The Common Thread
Chronic low-grade inflammation — distinct from the acute inflammation you experience with an infection or injury — is now understood to be the common biological thread connecting nearly every chronic disease: type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, NAFLD, PCOS, autoimmune conditions, neurodegenerative disease, and even depression. It is not just a byproduct of disease. It is an active driver.
How Inflammation Drives Insulin Resistance
Inflammatory cytokines — particularly IL-6 and TNF-alpha — directly interfere with the insulin signalling cascade inside cells. They phosphorylate IRS-1 (insulin receptor substrate-1) at serine residues instead of tyrosine, effectively blocking the insulin signal. The result: glucose cannot enter cells efficiently, the pancreas pumps out more insulin, and the vicious cycle accelerates.
Inflammation is not a consequence of metabolic disease. It is one of the primary causes. You cannot reverse insulin resistance without addressing the inflammatory burden.
Measuring Inflammation: hs-CRP and Beyond
hs-CRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein) — the most validated clinical marker; levels above 1.0 mg/L indicate low-grade inflammation, above 3.0 mg/L signal high cardiovascular risk
Fasting insulin — elevated insulin is both a cause and consequence of inflammation; a fasting insulin above 10 µU/mL suggests significant inflammatory-metabolic dysfunction
Ferritin — elevated ferritin is not just an iron marker; it is an acute-phase reactant that rises with inflammation
Omega-3 index — low RBC EPA+DHA levels correlate with higher inflammatory markers
Uric acid — elevated levels drive inflammation through NLRP3 inflammasome activation
Extinguishing the Fire: Evidence-Based Anti-Inflammatory Strategies
Eliminate ultra-processed foods — industrial seed oils, refined sugars, and emulsifiers directly activate inflammatory pathways
Increase omega-3 intake — EPA and DHA are precursors to resolvins and protectins, molecules that actively resolve inflammation
Optimise vitamin D — vitamin D modulates over 200 genes, many involved in inflammatory regulation; aim for serum levels of 40–60 ng/mL