Elevated Insulin and Fat Storage: Irrefutable Visual Evidence

For decades, nutrition experts have debated what actually causes body fat accumulation. While some simply point to caloric balance, others point to more specific hormonal mechanisms. Dr. Berry presents compelling visual evidence of how insulin, when persistently elevated, functions as a potent fat storage hormone.

The connection between hyperinsulinemia and fat accumulation

Hyperinsulinemia —chronically elevated insulin levels in blood— is a metabolic condition affecting millions of people, many of whom are undiagnosed. Despite some social media "experts" arguing that insulin is not a hormone that promotes fat storage, scientific evidence demonstrates the contrary.

Insulin performs hundreds of functions in the human body, but one of its main actions, known to doctors for over a hundred years, is clear: when insulin concentration is too high in a tissue for too long, it will cause fat deposition and hypertrophy in that tissue.

What is insulin-induced lipohypertrophy?

Insulin-induced lipohypertrophy is a well-documented medical phenomenon observed in diabetic people who must inject insulin regularly. The term breaks down into:

• Lipo: related to fat
• Hypertrophy: abnormal or excessive growth

This phenomenon occurs when a person repeatedly injections insulin in the same site, causing localized adipose tissue growth.

Visual evidence: revealing clinical cases

Documented cases of insulin-induced lipohypertrophy provide irrefutable visual evidence of insulin's power to promote fat storage:

• Case 1: Patients with clearly visible fat deposits (marked with arrows) at injection sites
• Case 2: Person with fat accumulations on both anterior thighs, despite rotating between left and right leg
• Case 3: Patient with two fat lumps in lower abdomen, one on each side, that required plastic surgery for removal
• Case 4: Man with pronounced lipohypertrophy below the navel from injecting insulin without rotating the site

A particularly revealing case report shows how these lumps were surgically removed and analyzed by pathologists, confirming they were composed exclusively of fatty tissue.

Beyond diabetes: implications for everyone

Now, what does this mean for those who don't inject insulin? The implication is profound: if you consume a diet sufficiently high in carbohydrates that causes blood sugar spikes, these in turn will cause insulin spikes.

If you eat enough high-carbohydrate meals and snacks each day to keep your insulin chronically elevated, this lipohypertrophy effect —excessive fatty tissue growth— will occur throughout your body.

The main difference is that, instead of developing localized deposits like at injection sites, you'll experience generalized body fat increase, distributed according to your genetic predisposition.

The role of carbohydrates in insulin levels

Why are carbohydrates so relevant in this equation? Because:

1. Carbohydrates break down into glucose during digestion
2. Elevated blood glucose triggers insulin release
3. Persistently elevated insulin promotes fat storage
4. This cycle perpetuates with each high-carbohydrate meal

It's important to note that not everyone will respond the same way. Genetic factors significantly influence the ease with which the body stores fat in response to hyperinsulinemia.

How to determine if you have hyperinsulinemia?

The most accurate way to determine if you suffer from hyperinsulinemia is through a blood test measuring your fasting insulin:

• Less than 10: levels considered normal
• Above 10: indicative of hyperinsulinemia

If your level is above 10, you have a much higher risk of inappropriately storing fat in unwanted places on your body, in addition to causing hypertrophy or swelling of each individual fat cell.

Strategies to maintain healthy insulin levels

To keep your insulin levels under control and reduce unnecessary fat storage:

• Limit refined carbohydrates: bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, and sugars
• Increase consumption of proteins and healthy fats: meats, fish, eggs, avocados, and nuts
• Consider intermittent fasting: to reduce insulin spikes and allow periods of low levels
• Prioritize resistance exercise: helps improve insulin sensitivity
• Control stress: elevated cortisol can interfere with insulin sensitivity

The visual evidence presented in this article confirms what many researchers and doctors have observed clinically: chronically elevated insulin is a powerful promoter of fat storage. Controlling your insulin levels through an appropriate diet not only can help you manage your weight, but also significantly reduces your risk of heart disease and many other pathological conditions.