LEARN - Insulin: some science and application

High Insulin: Why It's Not Your Fault (And What We Can Do About It)

If you've ever been told you're just getting old, that you're not trying hard enough, or that weight gain is your fault — I want you to know this: you are not alone, and you are not to blame.


Women in midlife are constantly being dismissed. They’re told to eat less and move more. But here's the thing:

Exercise doesn’t lead to weight loss in midlife — at least, not in the way we've been led to believe. And eating less? That can actually stress your body more, especially if you're already under pressure from hormonal changes, poor sleep, and emotional load.


What I see — over and over — is women running on empty.  Not eating enough. Not fuelling properly. And guess what the first symptom of low energy availability is? Anxiety.

That’s right — not laziness, not lack of willpower — just a body in survival mode. A lot of these women are in a picture of RED-S (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport), even though they’re not athletes — they’re just trying to cope.


So what’s actually going on?  For many, it’s high insulin — or insulin resistance — the body’s early warning system that something's out of balance.


Symptoms of high insulin levels might include:

  • Fatigue (especially mid-afternoon crashes)
  • Brain fog
  • Sugar cravings or carb-seeking behaviour
  • Increased abdominal fat
  • Struggling to lose weight despite eating less and exercising more
  • Feeling “lazy” or “unmotivated” (when in fact, it’s a physiological state)

And sadly, so many women are told these symptoms are normal — that it’s just “midlife,” or “being a woman.”

But here's the truth: it’s not inevitable, and it can be changed.


Lightbulb moment: metformin

I started noticing something interesting.

Women with PCOS or prediabetes would tell me:

  • “I just feel better on metformin.”
  • “I’m not as tired in the afternoons.”
  • “I don’t crave carbs as much.”
  • “I finally lost a little weight… without trying so hard.”

Even on very low doses, this improvement was noticeable.  (I love patterns!!)


💊 So, what is metformi n?

Metformin is a medication that helps improve insulin sensitivity.

It’s commonly prescribed for:

  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Prediabetes
  • PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)

It lowers HbA1c (your average blood sugar) by about 11 mmol/mol, but it also has positive effects on:

  • Ovulation and menstrual regularity
  • Mood and cravings
  • Abdominal fat distribution
  • Even facial hair in PCOS!

How does this relate to perimenopause?

Perimenopause can mimic PCOS in many ways — irregular cycles, mood swings, weight gain, and increasing insulin resistance.  So, if metformin helps in PCOS, it makes sense to consider it as a tool for perimenopausal women too.


And that’s exactly how I see it:

A tool. Not a long-term crutch.


💡 My goal isn’t to medicate forever — it’s to help you feel well enough to:

  • Rebuild your energy
  • Sleep better
  • Reconnect with food
  • Get moving again

And create a life that supports your health (not fights against it)


Because when you feel better, you do better — and you can start making the changes that support long-term metabolic health.


Why share this?

Because if a medication that treats insulin resistance also makes people feel better — more energetic, less craving-driven, more mentally clear — then maybe the issue was never your motivation or mindset.   Maybe it was being challenged by insulin resistance all along.


And maybe, just maybe…

It’s time we stopped blaming women and started listening to their bodies.