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Insulin resistance is one of the most common—and most underrecognized—drivers of chronic disease we see in modern medicine. At Sheen Vein Aesthetics & Functional Medicine in St. Louis, many patients are surprised to learn that insulin resistance can exist years before diabetes, quietly impacting nearly every organ system in the body.

What Is Insulin Resistance?

Insulin is a hormone that allows glucose to enter cells for energy. When cells become resistant to insulin’s signal, the pancreas compensates by producing more insulin. Blood sugar may stay “normal” for years, but insulin levels remain chronically elevated—a state known as hyperinsulinemia.

This is not benign.

How Insulin Resistance Affects the Entire Body

1. Chronic Inflammation

Elevated insulin promotes inflammatory signaling, oxidative stress, and immune dysregulation. Over time, this contributes to joint pain, fatigue, and accelerated aging.

2. Vascular and Vein Health

Insulin resistance damages the endothelium (the lining of blood vessels), impairing circulation and increasing venous pressure. This is one reason we frequently see overlap between metabolic dysfunction and varicose vein symptoms.

👉 Internal link: Learn more on our Vein Health and Circulation page.

3. Hormonal Disruption

High insulin interferes with sex hormone balance, thyroid signaling, and cortisol regulation—contributing to low libido, fatigue, and weight gain.

4. Brain and Cognitive Effects

Insulin resistance is increasingly linked to brain fog and neurodegenerative risk due to impaired glucose utilization in the brain.

Why Insulin Resistance Often Goes Undiagnosed

Standard labs may appear “normal” while insulin remains elevated. Many patients in St. Louis are told they are healthy—yet still feel unwell.

Functional medicine focuses on early metabolic dysfunction, not just late-stage disease.

👉 Internal link: Explore our Functional Medicine Services in St. Louis.

A Root-Cause Approach

At Sheen Vein Aesthetics & Functional Medicine, we don’t just look at blood sugar—we evaluate metabolic flexibility, inflammation, vascular health, and lifestyle factors to support long-term healing.

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