Insulin Resistance

Q Can losing weight really keep me from getting diabetes? I honestly want to know how much I can expect.

A. We can't guarantee you "won't get it," but realistically it's quite possible to greatly lower the risk of diabetes progression and delay it by several years or more through weight loss and lifestyle improvement. The effect is especially large the sooner you start managing it now.

Q I'm not very overweight, but the test still showed insulin resistance. I have no weight to lose, so can this be managed?

A. Even people who look thin can develop insulin resistance if they have a lot of visceral fat or little muscle mass. In this case, management aimed at reducing visceral fat and building muscle is more effective than weight loss.

Q I heard that along with insulin resistance I also have irregular periods, fatty liver, and high cholesterol. Are these connected to each other?

A. Insulin resistance shares a common root with polycystic ovary syndrome (irregular periods), fatty liver, and high cholesterol, so they often appear together. That's why approaching them in one direction of improving weight and metabolism often improves several problems at once.

Q They say certain exercises are good for insulin resistance. Should I do strength training or cardio?

A. Doing cardio and strength training together is the most effective. Cardio reduces visceral fat, and strength training makes your muscles use up blood sugar, directly boosting insulin sensitivity.

Q They say lack of sleep makes you gain more weight. Is sleep also related to insulin resistance?

A. Lack of sleep directly worsens insulin resistance. When you're short on sleep, appetite hormones get thrown off and blood sugar control worsens, so no matter how much you diet and exercise, metabolism doesn't get on track, making enough sleep important.

Q Won't diet herbal medicine suddenly drop my blood sugar or put a burden on my body?

A. Herbal medicine prescribed to fit your constitution and condition can be managed safely, but if taken with blood sugar medication, you need to watch for hypoglycemia. It's safe to tell us all the medications you're taking and to proceed with gradual weight loss rather than extreme fasting.

Q How can I tell if my insulin resistance has progressed to diabetes? Are there signs that mean I should rush to get tested?

A. If you suddenly drink a lot of water, urinate frequently, lose weight for no reason, and develop severe fatigue and blurred vision, it may have progressed to diabetes, and immediate testing is needed. Even without these signs, it's safe to confirm with regular blood sugar tests.

Q I'm taking metformin (a blood sugar medication) prescribed by the hospital. Is it okay to take diet herbal medicine along with it?

A. In most cases you can take herbal medicine while continuing your blood sugar medication, but never stop your medication on your own, and be sure to tell us all the medications you are taking. If blood sugar improves with weight loss, hypoglycemia can occur, so any medication adjustment must be discussed with your doctor.

Q Once I start managing it, how long until I can feel my metabolism getting better?

A. Symptoms you can feel, like post-meal drowsiness and fatigue, often ease within a few weeks, while clear improvement in blood sugar and insulin numbers usually appears after 2-3 months of consistent management. Metabolism recovers along with the trend of belly fat shrinking.

Q Once insulin resistance develops, can it never be reversed? Or is it possible to recover to normal?

A. Insulin resistance is a condition that can be reversed to a large degree. When you lose weight and improve metabolism, cells respond well to insulin again, and many people come close to normal metabolism.

Q I was told at a health checkup that I have insulin resistance. I don't have diabetes, so what exactly is this condition?

A. Insulin resistance is a state where insulin is being released but your cells respond poorly, so blood sugar and metabolism gradually worsen. It's a pre-diabetic stage; belly fat, post-meal drowsiness, and fatigue are common, and the back of the neck may darken.

Q I'm in my late 30s. My arms and legs stay the same, but my belly keeps growing. Is this related to insulin resistance?

A. Fat accumulating in the belly, especially around the organs, and insulin resistance make each other worse. Visceral fat releases substances that disrupt metabolism and make insulin work even less, and as a result belly fat piles up more easily, creating a vicious cycle.

Q I love rice, bread, and noodles, and I often drink sweet beverages. Do these foods worsen insulin resistance?

A. Refined carbohydrates and sugar sharply raise blood sugar and keep making you pour out insulin, and when this repeats, insulin resistance grows. The key is to cut back on white rice, flour, and sweet drinks and switch to whole grains, protein, and vegetables.

Q Whenever I eat lunch, in the afternoon I get so drowsy my eyes close, and I feel sluggish. Is this also a sign of insulin resistance?

A. Severe drowsiness after meals commonly appears in the process of blood sugar rising sharply and then dropping, and it is one of the hallmark signs of insulin resistance. Cutting back on refined carbohydrates and adding protein and vegetables eases these surges and crashes.

Q I work in Dong-gu, Incheon, and want to get insulin resistance management, but it's hard to make time during the day.

A. Insulin resistance management usually involves regular visits about a month apart to review weight and dietary changes and track progress. Visit times and herbal medicine can be coordinated to fit your work schedule, so we recommend booking before you come to be seen without waiting.

Q If I manage insulin resistance with Korean medicine and diet, what stages does it go through?

A. First, we use pulse diagnosis and consultation to identify where metabolism has slumped and the surplus piled up in the abdomen, then proceed in the order of clearing the accumulated phlegm-fluid, reviving circulation and metabolism, tackling belly fat, blood sugar, and sensitivity together, and stabilizing it so it doesn't recur. Diet, exercise, and sleep management are carried out alongside.

Q If I lose weight, does insulin resistance really get better? Or do I just lose weight and nothing else?

A. Losing weight, especially belly fat, is the surest way to improve insulin resistance. Reducing your body weight by just 5-7% noticeably restores insulin sensitivity and greatly slows progression to diabetes.

Q Since I don't have diabetes yet, the hospital won't even give me medication and just says to watch and wait. Is there any point in managing this ambiguous stage?

A. The pre-diabetic stage is exactly when management is most effective. If you get your weight and metabolism under control now, you can prevent or greatly delay the shift to diabetes, so it's important not to miss this "wait and see" period.