Inflammation, Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Disease — The Hidden Connection

When weight won’t shift despite doing everything right, inflammation is often part of the answer — and it’s rarely discussed in a standard GP appointment.

Increased inflammation and insulin resistance are commonly observed in metabolic diseases  — and the relationship between them is bidirectional. Chronic low-grade inflammation drives insulin resistance, and insulin resistance in turn perpetuates inflammation. It is a cycle that standard calorie-focused approaches do not address.

This matters because inflammation is measurable. Markers like hs-CRP, fasting insulin and triglyceride-to-HDL ratio can indicate inflammatory and insulin resistance patterns well before a formal diagnosis of metabolic syndrome or type 2 diabetes. Yet these markers are rarely included in a standard blood panel.

For anyone experiencing stubborn weight gain, particularly around the midsection, fatigue, blood sugar fluctuations or difficulty losing weight despite a healthy diet, understanding the inflammatory and insulin picture is a critical first step — not an afterthought.

This is why inflammatory and metabolic markers are assessed as part of our Medical Weight Management Program and our Longevity Panel. Addressing weight resistance without understanding what’s driving it is like treating symptoms without knowing the diagnosis.

Source: Lee, Cardiovascular Prevention and Pharmacotherapy, 2021.
Read the full article here