Diabetes can have a major impact on both male and female infertility. However, even if you haven’t been diagnosed with diabetes, you may still be at risk. There’s something called insulin resistance that you should know about – because it’s an indicator that you could be on the road to pre-diabetes, or Type 2 Diabetes – and all of the health and fertility problems that come with that diagnosis.
The great news is that there are many things you can do at home – without the need for medication -that can reverse insulin resistance, stop pre-diabetes – and even help you to lose weight! We had a fascinating discussion with Jodi Dalyai, MS, RD, co-author of The Everything Guide to the Insulin Resistance Diet about what you can do to take control of your health today.
Q: Your book is about insulin resistance. Can you explain to us what that is and how it is related to diabetes?
A: Insulin is a hormone made in the pancreas and its job is to help move glucose, or blood sugar, from the bloodstream into cells where it can be converted into energy. In insulin resistance, changes are taking place at the cellular level in response to insulin attaching at the surface and trying to let glucose in which render the insulin inefficient. The body then calls on the pancreas to make more and more insulin, in an attempt to control rising blood sugars. Over time, the pancreas can become less effective at making insulin, leading to rising blood sugars, prediabetes and diabetes. In advanced type 2 diabetes exogenous insulin, or insulin shots, are needed to control blood sugar. Insulin resistance is an indicator that someone is at risk for diabetes if attempts aren’t made to reverse or manage the resistance.
Q: Insulin resistance is associated with lower rates of fertility. Tell us about the impact insulin resistance can have on both female and male fertility.
A: Insulin resistance can disrupt ovulation. Either ovulation can become irregular, or it may cease entirely. With men, there is evidence that sperm count is reduced with insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is also one aspect of metabolic syndrome, and if a person has other indicators of metabolic syndrome, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol, then a host of changes to the bodies endocrine system and levels of stress hormones, can affect male and female fertility. Insulin resistance is seen in possibly 50% or more of women with PCOS. What’s interesting is that insulin resistance can both precede PCOS and also be a symptom of it.
Q: Explain the importance of managing your insulin resistance in order to avoid further health implications.
A: In our book, The Everything Guide to the Insulin Resistance Diet, my co-author Marie Feldman and I discuss common risk factors associated with insulin resistance, such as being overweight or having high triglycerides. Utilizing data, labs or your own lifestyle observations can help you and your doctor determine when it’s time to focus on improving insulin resistance. Since as many as half of people with insulin resistance will go on to develop prediabetes and diabetes, further increasing the risk of infertility, it’s beneficial to make lifestyle changes earlier on. While there are some genetic factors and autoimmune changes that can take place leading to type 2 diabetes or variations on type 1 and type 2 diabetes, in many cases if insulin resistance, or even prediabetes, is caught early, it can be reversed.
Q: Insulin resistance can affect anyone – not just those who are overweight, as some people assume. Can you talk about how many people struggle with insulin resistance?
A: Estimates suggest as many as 60 to 70 million Americans have insulin resistance. While a majority may be over 50 years of age, it affects those younger, and without symptoms, it can go undiagnosed.
Q: Let’s talk about ways that people can manage insulin resistance – before they start trying to conceive.
A: One of the most important things to do is get moving. Sedentary lifestyle is common in people with insulin resistance. By increasing the demands of insulin, by using your muscles during walking, biking or weight training, you are forcing cellular mechanisms involved in insulin resistance to work. The more you make them work, the better they will work.
Q: Tell us a bit about your new cookbook and guide that can help people who suffer from insulin resistance get on the road to improving their blood sugars – and their overall health.
A: As the title suggests, it really is a guide, and that is one of its benefits. We walk you through the science, discuss goal setting for behavior change, and then move into improving insulin resistance with food choices and increased activity. We have an easy to follow 10-week plan, and offer a wide variety of recipes that fit into the guidelines we recommend. Nutritionally, it is very in line with two ways of eating that show amazing benefits to all people- The Mediterranean diet and DASH (Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension).
Q: What is the most important thing you want people to come away with from your book?
A: That slow and steady wins the race. There is no one overriding factor that confers health, but small, repeated changes and practices that add up to a healthy lifestyle. I think our book is the perfect companion on the three month, six month, and one year journey needed when we want to improve health for the long term.
Fertility health issues and insulin resistance are both common, and often treatable with lifestyle change. Get support to start your journey to health because no one is in it alone!
Dana is an award-winning documentary television producer and the Editor-In-Chief of TalkingFertility.com. Dana struggled with infertility for years before she was ultimately blessed with two sons. While trying to conceive she searched online for support, advice, forums and the latest fertility news. It didn't exist all in one place, so Dana created this virtual community and resource to serve people who are trying to conceive.
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