Insulin Resistance - Cause of Poor Fertility - Naina Singhania- Nutritionist

The Cycle of PCOS, Insulin Resistance & Diabetes

Did you know? More than 50% of women with PCOS develop Type 2 Diabetes by age 40.

PCOS isn’t just about irregular periods or weight gain—it’s deeply rooted in insulin resistance, which triggers hormonal imbalances and fertility struggles. Furthermore, most women with PCOS are prescribed insulin-regulating drugs like Metformin which indicates how interlinked PCOS and blood sugar are.

Common PCOS Symptoms:

Symptom	Long-term Risk
Irregular Periods	Fertility issues
Hairfall / Acne	Low confidence
Weight Gain / Fatigue	Diabetes & Heart Disease
Severe Cramps	Hormonal disruption

Also observed: Thyroid Imbalance, Anemia, High Cholesterol, Increased Risk of Heart Attack.

Why Conventional PCOS Treatments Fall Short??

Evidently, conventional methods like calorie deficits, birth control pills, and Metformin only act as a band-aid. They suppress symptoms but don’t address the root cause: lifestyle imbalance and inflammation.

My Top 3 Functional Medicine Picks for PCOS & Fertility Support

1. Lifestyle: Reset Your Hormones Naturally

Grounding: 10 mins of barefoot walking on soil/grass daily to reduce inflammation significantly
Breathwork: Equal breathing calms the nervous system and boosts hormone balance.
Circadian Rhythm: Wake with sunrise, eat around sunset, and follow regular sleep.

2. Diet: Fuel the Body to Heal

High Protein Breakfast to stabilize blood sugars immediately
Elimination Diet: Remove dairy, sugar, wheat—all highly inflammatory ingredients.
Add nutrients:
- Vitamin D (target: 60+)
- Methyl B12 (target: 600+)
- Magnesium, Zinc, Omega-3
- Myoinositol (4g/day)

How did we treat a women with PCOS + Diabetes + Fertility

A 36-year-old woman with PCOS & Diabetes failed 2 IUI cycles. Her lab reports showed:

High HbA1c (7.7), high inflammation markers, low DHEA, low progesterone, and subclinical hypothyroid.

Problem:

Final Interpretation:

High Stress Levels and constant Pressure to Prove led to immense pressure.
The DHEA levels being low and Inflammation being high was confirming that the
body was not ready to conceive.
Subclinical Hypothyroid, TSH levels were 3.7 with some symptoms which was again not very favourable considering the goals she had
Her Hba1C inspite of rapid and long active insulin were not within control
Her High Fasting sugar levels were a cue of high cortisol levels/ stress
Her Vitamin Profile was in lower normal range

Action Plan:

Result:

Switched to Low-Carb, High-Protein, High-Fat diet
Introduced targeted supplements
Daily breathwork, Vagal Nerve Stimulation, Yoga

Naina Singhania

Registered Dietitian | Functional Nutritionist | Diabetes Reversal Expert | Gut and Hormone Health Management

About Naina: Naina is a Registered Dietitian of India practicing since 2013. She works in the field of Weight Management, Diabetes Reversals and Women’s Health (PCOS, Infertility). She lives in Mumbai and caters to clients worldwide. Her approach is a combination of Ayurvedic Analysis along with scientific base in Functional Nutrition allows her to get into the root cause of the problem and provide customised solutions to her clients.