Raj Shamani's Figuring Out

Insulin Resistance Explained: Diabetes, PCOS & Weight Gain | Karan Sarin | FO465 Raj Shamani

33 snips
Jan 31, 2026
Guest
Karan Sarin
Karan Sarin, author and metabolic health coach who studies insulin resistance and public‑health trends. He breaks down why insulin resistance drives diabetes, PCOS and hidden weight gain. Short, clear takes on TOFI (thin outside, fat inside), why Indian diets spike insulin, ketogenic approaches, better grains, and links between metabolic dysfunction and brain health.
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INSIGHT

Indian Thin‑Fat Phenotype Explained

  • Indians are predisposed to store fat viscerally and enlarge fat cells rather than increase cell number.
  • This 'thin‑fat' phenotype raises insulin resistance at lower BMI than Western populations.
ANECDOTE

Famine History Shaped Fat Storage

  • Colonial policies and frequent famines drove epigenetic adaptations to hoard visceral fat over generations.
  • Karan Sarin cites repeated famines under British rule as a driver of South Asian metabolic programming.
ADVICE

Carbs Are Non‑Essential; Control Them

  • Remember carbohydrates are non‑essential; the body can make required glucose via gluconeogenesis.
  • Control carbs, prioritize protein and don't fear fats to reduce insulin spikes and fat storage.
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