Definition
Insulin is a metabolic hormone with effects far beyond blood sugar. It influences appetite, brain function, inflammation, and, when chronically elevated, cardiovascular and cognitive risk.
Why it matters
Insulin resistance is one of the most common and most under-treated metabolic conditions in modern life, with mental as well as physical consequences.
The Science
Chronic hyperinsulinemia is linked to type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, PCOS, and increased risk of some cognitive and psychiatric conditions. Insulin resistance is largely modifiable through movement, sleep, and dietary pattern.
The NSI Perspective
NSI treats metabolic health as inseparable from mental health.
Clinical Implications
Metabolic screening belongs in careful psychiatric and general health care.
Practical Application
Your metabolism influences your mood. That is not a metaphor. It is measurable biology.
References
- 1.Kullmann S, Kleinridders A, Small DM, et al. Central nervous pathways of insulin action in the control of metabolism and food intake. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2020;8(6):524–534.