On his podcast, Raj Shamani asked author and researcher Karan Sarin a question that many people silently wonder: “How do I know if I’m insulin resistant?” Responding, Sarin pointed to visible markers – skin tags around the neck, increased waist size, high blood pressure, erectile dysfunction (ED) in men and PCOS in women – suggesting that these could strongly indicate insulin resistance. But how accurate are these signs? To reinforce the topic, we spoke to Dr Himika Chawla, Senior Consultant, Endocrinology and Diabetology at PSRI Hospital, Delhi, who explains what exactly insulin resistance indicates, and what proper testing requires.

Are skin tags and increasing waistline reliable early markers? “Skin tags and an expanding waistline can be early signs of insulin resistance, especially when fat accumulates around the abdomen,” says Dr. Chawla.