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Insulin resistance has become one of the most talked-about health conditions of our time, and for good reason. It is now understood to be a major driver behind many modern chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and metabolic dysfunction.
But despite growing awareness, insulin resistance is still widely misunderstood. Many people are told it is simply the result of eating too many carbohydrates, not exercising enough, or lacking willpower.
In this Q&A, Dr. J Dunn explains why this view is incomplete, and why genetics and biochemistry play a central role in who develops insulin resistance and why it is so difficult to reverse for some individuals.
How Insulin Resistance Works at the Cellular Level
Insulin’s primary job is to help glucose enter our cells so it can be used to produce energy. Specialized insulin receptors on the surface of each cell respond to insulin by opening the “door,” allowing glucose to move inside and be converted into fuel.
When this system is functioning properly, glucose is broken down through a series of biochemical steps into ATP, the body’s primary energy currency. Blood sugar remains stable, energy levels are steady, and fat storage is regulated.
Problems arise when this process becomes impaired.
When the System Backs Up
Dr. J uses a helpful analogy: imagine an eight-lane highway that suddenly narrows into two lanes. Traffic slows, congestion builds, and everything behind the bottleneck begins to back up.
In the body, this bottleneck often occurs downstream in the energy production pathway, not at the level of insulin itself. Genetic variants affecting enzymes involved in glucose metabolism, mitochondrial function, or the electron transport chain can significantly slow the conversion of glucose into usable energy.
When glucose cannot efficiently move through the pathway:
- Blood glucose levels rise
- Insulin secretion increases
- Glucose is diverted into fat storage
- Cholesterol production increases
- Energy production drops
This creates the metabolic conditions associated with insulin resistance, weight gain, particularly around the midsection, and eventually type 2 diabetes.
Why Insulin Resistance Triggers Sugar Cravings
One of the most misunderstood aspects of insulin resistance is intense sugar cravings.
When energy production is impaired, the body is effectively running on empty. ATP levels drop, and the brain interprets this as an emergency. The result is an urgent signal: we need fuel now.
This is why many people with insulin resistance experience:
- Cravings that feel uncontrollable
- Energy crashes
- Hunger shortly after eating
- Difficulty stopping sugar intake
This is not a character flaw or lack of discipline. It is a biochemical survival response.
As Dr. J explains, when cravings are that intense, they are a symptom, not the root cause.
The Vicious Cycle of Insulin Resistance
Once insulin resistance begins, it often escalates quickly:
- Glucose cannot be efficiently converted into energy
- Insulin levels rise to compensate
- Blood sugar fluctuates too high or too low
- Sugar cravings intensify
- More sugar is consumed
- Fat storage increases
- Insulin receptors become more resistant
Over time, this cycle contributes to conditions such as:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Atherosclerosis and arterial hardening
- Dyslipidemia
- Hypertension
The Genetic and Evolutionary Perspective
Dr. J points out that many of the genetic variants associated with insulin resistance once served a survival advantage. In times of famine, the ability to store calories efficiently could mean survival.
In today’s world of constant food availability, ultra-processed carbohydrates, and environmental stressors, those same genetic traits can become harmful.
The mismatch between ancient genetics and modern lifestyle is a major reason insulin resistance has become so prevalent.
The Role of Mitochondrial Dysfunction
At the center of insulin resistance lies mitochondrial health.
Mitochondria are responsible for converting glucose into ATP. When they are damaged or genetically inefficient, glucose cannot be fully utilized, regardless of insulin levels.
Mitochondrial dysfunction may be caused by:
- Genetic variants affecting energy production
- Environmental toxins (pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals)
- Medications that impair mitochondrial function
- Chronic exposure to electromagnetic fields
- Inflammatory diets and metabolic stress
Low energy levels combined with sugar cravings are two of the strongest indicators of mitochondrial dysfunction.
Why Lifestyle Changes Work for Some, but Not Everyone
Diet and exercise absolutely matter. However, Dr. J emphasizes that genetics determine how effective lifestyle changes will be.
Two people can follow the same diet and exercise plan with very different outcomes. Those with fewer genetic or biochemical roadblocks often respond quickly, while others struggle despite consistent effort.
This is why many people feel frustrated or ashamed when standard advice doesn’t work for them.
Reversing Insulin Resistance at the Root
The encouraging news is that insulin resistance is often reversible when the underlying biochemical imbalances are addressed.
By supporting impaired enzymes with targeted nutrients and cofactors, the metabolic “roadblocks” can be relieved. When energy production improves:
- Blood sugar stabilizes
- Insulin sensitivity increases
- Sugar cravings diminish
- Energy levels rise naturally
- Movement becomes easier and more appealing
At that point, lifestyle changes no longer require constant willpower. They become a natural extension of how the body feels.
A Paradigm Shift in How We View Insulin Resistance
Perhaps the most important takeaway from this discussion is the need for compassion.
Insulin resistance is not a failure of discipline. It is a complex interaction between genetics, biochemistry, environment, and lifestyle.
When we stop blaming ourselves and start asking why the body is responding this way, real healing becomes possible.
As Dr. J explains, cravings, fatigue, and weight gain are signals, not moral judgments. Understanding the signal is the first step toward restoring metabolic health.
Looking Forward
Insulin resistance is one of the most significant drivers of chronic disease today. Addressing it requires more than surface-level solutions and understanding the biochemical and genetic foundations of energy production.
When those foundations are supported, the body can finally do what it was designed to do: regulate blood sugar, create energy, and restore balance.
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