I’ve been living with PCOS for a long time, yet no physician ever mentioned this to me. They only ever told me I needed to lose weight.
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It can occasionally show no symptoms at all, but here are some frequent signs:
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putting on weight despite maintaining a healthy, moderate diet (not overeating)
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extreme trouble shedding pounds even when cutting calories and working out
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headaches, particularly following a meal, though they can be constant
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exhaustion and mental cloudiness, specifically in the gaps between eating
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feelings of depression or anxiety
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bloating, once again notably after eating
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a sense of holding water or feeling “puffiness”
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carrying extra weight in the lower belly is a strong sign of insulin issues
Speaking as someone lean who has IR, before I started managing it, I dealt with intense exhaustion (almost like narcolepsy) along with brain fog and occasional blurred vision after consuming high-carb or sugary foods. I also had episodes of bad reactive hypoglycemia that I initially mistook for panic attacks, involving a racing pulse, shakes, weak muscles, and visual spots.
Developing skin tags on the neck or in the armpit area.
My primary symptom was a non-stop, ravenous hunger. I was basically always hungry. Even after eating until I felt stuffed, the hunger remained. I never had that feeling of, “No thanks, I’m full.” Starting metformin was a revelation because, for once, I actually felt satiated. I even forgot to eat a few times, which was a crazy experience having to prompt myself to have a meal.