Understanding Insulin and Glucose Metabolism: Why It Matters

You’ve likely heard of insulin thanks to social media and the buzz around popular medications like Ozempic—but you may still be wondering what insulin actually does, and why it’s so important for your overall health.

Insulin is a hormone that plays a central role in how your body turns food into energy. When you eat food, especially carbs (sweets, bread, fruit, pasta, milk, or starchy vegetables), your body breaks them down into glucose. Glucose is a fancy word for a type of sugar that is a primary energy source for your body. That glucose enters your bloodstream, and insulin acts like a key to the door, helping move glucose into your cells where it can be used for fuel.

If insulin isn’t working efficiently due to poor signaling or the cells becoming less responsive (known as insulin resistance), glucose builds up in the bloodstream instead of being absorbed. Over time, this imbalance can affect overall metabolic health and contribute to increased oxidative stress and inflammation in the body. In women with PCOS, this can also impact testosterone levels and ovulation. Long-term high levels of glucose can lead to diabetes, heart disease, and even kidney disease. We can help support glucose levels naturally though.

Glucose Spikes and Food Choices

Glucose levels naturally rise after meals, but how sharply they rise (often called a “spike”) depends on the type of food you eat. Simple carbohydrates and liquids like juice or soda are absorbed quickly and lead to a rapid glucose increase. In contrast, whole foods rich in fiber, such as an apple paired with protein and healthy fats, cause a more gradual rise in glucose, or a lower spike. The smaller the glucose spike, the less insulin is required to bring levels back down which helps ease the workload on your body’s metabolic system.

Insulin Resistance and PCOS

In some women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), insulin signaling may not work as well, where the body’s response to insulin is reduced, meaning the key is a little rusty. Lifestyle strategies such as balanced nutrition, physical activity, stress reduction and adequate sleep are key tools to support insulin and glucose metabolism. Alongside these foundational lifestyle habits, certain dietary supplements may support healthy glucose metabolism and insulin function which can help your body manage blood sugar responses.

How Ovii Supports Your Body

Ovii’s Hormonal & Metabolic Support supplement was designed to provide comprehensive support for women’s health. Let’s explore how key ingredients work synergistically to help your body stay balanced with glucose.

Carbohydrate Metabolism Support: Reducose®

Ovii’s formula includes Reducose®, a clinically studied, patented white mulberry extract that’s designed to be taken before a carbohydrate-rich meal. Reducose has been shown to help reduce the post-meal rise in blood glucose levels. In clinical studies, Reducose supplementation before a meal has positive results for lowering the glucose curve. One study even used ice cream as the test meal, see how Reducose helped lower the curve compared to the placebo in the image below. Reducing the glucose rise may ease the demand for insulin, promoting more stable energy levels and supporting metabolic health.

Insulin Signaling Support: Myo-Inositol, Chromium, and Acetyl-L-Carnitine

Ovii also contains ingredients that help support the insulin signaling pathways:

Myo-Inositol

Myo-inositol can be made in the body and found in foods like fruits, beans, grains, and nuts and often grouped with B vitamins. It's technically not a vitamin, it's more like a helper molecule that plays a big role in how your cells communicate and function. Think of myo-inositol like WD-40 for the cellular delivery system. It helps smooth out the signaling pathways, supporting the message to get through more clearly for insulin to function as the key. In women with PCOS, myo-inositol supplementation combined with standard treatment plans enhanced insulin function to a greater degree than standard treatment alone.

Chromium

Chromium also plays a role in the signalling pathway for insulin in the body. When chromium levels in the body are higher, especially from dietary supplementation, your body increases something called chromodulin. Chromodulin may help the insulin signals in your body. Imagine insulin is trying to make a phone call (to tell the cell to absorb sugar), but the signal is weak. Chromium boosts the signal strength through those pathways, so the message gets through and supports the cell to open the door for glucose to enter the cell.

Acetyl-l-carnitine

Acetyl-LCarnitine (ALC) plays a key role in energy metabolism. One of its most important jobs is helping the mitochondria (the power house of your cells) to use fat for fuel. This may unload the pressure of your body relying so heavily on sugar for energy. Studies have shown supplementation of ALC at various doses improves glucose metabolism and insulin function.

Balanced Glucose, Better Health

Supporting healthy glucose metabolism is an important part of overall health, especially for women with PCOS managing hormonal imbalances. While lifestyle factors are foundational, targeted supplementation can offer added support for balancing glucose metabolism.

At Ovii, we believe in combining the best of science and education so you can feel confident, supported, and empowered in your wellness journey.

References

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