Many women experience Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) - which is a hormonal disorder that affects many women’s infertility today. The two main signs that you might have PCOS is when you have insulin resistance and increased androgen (male hormones) in a woman. When our blood sugar is irregular this can lead insulin resistance - which often a precursor to Type 2 Diabetes if left uncorrected.
Insulin is a hormone that is produced in the pancreas. The role of insulin is to manage blood sugar by storing glucose in our body’s cells to be used as a form of energy from our food we eat. However, when we have excessively high blood sugar levels, our pancreas has to overwork itself to produce insulin to lower blood sugar. Gradually the cells become resistant to the influx of insulin - leading to high levels of insulin and blood sugar.
When our insulin levels are high it signals our ovaries to create more testosterone in the body which leads to irregular ovulation, heavy painful menstrual cycles and a collection of uterine lining forming cysts in our ovaries. Therefore managing our blood sugar levels, as well as supporting our insulin is key to managing PCOS.
What can you do to support your insulin and regulate blood sugar levels?
Stress management
Adequate sleep 7-8 hours
Eat whole and unrefined foods
Low carbohydrates intake
Anti-inflammatory diet
Liver cleanse
Gut health
Exercise
Avoid environmental toxins - BPA, phthalate