Having PCOS may lead to insulin resistance or vice versa
PCOS is a complex endocrine condition that can lead to an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetes. This is due to insulin resistance in PCOS is commonly observed in women, claim studies.
Today we will learn how IR is related to PCOS and how to deal with it naturally by Ayurveda and Yoga.
PCOS and insulin resistance
Insulin resistance occurs when your body is unable to respond to the insulin hormone and becomes resistant to it. This causes your blood sugar level to rise up. In response, your body overproduces insulin but this makes your body more resistant to insulin over time.
High insulin levels send a message to your ovaries to produce more male hormones, androgens, leading to PCOS. This connection is important to understand how PCOS and insulin resistance affects each other.
What causes insulin resistance in PCOS?
Health complications of PCOS and type-2 diabetes are somewhat similar, for example, obesity and CVD.
Besides these common causative factors, it is believed that androgens in PCOS may produce mild insulin resistance.
It is not possible to check insulin resistance except only through several health issues that provide the clue for budding IR. High levels of accumulated insulin in your bloodstream is called hyperinsulinemia.
Insulin is a hormone that is responsible for controlling your blood sugar levels and metabolism. Abnormalities in insulin result in metabolism disorders that show up in the form of many signs and symptoms.
Signs of insulin resistant PCOS are
- Abrupt weight gain
- Excessive thirst
- Frequent urge to urinate
- Hirsutism (coarse facial and body hair growth)
- High blood glucose levels (>100 mg/dl)
- Hair thinning
- Feeling drained (low energy)
What causes insulin resistance in PCOS?
Having insulin resistance or PCOS are two different problems that can be caused by various lifestyle-related and genetic factors.
However, there are a few common factors that degrade your insulin sensitivity in PCOS.
These are both the symptoms and talent causes of IR and PCOS.
Being overweight
Your BMI is directly related to your risks of developing IR. Weight gain due to PCOS can worsen your situation even more.
Dislipidemia
Many women with either PCOS or IR are reported to have higher triglycerides and very low HDL cholesterol.
Family history with IR
Having blood relations with someone with type-2 diabetes increases the chances of it compromising your health too.
Poor diet
Continued consumption of junk foods, high fats and too many carbs are enough to land you in the grip of long-lasting insulin resistance and do mind your diet if you already have been diagnosed with PCOS.
No physical activity
All work and no play can decrease your insulin sensitivity. If you do not move around and use that carb-generated energy it will get transformed into body fat to be used later.
A weight gain like this will suck you in this whirlpool of laziness, increasing obesity and insulin resistance.
If you already have the above-listed issues, you are more susceptible to developing severe IR in PCOS which could develop into full-blown type-2 diabetes.
To sum up
Insulin resistance often hides under the radar due to no visible symptoms until it has taken the form of a serious health issue like PCOS or diabetes. It is closely linked to the development of PCOS in many cases.
It is better to cure it before it’s too late. There are ways to manage insulin resistance in PCOS naturally by Ayurveda and yoga.
FAQs
Why Does PCOS Cause Insulin Resistance?
In PCOS ovaries release a lot of testosterone and according to a study, excessive amounts of androgens in the female body can lead to the development of insulin resistance.
Insulin resistance can worsen with time as beta cells in the pancreas are worn out after overproducing insulin to meet the demand during IR.
What helps PCOS with insulin resistance?
According to a study conducted on Indian adolescent girls with PCOS, it was found that doing daily Yoga for at least 1 hour can increase your insulin sensitivity and ease the PCOS symptoms.
Some beneficial yoga postures to perform for insulin resistance in PCOS are –
- Virabhadrasana
- Trikonasana
- Shavasana
- Surya namaskar
- Paschimottanasana
How Can I Reverse Insulin Resistance With PCOS?
Doing daily exercise or yoga is the key to reversing insulin resistance with PCOS but during this process, one thing to not underestimate is proper diet.
A nutritious diet is important for your health and for restoring your body’s physical and mental balance naturally.
Diet for reversing insulin resistance with PCOS is:
- Fresh vegetables like kale, broccoli, spinach, bitter gourd, tomatoes, cucumber, zucchini, etc.
- Fibrous fruits like guava, bananas, apple, kiwi, apricots, figs, etc.
- Avoid preservatives and a high sodium diet.
- Avoid artificial sweeteners and white refined sugar.
- Always follow a dosha compatible diet, one that suits your body type ayurvedic way.
How Can I Fix Insulin Resistance Naturally?
Fixing insulin resistance is possible by weight reduction programs. It has been proven that managing a healthy BMI helps in improving insulin sensitivity. You can try yoga for weight loss with detailed steps that lower your chances of developing type 2 diabetes.
You may also tackle PCOS in a yogic way which will help with insulin resistance as both are related. Here are 10 detailed yoga poses for PCOS.