Insulin resistance
Insulin resistance and PCOS/PMOS, explained
How insulin links to cravings, periods and skin, and how it is tested.
From ₹1,490 · sample collected at home
- Qualified gynaecologists
- At-home sample collection
- Reports usually in 24 hours*
- One coordinated plan
Insulin resistance is a major driver of PCOS/PMOS and PCOD for many women - it can feed the hormone imbalance behind irregular cycles, weight gain, acne and unwanted hair. Support it, and symptoms across the board often ease.
The catch: it can be quiet, showing up on the right blood tests long before it shows on the scale. Tvarvi tests for it properly and supports it with a gynaecologist and nutritionist together.
The essentials
What insulin resistance is
Your cells respond less well to insulin, so your body makes more of it. In many women, high insulin appears to raise androgens, disrupt ovulation and promote fat storage - a central part of the PCOS cycle.
Signs it may be present
Weight around the middle, sugar cravings, energy crashes, darkened skin folds, and stubborn PCOS symptoms. But it can be present at a normal weight too, which is why testing matters.
How it's supported
Nutrition that steadies blood sugar, strength and movement that improve sensitivity, sleep and stress work, and - where appropriate - medication that supports insulin sensitivity, guided by your gynaecologist.
How Tvarvi helps
We measure, not guess
We measure insulin resistance directly, so your plan is built on your real results rather than your weight.
Diet built to steady insulin
Your nutritionist designs meals around your results, rather than a generic plan.
Medication where it helps
Where lifestyle isn't enough, your gynaecologist may consider medication that supports insulin sensitivity.
What's included
- A gynaecologist consultation, as part of the PCOS Assessment (₹1,490)
- Insulin and metabolic tests, collected at home
- A nutrition plan designed to steady insulin
- Movement and lifestyle guidance that fits you
- Medication guidance where clinically appropriate
PCOS Assessment
₹1,490
A gynaecologist consult and the tests your symptoms need, collected at home.
Common questions
How do I know if I have insulin resistance?
It's assessed with blood tests (such as fasting insulin and glucose). Signs like central weight, sugar cravings and stubborn PCOS symptoms can raise suspicion, but tests give the clearer answer.
Can insulin resistance be reversed?
For many people it can be substantially improved with consistent nutrition, movement and, where needed, medication - and in some cases largely normalised. Maintaining the habits helps keep it in check.
Do I need medication for insulin resistance?
Not always. Many people improve with lifestyle change alone. Where that isn't enough, your gynaecologist may consider medication that supports insulin sensitivity.
Can I have insulin resistance at a normal weight?
Yes. It's common in lean PCOS and doesn't always show as weight. That's why testing matters rather than judging by the scale.
How soon will supporting it help my PCOS?
Many women notice steadier energy within a few weeks and cycle or skin changes over a few months as insulin steadies. It varies from person to person.
Read more
From the health library
Insulin Resistance in Women: The Hidden Driver of PCOS/PMOS
Insulin resistance is the engine behind most PCOS/PMOS - and it can run for years while a standard blood-sugar test reads perfectly normal. Here is how it drives your symptoms, the tests that actually catch it, and what improves it.
Read article
Lean PCOS/PMOS: When You Have PCOS But You're Not Overweight
An estimated 1 in 5 women with PCOS/PMOS have a normal body weight - and are often told, wrongly, that they cannot have the condition. Here is why lean PCOS is real, how insulin resistance hides in slim bodies, and why "just lose weight" is the wrong prescription.
Read article
The 4 Types of PCOS/PMOS - And How to Tell Which One You Have
Two women with the same PCOS/PMOS diagnosis can look nothing alike. There are four recognised phenotypes (A, B, C, D), and which one you have changes your symptoms, your risks and your treatment. Here is how to work out where you fit.
Read articleKeep reading
Find out what's behind it
See a gynaecologist
PCOS Assessment, ₹1,490. Home lab tests, then your consult.
This page is educational and not a substitute for individual medical advice. Any diagnosis or prescription is made only by your treating clinician based on your case. *Timelines depend on collection and lab processing. Individual results vary. Terms apply.