Dr. Benjamin Bikman on Why Insulin Resistance Might Be the Root of Chronic Disease

A metabolic scientist's case that insulin resistance isn't just about diabetes. It may be an upstream driver of obesity, heart disease, and even some forms of cognitive decline.

MK Wellness InsightsFounded by Danielle Cordova, Cypress, TX

Dr. Benjamin Bikman is a metabolic research scientist and professor whose work, including his book "Why We Get Sick," has become a widely cited reference point in the broader conversation about insulin resistance. His central argument is worth understanding on its own terms: that insulin resistance isn't simply a precursor to type 2 diabetes, but a common upstream driver behind a much wider range of chronic conditions.

The Core Claim

Insulin's most well-known job is regulating blood sugar, but it also functions as a storage signal throughout the body, telling fat cells to store energy, telling the liver how to process nutrients, and influencing processes far beyond glucose control. Bikman's research focuses on what happens when cells stop responding efficiently to that signal.

When insulin resistance develops, the pancreas compensates by producing more insulin to achieve the same effect. Bikman's work argues that this compensatory hyperinsulinemia, chronically elevated insulin, not just elevated blood sugar, is itself a driver of downstream problems, and that it can be present and causing harm years before blood sugar markers move out of the normal range on standard labs.

Where He Argues This Shows Up

Bikman's research and public writing connect insulin resistance to a range of conditions beyond diabetes: polycystic ovary syndrome, certain cardiovascular risk factors, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and even some research into insulin resistance in brain tissue as a contributing factor in cognitive decline, an area sometimes referred to in the research literature as "type 3 diabetes."

What He Argues Drives It

Bikman's work points primarily at the frequency and magnitude of insulin spikes over time, driven largely by frequent consumption of refined carbohydrates and sugar, as the main driver of insulin resistance, more so than total caloric intake or fat intake, which were the traditional focus of earlier dietary guidance.

Why This Matters for How We Think About Metabolic Health

This is genuinely useful framing even outside any specific dietary approach: it reorients the question from "how many calories" to "how much and how often is insulin being asked to spike." That's a different, and for many people more actionable, lens on metabolic health.

A Note on Scope

This is one influential researcher's perspective and body of work, not a universally agreed-upon consensus, and insulin resistance research is an active, evolving field. If you're managing diabetes, PCOS, or another metabolic condition, this is a conversation to have directly with your physician, not a substitute for medical management.

MK Wellness services are non-medical and not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any condition. This article summarizes a researcher's published work and public positions for educational purposes, it is not medical advice. Consult your physician before making significant dietary changes, especially if you have an existing metabolic condition.

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