I look forward to my sessions and think that he has been instrumental in my recovery. I went back to work part time in May and my pain has decreased steadily since then. My energy levels now enable me to live a normal active life and I am back to my usual work pattern. I am now a healthy 8st 8.

I still see Steve regularly as there is still work to be done on my posture and I want to get fitter and stronger. I am indebted to him for his care, skill and kindness to me over the past year and a half.

I can wholeheartedly recommend Steve for his knowledge of Functional Medicine and nutrition, hands on approach and professionalism. He is very easy to talk to and focussed on helping you. Background I was a very fit and healthy 40 year old Mum of 3, very into healthy eating and lifestyle when I This has been very successful.

Then at 44 I was diagnosed with a large kidney stone, requiring surgery to remove it. I assumed it was a one-off, but within 4 months of removal had developed 2 more huge stones.

In the space 9 months I had 3 lots of renal surgery, 2 inpatient stays for serious post-op infections, had countless kidney infections and taken hundreds of antibiotics. I looked grey, was constantly exhausted and felt permanently unwell. I was being treated by Urology and Nephrology teams in the NHS, who were brilliant, but kept telling me there was no explanation and I should just drink more water.

Which is where I came across Functional Medicine. Steve immediately asked me to cut out gluten and dairy for a month, then consider a full 3 month phase of an auto-immune paleo diet. He suggested I have blood tests which I did and discovered that his suspicion that I was low in magnesium was correct — very low.

And low magnesium is a risk factor for kidney stones. On his advice I took specific supplements. The 3 month paleo was hard, but within a few weeks I felt so incredibly well. I got lots of comments of how healthy I was looking from friends who had been too polite to tell me I looked dreadful!

I lost the grey pallor, I had energy, and I felt like me for the first time in absolutely ages. Since then Steve has amended the supplements I take to try and correct a low citrate level in my urine another major kidney stone risk.

My urinary PH has gone from alkaline to acidic great result , urinary citrate levels have improved and the Urology and Nephrology teams are very happy with my progress. I can honestly say that seeing Steve has been the best investment I have made. What he has helped me achieve in less than a year has been incredible.

Steve has helped me out tremendously. I originally went to see him to lose weight on my legs. This was in order to get down to the same size as the actress that I was doubling for on a movie. Well since then I have become addicted to nutrition and Well since then I have become addicted to nutrition and the importance of not only eating right, but drinking the right quantity of water, getting the right amount of sleep and all the other factors that go into maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

I have never felt better about myself. Not only to look at, but my energy is a lot better throughout my long days at work, my mood changed, and even my skin feels better.

What I also like about Steve, is that he genuinely cares about all of his patients. I would highly recommend Steve to anyone.

It completely floored me as I had just got engaged and was looking forward to starting a family, all I associated PCOS with was infertility. Following the initial diagnosis in April Following the initial diagnosis in April I had been placed on medication to help me ovulate including meformin and Clomid.

Neither seemed to be successful and by the time I saw you I had only had one period in a year. When we had our consultation I was reassured by how much you had read about my circumstances before, including analysing blood test results.

The plan you gave me was realistic and sustainable for my lifestyle and you also recommended a supplement that had very recently been researched. Within a month of following your plan admittably with a few more wines than suggested and taking the supplement I had a natural period, a month later I became pregnant which unfortunately ended in miscarriage but gave me the confidence that my body was working.

In addition, taking control of my nutrition finally made me feel empowered over my body when I was beginning to feel so lost. I am now fitter and leaner than ever and have a balanced lifestyle that supports my goals.

I continue to rely on Steve for his close guidance and support. In addition to the physical side, Steve understands the human condition. He is empathetic, supportive and open source. I would not hesitate in recommending him!

For anyone living with and struggling through dietary or digestion issues, I cannot recommend Steve Grant Health highly enough! If like me, the conventional GP paths have left you with dismissive or inconclusive outcomes for IBS and food intolerance issues, the chance for long-form and in-depth consultations with Steve was a If like me, the conventional GP paths have left you with dismissive or inconclusive outcomes for IBS and food intolerance issues, the chance for long-form and in-depth consultations with Steve was a welcome relief!

Particularly on the troubles I suffered with, related to gut health. Having personally gained a massive quality of life improvement through our consultations, I am won over by the function medicine approach Steve follows.

I wish I had discovered this as an option much earlier on! Beyond the specific issues tackled, I have found Steve to provide a really valuable correction in perspective on how modern day life clashes with good health — and how it certainly contributed to the troubles that brought me to Steve in the first place!

I am still on the road of recovery but I know with Steve he will help me to get through this. And thank you to Fay as well for always being so organised and efficient. You guys make a great team. Yang, Q. Metabolites as regulators of insulin sensitivity and metabolism.

Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 19, — Imamura, F. Effects of Saturated Fat, Polyunsaturated Fat, Monounsaturated Fat, and Carbohydrate on Glucose-Insulin Homeostasis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomised Controlled Feeding Trials.

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Experimental physiology, 4 , — Insulin resistance Syndrome. Am Fam Physician, 63 6 , - Qian, J. Differential effects of the circadian system and circadian misalignment on insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion in humans.

Reviewed December Prevalence of Prediabetes Among Adults. html Soeters, M. The evolutionary benefit of insulin resistance. Clinical Nutrition, Dec;31 6 Ketogenic Diet.

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Related Coverage. What are the differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes? Medically reviewed by Michelle L.

Although insulin is mostly involved in blood sugar regulation, it also affects fat and protein metabolism 2. When you eat a meal that contains carbs , the amount of sugar in your bloodstream increases.

The cells in your pancreas sense this increase and release insulin into your blood. Insulin then travels around your bloodstream, telling your cells to pick up sugar from your blood. This process helps regulate blood sugar levels and prevent high blood sugar, which can have harmful effects if left untreated 3 , 4.

However, cells sometimes stop responding to insulin correctly. This is called insulin resistance. When you have this condition, your pancreas produces even more insulin to lower your blood sugar levels.

This leads to high insulin levels in your blood, known as hyperinsulinemia 5. Over time, your cells may become increasingly resistant to insulin, resulting in a rise in both insulin and blood sugar levels. If your blood sugar levels exceed a certain threshold, you may receive a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.

If you have insulin resistance, you have low insulin sensitivity. Conversely, if you are sensitive to insulin, you have low insulin resistance 7. Insulin resistance occurs when your cells stop responding to the hormone insulin.

This causes higher insulin and blood sugar levels, potentially leading to type 2 diabetes. One possible cause is increased levels of free fatty acids in your blood, which can cause cells to stop responding properly to insulin 8.

The main causes of elevated free fatty acids are consumption of too many calories and the presence of excess body fat. In fact, overeating, weight gain , and obesity are all strongly associated with insulin resistance 9 , 10 , Visceral fat, the harmful belly fat that can accumulate around your organs, may release many free fatty acids into your blood, as well as inflammatory hormones that drive insulin resistance 12 , Although insulin resistance is more common among people with overweight or obesity, anyone can develop it Black, Hispanic, and Asian individuals are at particularly high risk The main causes of insulin resistance are overeating and increased body fat, especially in the belly area.

Other factors that can contribute include high sugar intake, inflammation, inactivity, and genetics. A healthcare professional can use several methods to determine whether you have insulin resistance. For example, high fasting insulin levels are a strong indicator of this condition A fairly accurate test called HOMA-IR can estimate insulin resistance based on your blood sugar and insulin levels There are also ways to measure blood sugar regulation more directly, such as an oral glucose tolerance test — but this takes several hours.

Your risk of insulin resistance increases greatly if you have overweight or obesity, especially if you have large amounts of belly fat 7. A skin condition called acanthosis nigricans, which causes dark spots on your skin, can also indicate insulin resistance Low HDL good cholesterol levels and high blood triglycerides are two other markers strongly associated with insulin resistance High insulin and blood sugar levels are key symptoms of insulin resistance.

Other symptoms include excess belly fat, high blood triglycerides, and low HDL good cholesterol levels.

Insulin resistance is a hallmark of two very common conditions: metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Metabolic syndrome is a group of risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other health conditions.

Its symptoms include high blood triglycerides, high blood pressure , excess belly fat, high blood sugar, and low HDL good cholesterol levels You may be able to prevent metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes by stopping the development of insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance is linked to metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes, two common health conditions around the world. Insulin resistance is strongly associated with heart disease, which is the leading cause of death around the globe 28 , Additionally, insulin resistance has been linked to an increased risk of developing major depressive disorder It is often possible to completely reverse insulin resistance by making the following lifestyle changes:.

Most of the habits on this list also happen to be associated with better overall health, a longer life, and protection against chronic disease. Lifestyle strategies such as exercise, healthy eating, and stress management may help reduce or even reverse insulin resistance.

Low carb diets may be beneficial for metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes — and this is partially mediated by reduced insulin resistance 44 , 45 , According to the American Diabetes Association, consumption of foods high in carbs and low in fat may actually worsen insulin resistance 7.

Additionally, low carb diets may support weight loss, which could help increase insulin sensitivity 7 , Low carb diets involve limiting your intake of foods high in carbs or added sugar, including baked goods, grains, and sweets.

Diets that are very low in carbohydrates, such as the ketogenic diet , may also improve blood sugar regulation and enhance insulin sensitivity 48 , According to one review, following a ketogenic diet may help improve blood sugar regulation, decrease inflammation and fasting insulin level, and promote weight loss, all of which may be beneficial for people with insulin resistance Low carb and ketogenic diets may improve insulin resistance and support blood sugar regulation.

However, you should talk with a healthcare professional before making major changes to your diet. Insulin resistance may be one of the key drivers of many chronic conditions, including type 2 diabetes. You can improve this condition through lifestyle measures such as eating a balanced diet, staying active, and making an effort to maintain a moderate body weight.

Preventing insulin resistance may be among the most effective ways to live a longer, healthier life. Int J Sports Med. Donga E, van Dijk M, van Dijk JG, Biermasz NR, Lammers GJ, van Kralingen KW, Corssmit EP, Romijn JA.

A single night of partial sleep deprivation induces insulin resistance in multiple metabolic pathways in healthy subjects. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Epub Apr 6. Liu CY, Huang CJ, Huang LH, Chen IJ, Chiu JP, Hsu CH. Effects of green tea extract on insulin resistance and glucagon-like peptide 1 in patients with type 2 diabetes and lipid abnormalities: a randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled trial.

PLoS One. PMID: ; PMCID: PMC Medagama AB. The glycaemic outcomes of Cinnamon, a review of the experimental evidence and clinical trials. Nutr J. Jalal R, Bagheri SM, Moghimi A, Rasuli MB. Hypoglycemic effect of aqueous shallot and garlic extracts in rats with fructose-induced insulin resistance.

J Clin Biochem Nutr. Li Y, Tran VH, Duke CC, Roufogalis BD. Gingerols of Zingiber officinale enhance glucose uptake by increasing cell surface GLUT4 in cultured L6 myotubes.

Planta Med. Epub Jul Guerrero-Romero F, Tamez-Perez HE, González-González G, Salinas-Martínez AM, Montes-Villarreal J, Treviño-Ortiz JH, Rodríguez-Morán M.

Oral magnesium supplementation improves insulin sensitivity in non-diabetic subjects with insulin resistance. A double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial.

Diabetes Metab. Anderson RA, Cheng N, Bryden NA, Polansky MM, Cheng N, Chi J, Feng J. Elevated intakes of supplemental chromium improve glucose and insulin variables in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Yin J, Xing H, Ye J. Efficacy of berberine in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Paul-Labrador M, Polk D, Dwyer JH, Velasquez I, Nidich S, Rainforth M, Schneider R, Merz CN.

Effects of a randomized controlled trial of transcendental meditation on components of the metabolic syndrome in subjects with coronary heart disease. Arch Intern Med. Caminhotto Rde O, Lima FB. Impaired glucose tolerance in low-carbohydrate diet: maybe only a physiological state. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab.

What Is Insulin Resistance? Who Is At Risk of Insulin Resistance? Certain factors increase your likelihood of developing insulin resistance: Being overweight or obese, especially when excess weight is around the midsection A sedentary lifestyle or lack of exercise Smoking Consuming large amounts of alcohol Lack of sleep or sleep issues High levels of cholesterol High blood pressure A history of gestational diabetes A family history of diabetes A high-carbohydrate diet Sleep apnea While it may not be possible to eliminate all risk factors as some are genetic, most are avoidable and doctors typically recommend lifestyle changes to prevent the condition.

What Are The Symptoms of Insulin Resistance? In addition, there are links that have been drawn between insulin resistance and other health conditions: Acanthosis nigricans. This skin condition causes dark spots on the groin, armpits, and back of the neck.

It can be an indicator of insulin resistance. Polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS. There is often an overlap between PCOS and insulin resistance. The symptoms of PCOS include irregular menstruation, infertility, and painful periods.

Major depressive disorder. High levels of insulin in the blood have also been associated with an increased likelihood of depression. How To Prevent Insulin Resistance There are numerous natural and science-backed ways you can increase your insulin sensitivity: 1 — Sleep more Getting enough rest is important for your health in many ways.

Sources: Attvall S, Fowelin J, Lager I, Von Schenck H, Smith U. Search for:.