--- title: "Insulin resistance and PCOS: what the CDC and NIH report" description: "How PCOS and insulin resistance feed each other, the diabetes numbers from the CDC and NICHD, the test to ask for, and what the NIH says on berberine." canonical: https://glucosebench.com/insulin-resistance-and-pcos alternate_html: https://glucosebench.com/insulin-resistance-and-pcos language: en-US last_updated: 2026-09-27 type: guia --- # PCOS and insulin resistance: why a diabetes test belongs on your list 1. [Home](https://glucosebench.com/) 2. [Blood sugar basics](https://glucosebench.com/blood-sugar) 3. PCOS and insulin resistance: why a diabetes test belongs on your list PCOS usually gets noticed for irregular periods, acne or trouble getting pregnant. The part that gets less attention is insulin, and with it a much higher chance of type 2 diabetes. By **GlucoseBench editorial team**Updated September 27, 2026 ![PCOS and insulin resistance: why a diabetes test belongs on your list](https://glucosebench.com/img/guia-insulin-resistance-and-pcos-640.webp) Short answer Many women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have insulin resistance: the body makes insulin but can't use it well, which raises the risk of type 2 diabetes. The CDC says "more than half of women with PCOS develop type 2 diabetes by age 40," while the NIH's child health institute (NICHD) says more than half "will have either type 2 diabetes or prediabetes before their early 40s." Both point to the same first step: if you have PCOS, ask to be tested for type 2 diabetes. Losing weight if you have overweight and being more active lower that risk, and medicines such as metformin, which NICHD notes are not FDA approved for PCOS, are a decision for your doctor. ## The PCOS numbers, source by source The CDC and NICHD don't count the same things, and on diabetes they don't use the same words. Each cell quotes its own source. What is counted CDC NICHD Type 2 diabetes "More than half of women with PCOS develop type 2 diabetes by age 40." "More than one-half of women with PCOS will have either type 2 diabetes or prediabetes before their early 40s." Insulin resistance "Women with PCOS often have insulin resistance." "More than one-half of women with PCOS have insulin resistance." Metabolic syndrome Not on the page we read "About 25% to 45% of women with PCOS have metabolic syndrome." Obesity Women with PCOS "can develop serious health problems, especially if they have overweight." "About 4 out of 5 women with PCOS also have obesity." How common PCOS "is a common cause of infertility, affecting as many as 5 million women." Not on the pages we read Sources: CDC, "Diabetes and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)" (May 15, 2024), and NICHD, "What are the symptoms of PCOS?" (last reviewed August 21, 2024), both read on September 27, 2026. NICHD and MedlinePlus also use a newer name for the condition, Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovary Syndrome (PMOS). ## How insulin and PCOS feed each other Nobody knows the exact cause of PCOS; the CDC, NICHD and MedlinePlus all say so. Insulin keeps showing up in the explanation, though. NICHD describes it this way: when cells don't respond normally to insulin, blood sugar rises and "the body produces more and more insulin to get glucose into the cells." Then comes the part specific to PCOS: "To balance out the high levels of insulin, the body makes more androgens," the hormones behind extra hair growth, acne and missed ovulation. That loop is why NICHD calls the cycle difficult to disrupt, and why insulin is part of the conversation even for someone who came to the doctor about their periods. Some NICHD-funded research has even split PCOS into subtypes, one of them "metabolic," with higher BMI, insulin and glucose levels. ## Signs that point to the insulin side ### Dark, velvety skin patches Acanthosis nigricans, thickened dark skin often in body creases. The CDC lists it among PCOS symptoms, and NICHD says these patches "are associated with insulin resistance." ### Weight around the waist NICHD lists "obesity, weight gain, or trouble losing weight, especially around the waist" among PCOS symptoms. ### Often, nothing you can feel NIDDK says people with insulin resistance and prediabetes "usually have no symptoms," and the CDC says someone with PCOS "may have few symptoms." A blood sugar test finds what a mirror can't. ## What the CDC and NIH tell you to do 1. ### Ask for a type 2 diabetes test The CDC's first line on treatment: "If you're told you have PCOS, ask about getting tested for type 2 diabetes and how to manage the condition if you have it." Our insulin test guide explains what an insulin blood test can and can't add. 2. ### Lose some weight, if you have overweight NICHD says losing "a small amount of weight" and being more active can minimize many PCOS symptoms, and that losing weight "can improve both insulin and cholesterol levels." The CDC adds that these changes lower the risk of type 2 diabetes. 3. ### Eat with a plan, not a label MedlinePlus lists "eating healthy foods." NICHD suggests cutting back on foods "that can cause or increase inflammation" and asking your provider to design a diet and activity plan for you. Neither names a single best diet. 4. ### Talk through medicines Insulin-sensitizing medicines such as metformin "are not FDA approved to treat PCOS, but may help reduce symptoms," per NICHD, and MedlinePlus says they improve insulin resistance and keep blood glucose steady. Some PCOS medicines can prevent pregnancy or harm a fetus, so bring up your plans for pregnancy. 5. ### Keep testing NIDDK counts PCOS among the risk factors for prediabetes. With normal results you may be retested at least every 3 years; with prediabetes, a type 2 diabetes test every year. ## Berberine and other supplements for PCOS People with PCOS ask about berberine a lot. We didn't find a government health source that evaluates it for PCOS. What NCCIH, the NIH's complementary health center, does say is about type 2 diabetes: a 2021 review found possible benefits on blood glucose and insulin resistance, in studies "limited to mostly studies conducted among Chinese patients," some "of poor quality." Its safety line matters more here: berberine "should not be used during pregnancy or while breastfeeding." The CDC notes that many women find out they have PCOS when they're trying to get pregnant. Berberine also turns up inside multi-ingredient blood sugar capsules, often with no amount printed, so if pregnancy is possible, read the whole label of anything sold for blood sugar and ask your doctor before taking it. ## Frequently asked questions **Does PCOS cause insulin resistance?** The sources describe a two-way link rather than a simple cause. MedlinePlus lists insulin resistance among the factors that may play a role in PCOS, and NICHD says high insulin pushes the body to make more androgens, which drive PCOS symptoms. The exact cause of PCOS is still unknown. **What are the symptoms of insulin resistance with PCOS?** The sign NICHD ties directly to insulin resistance is acanthosis nigricans, patches of thick, dark, velvety skin. Weight gain around the waist is on its PCOS symptom list too. Insulin resistance itself usually causes no symptoms, so a blood sugar test is the reliable check. **Is berberine good for PCOS?** No government health source we read evaluates berberine for PCOS. NCCIH's berberine research is in type 2 diabetes, and it says berberine should not be used during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Ask your doctor before trying it, especially if you could become pregnant. **What is the best diet for PCOS with insulin resistance?** None of the CDC, NICHD or MedlinePlus pages names one. They list healthy eating, weight loss if you have overweight and more activity, and NICHD suggests fewer foods that can cause or increase inflammation, with a plan built with your provider. **Should women with PCOS be tested for diabetes?** Yes. The CDC says to ask about getting tested for type 2 diabetes if you're told you have PCOS, and NIDDK counts PCOS among the risk factors for prediabetes. **Is metformin used for PCOS?** Sometimes. NICHD says insulin-sensitizing medicines such as metformin are not FDA approved for PCOS but may help reduce symptoms, and that after 4 to 6 months some women with PCOS may start ovulating on their own. It's a decision for you and your doctor. ## Related pages Blood sugar basics ### [Insulin resistance: the condition a symptom checklist can't find](https://glucosebench.com/insulin-resistance) Insulin resistance is "a condition in which your body doesn't respond to insulin the way it should," according to the NIH's diabetes institute (NIDDK). Read more Blood sugar basics ### [Insulin in your blood: what the test measures and what it misses](https://glucosebench.com/insulin-test) An insulin in blood test, often called a fasting insulin test, measures how much insulin is in a sample of your blood. Read more Blood sugar basics ### [Eating for insulin resistance, and the other things that move it](https://glucosebench.com/insulin-resistance-diet) Neither the CDC nor the NIH's diabetes institute (NIDDK) prescribes a named "insulin resistance diet." The CDC's advice is a balanced diet "with non-starchy vegetables,… Read more Guides ### [Berberine for blood sugar: the dose, the side effects and the fine print](https://glucosebench.com/berberine-for-blood-sugar) Berberine is a compound found in plants such as barberry, goldenseal and Oregon grape. Read more Updated September 27, 2026. 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