In this presentation, Dr. Benjamin Bikman explored the central role of insulin resistance in a wide range of chronic conditions, from cardiovascular disease and diabetes to Alzheimer’s and hormonal disorders. Dr. Bikman emphasized that nearly 90% of American adults are metabolically unhealthy, often without realizing it, because conventional medicine focuses narrowly on blood glucose rather than the earlier and more insidious rise in insulin. He explained how chronic hyperinsulinemia—driven largely by high carbohydrate intake, frequent eating, and refined foods—creates a vicious cycle of cellular and systemic insulin resistance, which impairs the body’s ability to regulate energy, damages multiple organ systems, and even disrupts brain function.

He highlighted how this dysfunction is not confined to obesity or the United States, but is a global problem affecting populations with very different body types and lifestyles. Dr. Bikman challenged popular theories, such as the plaque model of Alzheimer’s and the romanticized view of Blue Zones, and presented evidence that metabolic factors—particularly impaired glucose use in the brain—play a decisive role in cognitive decline and other diseases. He outlined dietary strategies for reversing insulin resistance, focusing on reducing refined carbohydrates, pairing protein with healthy fats, and avoiding seed oils, alongside lifestyle measures like resistance training and intermittent fasting. Pharmacological tools such as GLP-1 agonists can help manage appetite and lower insulin, but should be used sparingly and in conjunction with sustainable behavior change.

Dr. Bikman stressed that insulin resistance is both the root cause of many modern diseases and highly reversible when addressed early. The path to prevention and recovery lies in understanding insulin’s pivotal role, making targeted dietary and lifestyle shifts, and rejecting one-size-fits-all health myths. With this approach, individuals and clinicians alike can dramatically improve metabolic health, extend quality of life, and reduce the burden of chronic disease.

This BSI Medical Society Webinar was streamed on June 25th, 2025.

A 10-minute summary of the webinar is available here free, for anyone, while the full video is available for Medical Society Members and MetFix affiliates in their dashboard.