance is and what causes it, but here's the million dollar (2:25) question.If it is so common and important, why aren't doctors testing for it? So that's what (2:33) we're unpacking today. And because if you've ever been told everything looks normal, but deep down, (2:40) you knew something was not right, then this episode is for you. So let's start with what (2:46) typically is tested.Most doctors will run a fasting glucose or maybe an A1C to check for (2:53) diabetes or prediabetes, but here's the problem. These tests often don't flag until insulin (3:01) resistance has been happening for years, years, insulin rises long before blood sugar does, (3:09) which means you can have normal labs and still be on the path toward major metabolic issues. (3:15) So a fasting insulin gives you a much earlier heads up, but it's rarely included in standard (3:21) panels.Um, one reason that a fasting insulin may not be included is because of outdated medical (3:28) guidelines. So the healthcare system is built around treating disease and not preventing it.
(3:36) I was a nurse.I saw this a lot, right? We treat, um, a lot of the times they want to prescribe or (3:43) cut, but we don't focus on prevention as much. Yes. Like you can go get your pap smear and your (3:49) mammogram and you know, your skin check and that stuff.But, but they, the focus is really (3:55) not on prevention. So if your glucose isn't in the diabetic range, then most providers are taught (4:01) to just wait and watch, even if they see it, it's creeped up a lot of the times I just, uh, (4:07) we'll just keep an eye on it. Um, so the other thing is that there's also a lack of training.(4:11) Many doctors are not taught about the importance of insulin as an early warning sign. So they (4:17) simply don't look for it. And this isn't about blaming doctors.It's about recognizing that (4:23) the system we have, um, just doesn't work. Um, it doesn't work. I should say optimally.Um,
(4:35) and another barrier can be insurance. So my husband, um, has had an issue with this before, (4:44) uh, where with my background, I knew that a test should have been ordered again, (4:49) kind of a more preventative, you know, screening type of test. And the doctor refused.And the (4:54) only thing that we could, we could like, um, chalk it up to was his insurance. So a lot of (5:02) times is fasting. Insulin isn't covered and many providers don't want to order tests that have to, (5:09) that they have to justify or, you know, fight for, um, you know, it might be some special code or (5:16) whatever.And so the reality is that a lot of times they it's not covered. So they don't really (5:22) advocate for you as the patient. And so the system tends to prioritize what's billable
(5:28) and already accepted by major institutions.Unfortunately, early metabolic markers like (5:34) insulin just aren't the standard yet. So even if a doctor wants to help, they might feel limited by (5:40) what they can do under the current model. The other thing is that normal is not always optimal.(5:48) So there's a big difference between normal and optimal. I talked about this just a little bit in (5:53) the first episode of this series. Um, most labs say that fasting insulin up to 25 (6:00) is normal, but that just means it's common and not that it's healthy.So the truth is anything (6:09) above 10 really should be a red flag. Optimal is below seven. And so your doctor might look (6:15) at a result of 14 and say, you're fine.When in reality, your body has been working overtime (6:22) just to keep your blood sugar stable. So what can you do about it? Here's the empowering part. (6:30) That's one of the biggest things with, um, with all of these episodes, um, is I want you to walk (6:37) away with just a little bit of knowledge to, to make sure you're informed and feel more empowered
(6:42) and that you can advocate for yourself and take control of your health.So you don't have to wait (6:48) for permission. If you suspect insulin resistance based off of what we've talked about so far in (6:54) the other episodes, um, you can ask your provider for a fasting insulin specifically, or you can get (7:02) your own labs done through direct to consumer type lab. I've seen these popping up all over.(7:09) Um, there are actual brick and mortar places that you can go to now. Uh, I've seen, I know I've (7:16) gotten ads on Facebook for, um, like function. It's like function health when you can go (7:22) and basically kind of ask for, uh, you know, whatever tests you want.Um, you can see a (7:28) functional medicine doctor yourself and talk to them. They're going to be more open to ordering (7:31) something like this. So yeah, you can get your, your own labs done basically.And then the other (7:38) thing is just track your symptoms. Um, especially after meals, but even, even right, you know,
(7:44) right when you start eating the varying and then, uh, immediately after and long after, (7:50) and you're looking for any energy crashes, um, cravings, if you're feeling like, you know, (7:57) shaky or hangry, um, as, as you might call it, um, with, you know, certain times of the day or (8:04) whatever. So yeah, just track your symptoms.And that can also be a huge indicator without the (8:09) test as to what's going on. So most importantly, trust yourself. Um, I used to see this in the ER (8:16) a lot for some people, unfortunately, it had to be really bad for them to come in there.(8:23) But a lot of the times I would tell people, you know, your body, and yes, you may not be (8:29) listening to it, but this might be the time to start listening to it. Um, if you deep down, (8:35) know something is going on, trust your body, trust yourself, um, you know, better what's going on (8:43) than just being, you know, a chart or a number. Um, so if something does feel off, it more than (8:50) likely is.So the old story was just eat less and move more. Right. So a lot of times you go to the (8:59) and when you kind of get to that phase, um, where you say I'm trying everything and not losing weight, (9:07) the scales, not budging.My clothes are still tight. They, they say just eat less and move more, (9:12) but the new story is let's get curious. Let's look under the covers.Let's support your body (9:19) and not fight against it. Influenza resistance is reversible. Um, that is the good news, (9:27) but only if we stop ignoring it.So you have to acknowledge what's going on and know that there (9:33) is something deeper going on there. Um, and this is why I do what I do. So my coaching programs
(9:38) are designed to help you understand your body and give you the tools to support it, especially (9:43) when traditional systems fall short.Um, so that being said, that wraps up our three-part series (9:52) on insulin resistance to recap in episode one, we talked about what it is and how it shows up (9:59) in episode two, we covered the root causes beyond just food. So if you haven't seen those yet, (10:05) and you just happened to jump in on episode three, make sure you go check out those first (10:09) couple episodes there. And of course, today we looked at why it's so often missed and what you (10:15) can do to take back the power and take back control of your health.So I hope this series (10:21) gives you some clarity, some confidence, and just a deeper connection to your body. (10:25) And if it did, please be sure to share it with someone who needs it because more women deserve (10:30) answers. Um, thanks for being here until next time, um, eat mindfully breathe deeply and never
(10:39) stop advocating for you.I'll see you next time. Thanks so much for listening. I hope this final (10:47) episode in our insulin resistance replay series has given you more clarity, confidence, and (10:52) practical tools to better understand your body.If this episode helped you, I'd be so grateful if (10:57) you'd share it with a friend, leave a review or subscribe. So you never miss an episode. (11:01) And don't forget to join us inside the healthy ever after app, where you'll find supportive (11:05) community, additional resources, recipes, and your free summer sanity guide waiting for you (11:11) until next time.Remember your body is always communicating with you. (11:14) Eat mindfully, breathe deeply, trust your body, and never stop advocating for your health. (11:20) I'm sending you so much love and I'll see you on the next episode of PCOS unfiltered, (11:25) nourish, heal, thrive.