Finishing a virtual meeting, Lori Alterman closed her laptop and set her phone alarm to chime in 20 minutes as she settled into her chair. Hoping to grab a quick nap before working on a podcast, the lifestyle influencer struggled to stay alert. But chronic fatigue, along with a handful of other intrusive symptoms caused by her insulin resistance, made it difficult for the typically bubbly Lori to remain alert and energetic throughout her day.
“I never battled head bobs or brain fog until I went into medically induced menopause following a complete hysterectomy in 2020,” recalls Lori. “Although my physician was thrilled when I recovered physically, day-to-day life after the surgery included weight gain, insulin resistance—and with it, excessive hunger and thirst—and abnormal gut health, plus a feeling of heaviness that plagued me.
“Extreme fatigue interfered with every aspect of my life, leaving me lacking the energy to prepare favorite meals and look forward to social interactions. Instead, I found myself fighting to stay awake in the evening to catch a favorite show or read even a few pages of a book. I struggled to come up with words and frequently forgot what I was in the middle of doing.
Nothing I did seemed to help
“Despite trying to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet and incorporate daily activity, my weight continued inching up, which further dampened a spirit already darkened by exhaustion and frustration. I tried to calm my insatiable hunger and thirst with citrus-flavored water and healthy snacks, like protein-packed Greek yogurt with berries, but I never felt completely satisfied and the number on my scale never went down.
“Desperate to reclaim my life and good health, I spent almost two years experimenting with different diets and supplements to both boost my energy and shed the excess weight, but nothing offered any relief.
“At an annual physical in early 2024, I was pleasantly surprised when, after sheepishly mentioning my symptoms to my physician, he offered a possible holistic option: berberine. Studies have shown that supplementing with the plant compound can help treat obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes and heart disease because of its ability to reduce inflammation and improve insulin resistance by helping the body better process glucose.
A fast-acting solution
“Having never heard of berberine, I didn’t know what to expect, but desperate to feel like the “old me” I thought, Why not try it? So I ordered a bottle of berberine and began taking one 500-mg capsule three times a day, with breakfast, lunch and dinner.
“I was thrilled to see that in less than two weeks, my insatiable hunger and thirst subsided, and I was no longer feeling overly full or battling bloat after every meal.
“My energy began to improve, and within a month or so, I didn’t need to squeeze naps into my workday. As an added bonus, I’m back to my pre-surgery weight and have the added peace of mind that I’m doing something that’s good for my heart too, since berberine has been linked to regulating cholesterol levels.
“Today, I feel amazing and have more energy than I’ve had in years. Ready to tackle any project or adventure, I’m so happy I talked to my doctor rather than trying to tackle the fatigue and other symptoms of insulin resistance on my own. This tiny supplement, which I continue to take twice a day, has completely changed my life!”
The science: The tiredness epidemic plaguing women
“Nearly all my female patients are suffering some degree of insulin-resistance (IR) when they first come to see me,” says Fred Pescatore, MD. The hormone insulin shunts glucose out of the bloodstream and into cells so it can be used for fuel, he explains. But when factors like diet, stress and lack of exercise trigger IR, cells don’t respond properly to insulin’s signals. “This means they don’t receive glucose efficiently, which leaves them starved for energy,” he notes. The result: fatigue, brain fog, blue moods and weight gain. IR also causes glucose to build up in the bloodstream, raising the risk of diabetes. Doctors can diagnose IR with blood tests and the steps below can reduce resistance and rev energy in a matter of weeks.
- Limiting refined carbs is key, as the glucose spikes they cause can lead to IR.
- Supplementing with berberine can lower IR in four weeks, according to a study in Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine. Dr. Pescatore advises taking 500 mg three times daily. A brand to try: Solaray Berberine 500 mg, available at Amazon.
Try this too: Lace up your walking shoes
Walking alleviates insulin resistance within 12 weeks, say experts reporting in the Journal of Exercise Nutrition & Biochemistry. In their study, women who walked for about an hour three days a week saw significant improvements in markers of insulin sensitivity, such as blood glucose and insulin. Plus, they lost 364% more belly fat than their less-active counterparts. Researchers say walking increases adiponectin, a protein that helps the body use insulin more efficiently. Can’t walk for an hour three times weekly? Dr. Pescatore says you can get the perks by walking for 30 minutes six times a week.
