Many of us know insulin as the hormone that regulates our blood sugar. We often think of its role in diabetes. However, insulin affects far more than glucose. Dr. Ben Bikman is a PhD researcher who has been studying insulin for many years. His latest book, Why We Get Sick, outlines how insulin resistance is at the root of chronic disease and ways to treat and prevent it.
In this episode, we speak to Dr. Bikman about the mechanisms of insulin resistance, its far-reaching effects in chronic disease, and strategies to improve it.
Today on The Lab Report:

2:20 Meet Dr. Bikman and learn why he focuses his research on insulin
8:35 Insulin and insulin resistance  
13:55 Where in the body does insulin resistance start?
18:25 Hypertrophic vs. hyperplastic fat cells and the effects of free fatty acids
26:35 Signals that create hypertrophic vs. hyperplastic fat cells
28:45 Muscle-centric model of insulin resistance
32:15 Chronic diseases as they relate to insulin resistance
35:50 Aromatase activity in adipose tissue
37:25 The brain and Alzheimer’s disease as ‘type 3 diabetes’?
41:50 Fasting, ketosis, and lifestyle strategies to combat insulin resistance
47:35 COVID-19, immunity, and metabolic defenses
50:40 The Fireball

Additional Resources:
Why We Get Sick
Ceremides as modulators of cellular and whole-body metabolism
Adipose Tissue as an Endocrine Organ
Ketones Elicit Distinct Alterations in Adipose Mitochondrial Bioenergetics
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