Dr. Rhonda Patrick

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Insulin resistance is increasingly recognized as a key contributor to chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even cognitive decline, often developing silently years before conventional tests detect a problem.

Yet most people don't realize they're insulin resistant until blood glucose tests finally flash a warning sign, often decades too late.

The reality is, is that millions of people are unknowingly walking around with persistently elevated insulin levels, what we might call pre-pre-diabetes.

And this silent dysfunction has profound implications for their long-term metabolic health, disease risk, and longevity.

Today, I'm joined by Dr. Ben Bickman, an expert in insulin metabolism and one of the most insightful voices in unraveling the complexities behind insulin resistance.

Dr. Bickman is a professor of physiology and developmental biology at Brigham Young University, whose research has reshaped our understanding of insulin's broader roles far beyond glucose regulation.

His work highlights how insulin resistance differentially impacts muscle, liver, and fat tissue, the critical roles environmental toxins play, and the practical interventions that can significantly restore insulin sensitivity.

In this episode, Ben and I dive deep into crucial topics, including why insulin resistance remains hidden until advanced stages, how to detect it early through simple tests, and actionable first steps to reverse insulin resistance immediately.

what insulin's broader physiological roles are beyond just blood glucose, its profound influence on fat storage, appetite regulation, inflammation, and chronic disease.

We also discuss macronutrients and insulin sensitivity, discussing how different dietary compounds like refined carbohydrates, sugars, even certain types of fats like saturated fats and polyunsaturated fats uniquely impact insulin signaling, inflammation, and metabolic health, as well as their relative roles in driving insulin resistance.

We discuss how meal timing, frequency and caloric restriction independently influence insulin sensitivity, including practical insights into intermittent fasting and time-restricted eating protocols.

We also discuss why not all fat cells are equal, including the metabolic dangers of visceral fat versus subcutaneous fat, the concept of personalized fat threshold, and what actually happens to fat cells during weight loss.

We discuss lifestyle environmental factors beyond diet, including stress, sleep deprivation, nicotine exposure, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals, including those found in microplastics.

We also discuss lifestyle and environmental factors beyond diet, including stress, sleep deprivation, nicotine exposure, and microplastics, and how they may significantly influence insulin sensitivity and overall metabolic health.

We discuss the emerging use and potential pitfalls of GLP-1 agonist medications, including Ozembic and Wegovi, including their effects on fat versus muscle loss, long-term metabolic health, and whether microdosing offers a safer path to longevity benefits.

And finally, we discuss practical evidence-based strategies you can start today, including dietary modifications, exercise protocols, targeted supplementation to rapidly improve insulin sensitivity, and invest in your long-term metabolic health span.

By the end of this conversation, you'll have a deeper understanding of insulin resistance as a significant contributor to chronic diseases and aging, and you'll also gain practical tools to meaningfully improve your metabolic resilience starting immediately.