Dr. Jason Winkelmann

04/26/2026

https://www.mytruehealthcenters.com/post/is-insulin-resistance-quietly-driving-your-chronic-pain

Insulin resistance may be driving chronic pain through inflammation, nerve dysfunction, and altered pain processing. Learn how this hidden mechanism keeps your symptoms cycling.

04/25/2026

https://youtu.be/StyOfYzxFNo

Most people think insulin resistance only matters if you have diabetes.But insulin resistance is one of the most overlooked drivers of chronic pain—and it ha...

04/23/2026

Part 4: Most people with insulin resistance are told: “You only need to worry if you have diabetes.”

But that’s not how your body works.
Your symptoms aren’t random.

They’re driven by underlying physiology.

Your body is managing:
• nerve signaling stability
• pain inhibition (GABA pathways)
• blood flow and nutrient delivery

And insulin resistance directly impacts all of them.

Here’s what’s happening:
Your nerves rely on tightly controlled electrical signals to function. Insulin helps regulate ion channels and neurotransmitters that keep this stable.

But with insulin resistance → it leads to:
• increased activation of pain-sensing ion channels (acid + temperature)
• reduced calming input from GABA receptors

That matters because:
→ nerves fire more easily and more often
→ pain signals increase even without clear injury
→ your system becomes more sensitive over time

At the same time, this also affects:
• potassium balance (electrical stability of neurons)
• nitric oxide signaling (blood flow to nerves)
• oxygen and nutrient delivery to nerve tissue

So your body gets stuck in a cycle of:
insulin resistance → nerve instability → increased firing → reduced inhibition → poor blood flow → nerve damage and hypersensitivity

This is why nerve pain isn’t just about damage. It’s about how your nervous system is being regulated. And when you understand the physiology, your symptoms start to make sense.

04/22/2026

Part 3: Most people with insulin resistance are told: “It’s only a metabolic issue.”

But that’s not how your body works.

Your symptoms aren’t random.

They’re driven by underlying physiology.

Your body is managing:
• spinal cord pain processing
• nervous system inhibition (pain filtering)
• inflammation in the central nervous system

And insulin resistance directly impacts all of them.

Here’s what’s happening:
Your brain is constantly filtering pain signals coming up the spinal cord. This process is called descending inhibition. It helps block unnecessary signals from reaching your brain

But with insulin resistance → it leads to:
• reduced inhibition in the spinal cord
• more pain signals passing through the dorsal horn

That matters because:
→ normal sensations start to feel painful
→ pain signals become amplified
→ your brain gets overwhelmed with incoming information

At the same time, this also affects:
• central nervous system inflammation
• cytokine activity within the spinal cord
• excitability of pain-processing neurons

So your body gets stuck in a cycle of:
insulin resistance → reduced pain inhibition → increased signal flow → inflammation → heightened sensitivity → more pain

This is why chronic pain isn’t just about damaged tissues. It’s about how your nervous system processes information. And when you understand the physiology, your symptoms start to make sense.

04/21/2026

Part 2: Most people with insulin resistance are told: “It’s just about blood sugar.”

But that’s not how your body works.

Your symptoms aren’t random.

They’re driven by underlying physiology. Your body is managing:
• nerve signaling and communication
• tissue repair and regeneration
• cellular energy (mitochondria)

And insulin resistance directly impacts all of them.

Here’s what’s happening:
Sensory nerves rely on insulin to function properly
When insulin binds to receptors on these neurons → it supports:
• growth of axons and dendrites (nerve connections)
• energy production inside the cell

But when insulin resistance develops → it leads to:
• reduced nerve repair and regeneration
• impaired communication between neurons

That matters because:
→ pain signals become amplified and poorly regulated
→ nerves become more sensitive (hypersensitivity)
→ healing and recovery slow down

At the same time, this also affects:
• mitochondrial function (cellular energy)
• serotonin and opioid pathways (pain modulation)
• central nervous system processing

So your body gets stuck in a cycle of:
insulin resistance → impaired nerve repair → increased sensitivity → more pain → further nervous system dysfunction

This is why chronic pain isn’t just about inflammation. It’s about the systems underneath it.
And when you understand the physiology, your symptoms start to make sense.

04/20/2026

Part 1: Most people with insulin resistance are told: “It’s only a blood sugar issue.”

But that’s not how your body works.

Your symptoms aren’t random.

They’re driven by underlying physiology.

Your body is managing:
• inflammation regulation
• cellular energy (glucose use)
• nervous system sensitivity

And insulin resistance directly impacts all of them.

Here’s what’s happening:
When you eat carbohydrates → glucose enters your bloodstream

Insulin is supposed to move that glucose into your cells. But over time, cells stop responding to insulin

When your body becomes resistant → it leads to:
• glucose building up in the bloodstream
• activation of inflammatory pathways (like NF-kB)

That matters because:
→ inflammation becomes chronic instead of controlled
→ pain-sensing nerves become more sensitive
→ your stress response increases, amplifying symptoms

At the same time, this also affects:
• cortisol and stress hormone output
• immune signaling (cytokines like TNF-alpha, interleukins)
• central pain processing

So your body gets stuck in a cycle of:
insulin resistance → inflammation → increased pain → stress response → more glucose → worsening insulin resistance

This is why chronic pain isn’t just about inflammation. It’s about the systems underneath it.
And when you understand the physiology, your symptoms start to make sense.

04/19/2026

https://www.mytruehealthcenters.com/post/is-sugar-making-your-chronic-pain-worse-what-most-doctors-don-t-tell-you

Sugar may be worsening your chronic pain. Learn how it impacts inflammation, mitochondria, gut health, and nerve sensitivity—and why it matters.

04/18/2026

https://youtu.be/EotYLssC2hA

Most people living with chronic pain have been told that diet doesn’t really matter.That’s not true.In this video, we break down exactly how sugar and carboh...

04/17/2026

Part 6: Most people with chronic pain are told: “Just switch to complex carbs—they’re healthier.”

But that’s not how your body works.

Your symptoms aren’t random.

They’re driven by underlying physiology.

Your body is managing:
• Blood sugar and energy storage
• Metabolic demand vs activity
• Inflammatory signaling

And carbohydrates directly impact all of them.

Here’s what’s happening:
All carbohydrates—simple or complex—ultimately get converted into glucose in the body.

Simple carbs convert quickly. Complex carbs are stored as glycogen first. But when glycogen isn’t used (low activity), it leads to:
• Conversion back into glucose
• Increased overall glucose load in the bloodstream

That matters because:
→ Blood sugar remains elevated longer
→ Inflammatory pathways stay active
→ Pain sensitivity continues to increase

At the same time, this also affects:
• Insulin response and resistance
• Tissue repair and recovery
• Nervous system sensitivity

So your body gets stuck in a cycle of:
Low activity → glycogen buildup → glucose conversion → inflammation → more pain

This is why chronic pain isn’t just about “good vs bad carbs.” It’s about how your body uses—or doesn’t use—them. And when you understand the physiology, your symptoms start to make sense.

04/16/2026

Part 5: Most people with chronic pain are told: “Sugar only affects your weight or energy.”

But that’s not how your body works.

Your symptoms aren’t random.

They’re driven by underlying physiology.

Your body is managing:
• Blood flow and oxygen delivery
• Stress hormone regulation
• Gut and immune balance

And sugar directly impacts all of them.

Here’s what’s happening:
When sugar intake stays high → it contributes to vascular damage and metabolic stress.

Over time, this leads to:
• Increased blood pressure and arterial plaque
• Reduced blood flow to muscles, joints, and nerves

That matters because:
→ Tissues receive less oxygen and nutrients
→ Healing slows down significantly
→ Pain becomes more persistent

At the same time, this also affects:
• Cortisol regulation (stress response)
• Gut microbiome balance (dysbiosis)
• Autoimmune and inflammatory activity

So your body gets stuck in a cycle of:
High sugar intake → poor circulation + stress → impaired healing → more pain

This is why chronic pain isn’t just about the area that hurts. It’s about whether your body can support recovery at a system-wide level. And when you understand the physiology, your symptoms start to make sense.

04/15/2026

Part 4: Most people with chronic pain are told: “Sugar only affects weight or diabetes.”

But that’s not how your body works.

Your symptoms aren’t random.

They’re driven by underlying physiology.

Your body is managing:
• Protein signaling and repair
• Tissue healing and structure
• Nervous system sensitivity

And sugar directly impacts all of them.

Here’s what’s happening:
When excess sugar circulates in the body → it binds to proteins and forms advanced glycation end products (AGEs).

Proteins need a specific shape to bind to cell receptors and do their job.

When sugar attaches to them, it leads to:
• Structural changes in the protein
• Loss of proper receptor binding and function

That matters because:
→ Damaged tissues don’t repair efficiently
→ Structural tissues become more vulnerable
→ Pain sensitivity increases (hyperalgesia)

At the same time, this also affects:
• Cartilage, tendons, and ligaments
• Muscle recovery and integrity
• Nerve tissue function

So your body gets stuck in a cycle of:
Excess sugar → protein damage → poor healing → increased pain

This is why chronic pain isn’t just about the tissue. It’s about whether your body can repair that tissue properly. And when you understand the physiology, your symptoms start to make sense.

04/14/2026

Part 3: Most people with chronic pain are told: “Diet doesn’t affect your pain long-term.”

But that’s not how your body works.

Your symptoms aren’t random.

They’re driven by underlying physiology.

Your body is managing:
• Blood sugar regulation
• Nervous system health
• Inflammatory signaling

And insulin resistance directly impacts all of them.

Here’s what’s happening:
Your body doesn’t want glucose floating freely in the bloodstream. It needs insulin to move glucose into cells where it can be used safely. But when you consistently consume high amounts of sugar and carbohydrates → your cells stop responding to insulin.

When that happens, it leads to:
• Glucose staying in the bloodstream (insulin resistance)
• Reduced ability for cells and nerves to function properly

That matters because:
→ Inflammation increases and stays active
→ Pain signals become more sensitive
→ Nerve tissue becomes more vulnerable to damage

At the same time, this also affects:
• Peripheral nerve health
• Spinal cord sensitivity (central sensitization)
• System-wide inflammatory load

So your body gets stuck in a cycle of:
Insulin resistance → inflammation → nerve sensitization → more pain

This is why chronic pain isn’t just about the injury. It’s about how your metabolism and nervous system interact. And when you understand the physiology,
your symptoms start to make sense.