79: Can you actually have insulin resistance if your test results come back normal?

The PCOS Nutritionist Podcast

A question I get a lot is “can you actually have insulin resistance if your test results have come back normal?”.

A lot of you have suspected insulin may be driving your PCOS and requested blood work from your doctor, only to find that everything is normal - and they won’t order anything else. So you’re stumped as to what your next step should be and you’ve got all these awful symptoms but you’re not sure why.

“What the heck do I do now? I don’t understand what my root cause could be. I feel like I fit all of them…”

PCOS is a complicated beast, which is why it’s so important to work with someone who knows about all of the nuances that come with having it.
Because I know so many of you are confused about your PCOS and have questions like the one above, I’ve done a Q&A podcast answering some of your questions!

I know, it’s a bit late this week because a) you guys had soooo many questions (I’m going to have to do a part 2!) and b) I’ve just moved house! If you know you know, it’s chaotic to say the least.

In this podcast, I sit down with my lovely colleague Sophia and we talk through some of your burning questions about PCOS that we got the other week. We talk about everything from the question above to BMR and PCOS, the Pill to Orlistat, endometriosis to stress and ovulation pain.

It’s a jam packed episode with lots of great tidbits on not only all the science-y information you know and love from the podcast but also some great actionable tips. So even if you’re not worried about insulin resistance, it’s definitely worth a listen!

This episode is for you if:

• Your tests have come back normal and your doctor won’t order anything else
• You’ve just been pushed to go on the Pill and lose weight for your PCOS
• You think you might have endometriosis
• Weight loss is a goal for you
• You keep gaining weight, particularly around your midsection
• Weight gain doesn’t seem to stop even when you’re exercising 6 times a week and eating in a severe calorie deficit
• You take Yasmin
• Your stress levels are high and you want to know how to manage them better

Some things we cover in this episode:

• Endometriosis
• Stress
• Your BMR and PCOS
• Calorie deficits and intense exercise
• Why the calorie equation isn’t the be all end all
• Orlistat
• Pain, PCOS and ovulation

Resources and References:

• “What’s the difference between an ovarian cyst and polycystic ovaries?” Instagram post
• 10: Part 1: Why period pain is not a symptom of PCOS and all things Endometriosis with Dr. Lara Briden
• 11: Part 2: PCOS and Endometriosis with Dr Lara Briden
• 38: The long term effects of not addressing our insulin resistance with Professor Grant Schofield
• 44: Your Guide to Birth Control (Part 1): Hormonal Birth Control
• 45: Your Guide to Birth Control (Part 2): Non-Hormonal Birth Control
• My Book: Getting Pregnant with PCOS

Links to our programs:

• The PCOS Protocol
• Eggducated