If you are struggling to lose weight, insulin resistance may be part of the reason. It can make weight loss harder, and many people have it or are developing it long before they are ever diagnosed with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes.
I personally struggle with prediabetes and insulin resistance, and I have started to find success using a CGM for weight loss. For me, being able to see what is happening in real time has made things feel less confusing and more actionable.
Medical Note: This content is for educational purposes only and reflects my personal experience and research. It is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making health decisions based on this information. Read my full Medical Disclaimer here.
What is insulin resistance?
Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas. Its job is to help move glucose from your bloodstream into your cells so your body can use it for energy. Insulin resistance happens when your body does not respond to insulin the way it should. When that happens, your body has to make more insulin to try to keep blood sugar under control. Over time, that can contribute to higher blood sugar and weight gain. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, or NIDDK, describes insulin resistance and prediabetes as closely related and notes that insulin resistance can lead to increased blood glucose levels and weight gain.
You may have insulin resistance and not know it
This is one of the most important things to understand. Insulin resistance can be developing quietly long before someone is told they have prediabetes. In many cases, the body is still making enough extra insulin to keep blood sugar from looking obviously abnormal at first. That means the problem may be building in the background before it shows up clearly on routine testing.
That is also one reason prediabetes is so often missed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, says more than 2 in 5 adults in the United States have prediabetes, and 8 in 10 of them do not know it.
Why insulin resistance can make weight loss harder
Insulin resistance is not just about blood sugar. It affects how your body handles energy. When your body needs to produce more insulin, it may become easier to store energy and harder to manage weight. NIDDK specifically notes that insulin resistance can lead to weight gain, which helps explain why some people feel like they are working hard without seeing the results they expect.
It can also become a frustrating cycle. Weight gain, especially around the midsection, is often associated with worsening insulin resistance, and worsening insulin resistance can make weight management even more difficult.
Signs that can go along with insulin resistance
Insulin resistance does not always cause obvious symptoms, but there are some signs that can go along with it. One possible sign is darkened, thickened, velvety skin called acanthosis nigricans. Mayo Clinic says it often appears in body folds and creases, especially the armpits, groin, and back of the neck. Skin tags may also occur in the affected areas.
Other clues can include carrying more weight around the middle, abnormal cholesterol or triglycerides, higher blood pressure, or a history that puts you at higher risk for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes itself usually does not cause symptoms, which is another reason people may not realize anything is going on.
Why this matters for weight loss
A lot of people blame themselves when weight loss is slow. But insulin resistance is a reminder that weight loss is not always simple. Two people can eat similarly and have very different metabolic responses. If insulin resistance is part of the picture, it may help explain why your body seems to react differently than someone else’s.
That is one reason I have become so interested in using a CGM for weight loss. It has helped me start to see how my body responds instead of just guessing. If you want to read more about that, you can also check out How Using a CGM is Revolutionizing Weight Loss 2026 and 10 Benefits of Using a CGM for Weight Loss.
How insulin resistance and prediabetes are usually found
A healthcare provider may look at several things, including an A1C test, a fasting plasma glucose test, or an oral glucose tolerance test. NIDDK notes that A1C results below 5.7% are considered normal, 5.7% to 6.4% falls in the prediabetes range, and 6.5% or above can indicate diabetes, usually with confirmation unless there are clear symptoms.
The important point is that insulin resistance may already be present before those results reach the range that gets labeled as prediabetes. That is why it can be helpful to pay attention earlier, especially if weight loss has been unusually hard or you have risk factors that fit the picture.
Final thoughts
If weight loss has felt harder than it should, insulin resistance may be part of the reason. And you do not necessarily have to wait until you are formally diagnosed with prediabetes to start paying attention. Sometimes the problem has been developing quietly for a long time.
Understanding that can shift the conversation from self-blame to better information. For me, that has been a big part of why using a CGM has felt so helpful. It has given me a better way to understand what may be going on behind the scenes.
If you have been feeling stuck with weight loss and wondering whether blood sugar issues could be part of the picture, start by learning more about how a CGM can help you see what your body is doing in real time. You can begin with my posts on Why Use a CGM for Weight Loss and 10 Benefits of Using a CGM for Weight Loss.
References
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Insulin Resistance & Prediabetes.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). About Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Prediabetes: Could It Be You?
Mayo Clinic. Acanthosis nigricans: Symptoms & causes.
Mayo Clinic. Prediabetes: Symptoms and causes.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The A1C Test & Diabetes.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Diabetes Tests & Diagnosis.