How to Avoid Insulin Resistance and Why it's Important | Dr. Robert Lustig & Dr. Dom D'Agostino

Insulin resistance is when cells stop responding to insulin’s signal to uptake glucose. It’s a hallmark of prediabetes, Type 2 diabetes, and other forms of metabolic dysfunction, and it manifests as several chronic disease, ranging from Alzheimer’s to polycystic ovarian syndrome. Dr. Robert Lustig and Dr. Dominic D’Agostino discuss the importance of monitoring insulin levels, why a high or increasing insulin level is a problem, and how insulin resistance hinders weight management.

00:00 — Intro
01:44 — What is insulin?
04:43 — What is insulin resistance?
15:50 — There are three types of insulin resistance
36:03 — Weight management is not about calories in and calories out
44:00 — Adding more insulin to the equation of Type 2 diabetes isn’t necessarily the answer
49:31 — Insulin is a crucial biomarker to measure for metabolic health
52:11 — Insulin resistance is a hinderance to weight management
54:42 — The intake of too much leucine can lead to insulin resistance
1:00:22 — Fiber feeds the gut microbiome and is crucial for metabolic health
1:11:27 — Is intermittent fasting necessary?

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Levels helps you see how food affects your health. With real-time, personalized data gathered through biosensors like continuous glucose monitors (CGM), you learn which diet and lifestyle choices improve your metabolic health so you can live a longer, fuller, healthier life.

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[barrysmith]

I’m 75 years old and have a 25 year plan. Dr Lustig is the most important trusted advisor in my support plan.

[LashusJourney]

My insulin was at a 8 last year, I reversed it to 3 in a year just by lifestyle changes. Thanks for all you do.

[lilytea]

0:54: 🔑 Insulin resistance is a phenomenon where the receptors for insulin on the cells are downregulated and signaling beyond the receptor is dysfunctional, leading to various chronic diseases.
11:21: 💡 The liver is the primary site of insulin resistance and fatty liver disease affects a large portion of the population.
19:54: 📚 The discussion involves the relationship between diabetic nephropathy, insulin, and glucose levels, as well as the impact of exercise and diet on metabolic conditions.
28:05: 🍎 The liver plays a crucial role in metabolic health, and fixing the liver is important for preventing and treating chronic metabolic diseases.
36:58: 📚 Type 2 diabetes is eminently reversible by fixing the diet, but the American Diabetes Association does not emphasize the importance of insulin and does not recommend measuring it.
46:15: 📉 Fasting insulin is an important measure of metabolic health and should ideally be less than 10 Microunits per milliliter, with insulin resistance occurring above 15 Microunits per milliliter.
55:35: 👨‍⚕ Fiber is essential for maintaining a healthy intestinal barrier and preventing inflammation in the body.
1:05:08: 🔬 There is currently no strong evidence to support the use of supplements in improving insulin resistance.
1:14:00: ✅ The discussion explores the use of GLP-1 analogs for insulin resistance and weight loss, highlighting the need for further research.
Recap by Tammy AI

[SurenderKVats]

Dr Lustig, you are doing a favor to citizens of the world. Your advice is simple, straight and so valuable. Thanks for making it available on the net.

[marionalbergo]

Dr Lustig is a genius he just knows more then anyone else - dr or otherwise! !! Probably because he has been doing this for decades. He is dedicated and really is the only one I follow - period. I bought his book and cut out sugar and processed food. I lost 20 pounds 150 to 130. And ALL my belly fat !!I have more energy and my lungs take in deep breaths better and my oxygen levels went from 93 to 98. My ha1c was 5.6 - I’m going back (6 months later) for another test which I expect to be much lower. I have said this before but I believe Dr Lustig deserves a Nobel Prize for his work and dedication to educating the human race AND the health establishments and doctors all over the world.

[jespestana]

I particularly appreciate the discussion on the origin of insulin resistance in the liver vs. in the muscles. Robert Lustig is great explaining why fructose (for instance, in refined sugar) is so detrimental to health. D'Agostino being a researcher on the same field makes for a great interview discussion so far. Thanks for hosting these important discussions. 😊

[lisaa]

Great slogan: "You cannot outrun a bad diet". Until I was about 50 I believed I would always bounce back from sugar binges by exercising.

[mpoharper]

If I ever have a health problem, I want Dr. Lustig on my case!!

[salvadorissa]

What an amazing, comprehensive and enlightening discussion..! I was diagnosed with Syndrome X, hyperinsulinemia, reactive hypoglycemia about 35+ years ago. Never knew what to do about it until recently, when I decided to actively measure my fasting insulin and find ways to lower it from 17.5 units to 4.7, per the latest test. In my case, understanding how to reduce cortisol was the key. Once I controlled cortisol, my blood pressure and blood sugar normalized. I was able to add 3-day water only fasts to my time restricted eating protocol. Unfortunately, this wasn't anything my medical care providers taught me. IMO it took too long for me to acquire the knowledge and then the resolve to act. Thanks to scientists like Dr Lustig and others that care to tell it like it is and teach others....

[yolandacuevas]

Dr. Lusting, 9 years ago I was diagnosed diabetic type 2, I have lost 100 lbs. in 9 years I was over weight “ very” but unable to take control over my glucose problem. Unable to find a solution and dedicated to find something I have found you. And Oh my goodness am I happy. You have changed my lift and gave me hope. Thank you

[aprilek]

Love the Levels team and never get tired of hearing Dr. Lustig. Thanks for putting this old interview up

[lisaa]

Jaw-dropping explanation about the effect of stress on the body. I wondered why my fat is so stubborn....now I have another explanation besides age.

[-DailyInspiration]

Wishing everyone who is watching this video to always have strength of heart and peace in soul:
Amid life's tumultuous sea, a toolkit for the soul we seek,
To mend the heart, find peace, and joy in times so bleak.
In this video's embrace, a treasure trove, a hopeful start,
Bolstering the mind, kindling hope, soothing every wounded heart 💗

[tonystonebraker]

Down 122lbs. The difference is amazing. Once I learned about insulin and it’s effect. Game changer. Don’t understand why doctors never mentioned it before.

[cinder]

Dr. Dom, you cut off Dr Robert at a very crucial time. He started to explain the 4 ways to reduce insulin resistance and started with changing the diet. He didn’t finish explaining about the diet nor did he get to the other 3 methods when you interrupted and asked about Lucine in body builders. How many of the public listening are body builders? Let him finish how to heal insulin resistance before worrying about body builders because that’s what the vast majority of the public has.

[debbieconrad]

As a medical professional who follows a keto and IF lifestyle to heal my metabolic issues, I'm so glad to have found these two docs. I geeked out big time over this fantastic interview!

[T-aka-T]

So valuable for everyone who has been thrown onto their own resources to research their own health in the absence of a trustworthy general "standard of care" medical model and with hopelessly ignorant dieticians. Unlike the unqualified social media "influencers" pushing their products and copying each other's content, this is pure expertise shared with altruism by busy people. Thank you both. 👍❤️

[elpompo]

This content is just amazing and I realize why we have all these issues in the US: we are being led by merchants and not scientists. Appreciate this work!

[jeffreycash]

As someone who is thin and has developed pre-diabetes, gout, and slight atherosclerosis. I thank God ive come across Dr Lustig.
He has helped me understand the process of metabolic disease.
I had A1C of 6.3 1 year ago, now 5.4, with Keto carnivore diet and time restricted eating.
I mentioned some of the concepts to my Dr's and its like im taking in a foreign language. 😢

[edwardbernard]

This guy is brilliant! Making so much sense.