105. Why You Need to Test Insulin (and Not Just Glucose) with Dr. Talia Marcheggiani, ND, RP105. Why You Need to Test Insulin (and Not Just Glucose) with Dr. Talia Marcheggiani, ND, RP
The Good Mood Podcast
Dr. Talia Marcheggiani explains why fasting insulin is a missing piece in standard blood work and how hidden insulin resistance can affect mood, hormones and energy even when glucose looks normal. The episode outlines practical testing tools and lifestyle approaches to help people understand and address their metabolic health earlier.
1:29:28•9 Apr 2026
Why Glucose Isn’t Enough: Dr. Talia Marcheggiani on Testing Insulin for Better Mood and Metabolic Health
Episode Overview
- Normal glucose and HbA1c results can hide significant insulin resistance, so fasting insulin testing is crucial for early detection.
- Insulin resistance is linked to symptoms such as weight gain, fatigue, brain fog, cravings, PCOS and mood changes, even without diabetes.
- HOMA-IR, calculated from fasting glucose and insulin, offers a more informative view of metabolic health than glucose alone.
- Continuous glucose monitors show sugar trends but miss insulin spikes, so flat glucose does not necessarily mean healthy insulin levels.
- Sustainable changes in movement, sleep, stress management and food choices, tracked with repeat blood work, can gradually lower insulin and improve symptoms.
“Glucose is the symptom when it comes to metabolic dysregulation, but insulin is the driver.”
Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey? This episode of The Good Mood Podcast zooms in on something many people with fatigue, weight gain, mood swings or stubborn cravings never get checked: insulin. Dr. Talia Marcheggiani, a naturopathic doctor and registered psychotherapist, breaks down why looking at glucose alone can leave you in the dark about your true metabolic health.
She explains that standard blood work often comes back “normal” for glucose and HbA1c, yet people still feel exhausted, foggy, inflamed and stuck with hormonal issues. Her central message is sharp and memorable: “Glucose is the symptom … but insulin is the driver.” You’ll hear a clear walk-through of three common tests—fasting glucose, HbA1c and fasting insulin—and why fasting insulin, despite being a simple and relatively inexpensive test, is rarely ordered. Dr.
Talia talks through how chronically high insulin can show up as abdominal weight, PCOS, heavy and irregular periods, brain fog, anxiety, depression, afternoon crashes and even fatty liver, all while your glucose appears fine. She also introduces the HOMA-IR calculation as a practical way to estimate insulin resistance using fasting glucose and insulin together, giving a more complete picture than glucose on its own.
Along the way, she makes space for the emotional side of health: the frustration of being told “you’re fine” while your symptoms are dismissed, and the relief that can come from finally finding a plausible explanation. Rather than pushing quick fixes, Dr. Talia talks about steady changes—movement, resistance training, sleep, stress reduction and food choices—and using repeat blood work to see what actually helps your body.
If you’ve ever wondered whether your “low mood,” cravings or energy crashes might have a deeper biological driver, this episode could spark some important questions to bring to your healthcare team. What might your insulin be trying to tell you about your mental and physical health?
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