Insulin resistance and PCOS: the signs, even if you're slim
Updated
In short
Insulin resistance is when your body responds less well to insulin, the hormone that moves sugar into your cells. It's common with PCOS, even in slim women, and can make other signs worse. A blood test can check it, and simple habits can help.
Signs to watch for
- Sugar cravings, or an energy crash after meals.
- Weight that builds up fast, especially around the belly.
- Darker, velvety patches of skin in the folds (neck, armpits).
- Type 2 diabetes in your family.
The tests
A fasting blood sugar test, sometimes a glucose tolerance test, and a cholesterol check. Guidelines recommend checking blood sugar in every woman with PCOS, then regularly.
What helps day to day
- Meals with protein and fiber.
- Moving in a way you enjoy, even a 20-minute walk.
- Good sleep.
No need for a strict diet: very restrictive diets often throw cycles off. If a treatment would help, your doctor will discuss it with you.
Frequently asked questions
Should I take inositol?
It's the most studied supplement for PCOS, but the evidence is still limited. Talk to your doctor.
Do I need to lose weight?
Not necessarily. If you want to, even a small loss can help your cycles, but it's never required. And PCOS affects slim women too.
Sources
- Teede et al., Recommendations from the 2023 International Evidence-based Guideline for the Assessment and Management of PCOS, Human Reproduction, 2023
- Monash University, 2023 International PCOS Guideline
- World Health Organization, PCOS fact sheet
- Inserm, Syndrome des ovaires polykystiques (SOPK)
- NHS, Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
This guide informs; it does not diagnose and does not replace medical advice. Information from the international PCOS guidelines (2023) and the WHO.