Lifestyle School Podcast

Episode 21 – Hyperinsulinemia in Pregnancy: What Every Woman Needs to Know

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In this powerful episode of Lifestyle School, Hope dives into the metabolic shifts that happen during pregnancy—especially the role of hyperinsulinemia (chronically high insulin levels) and how it affects both mom and baby long after delivery.

You’ll learn why insulin resistance is a normal adaptation in pregnancy—but how, for many women, it becomes a hidden metabolic storm that disrupts fat loss, hormones, mood, and postpartum recovery. And more importantly, how it programs a baby’s long-term risk for obesity, insulin resistance, and metabolic disease.

🔍 In this episode, you’ll learn:
  • How pregnancy changes your metabolism from day one

  • What progesterone does in the first trimester and how it impacts insulin sensitivity

  • The difference between normal insulin resistance vs. pathological hyperinsulinemia

  • Why postpartum fat loss is so hard when insulin is still high

  • How inflammation, thyroid suppression, cortisol dysregulation, and sex hormone imbalances all stem from hyperinsulinemia

  • The shocking impact on your baby’s metabolism—including increased fat cell production, altered hunger signaling, and long-term insulin resistance

    • Simple strategies to reset your metabolism postpartum and protect your baby’s future health

    📊 Referenced Stats and Studies:
    • Only 12.2% of American adults meet the criteria for optimal metabolic health (UNC, 2018)

    • 41% of non-diabetic women aged 20+ have hyperinsulinemia (Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2025)

    • 36.6% of U.S. women meet the criteria for metabolic syndrome

    • Children born to insulin-resistant mothers show signs of metabolic dysfunction by age 5
      • ✅ Resources & Recommendations:
      • Blood sugar-stabilizing habits: prioritize protein, healthy fats, and fiber

      • Post-meal walks & strength training to improve insulin sensitivity

      • Sleep support and nutrient replenishment (magnesium, omega-3s, zinc, selenium)

      • Functional lab testing postpartum (insulin, thyroid panel, hormone levels—not just TSH)
        • 💬 If you’re pregnant, postpartum, or planning to be—this episode is essential listening.

        Understanding your metabolic health isn’t just about weight—it’s about energy, hormones, longevity, and your baby’s health for years to come.

        🎧 Listen now and share with a fellow mom or mama-to-be who deserves to know what’s really going on beneath the surface.

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        Lifestyle School PodcastBy Hope Plack