Insulin Resistance, Fertility, and Taking Your Health Back

Insulin resistance doesn’t just affect blood sugar — it impacts hormones, fertility, energy, and long-term health.

In this episode, Tracy sits down with PA and women’s health coach Chelsea Hayman to unpack how insulin resistance shows up in real life, why “normal labs” don’t always tell the full story, and what clinicians and patients can do to break the cycle of crashes, cravings, and burnout.

They explore fertility struggles, continuous glucose monitors, stress physiology, and practical strategies for stabilizing hormones and blood sugar — without extreme diets or unsustainable routines.

Whether you’re supporting patients with PCOS, infertility, fatigue, or metabolic dysfunction — or navigating this yourself — this conversation will change how you think about women’s health.

• How insulin resistance affects fertility and hormone balance
• Why A1C can be normal — and problems still exist
• The “protein + fiber first” strategy
• How stress worsens blood sugar regulation
• When CGMs can be helpful (even without diabetes)
• Small, sustainable changes that actually work
• Why women must stop putting their health last

Timestamps:

[2:30] Meet Chelsea Hayman

[3:30] Blood Sugar and Fertility

[4:45] Chelsea’s Struggles with Infertility

[9:00] Defining Insulin Resistance

[11:00] Blood Sugar Control & Fertility Outcomes

[13:00] Stress & Hormones

[16:00] Implementing Lifestyle Changes

[17:00] Choosing a Continuous Glucose Monitor

[23:00] How to Plan Your Plate

[25:00] Self Care & Meeting Your Own Basic Needs

[29:00] Connect with Chelsea & Where to Find Her

Connect with Chelsea:

Website: www.empowerglucose.com

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/empoweredglucose

Social: @empoweredglucose at https://www.instagram.com/empoweredglucose/

Keywords: insulin resistance, blood sugar, hormone imbalance, fertility, infertility, PCOS, continuous glucose monitor, CGM, women’s metabolic health, metabolic health, PA podcast, women’s health, wellness, clinician wellness, hormones, gestational diabetes, insulin resistance

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WEBSITE⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.tracybingaman.com⁠

After 13 years of practicing medicine, I’m not here to pretend I have it all figured out. I am here to share what experience has quietly, steadily taught me.

In this episode, I’m reflecting on 13 lessons I’ve learned in my 13 years as a PA—from why people and schedules matter more than specialty, to how burnout isn’t something you beat but something you learn to monitor, to why there is absolutely no award for doing it the hard way.

This isn’t a how-to episode or a deep clinical dive. It’s an honest, human reflection on what it takes to build a career in medicine that actually lasts. Consider this an invitation to pause, reflect, and ask yourself: what have I learned in my own years of practice?

Inside this episode, we talk about:

• Why culture, autonomy, and respect matter more than we’re taught

• How your real legacy lives outside the hospital or clinic

• Why medicine is an Ironman, not a sprint

• Burnout as a chronic condition—not a personal failure

• The power of mentorship, sponsorship, and turning around to help others

• Negotiation as a skill we were never taught—but desperately need

• Why part-time practice still counts

• And the truth about martyrdom (spoiler: there’s no prize)

Reflection isn’t indulgent. It’s how we make this work sustainable—for ourselves and for the clinicians coming behind us.

SPONSORS:ADVANCED PRACTICE PLANNING, LLC: advancedpracticeplanning.com/fi

SERMO https://app.sermo.com:443/?sermoref=39d97a2c-f699-4f8b-b2f9-1eb131e18c75&utm_campaign=tell-a-friend

CONNECT

⁠FREE 30-MINUTE COACHING CONSULT⁠ ⁠⁠https://calendly.com/the-pa-is-in/gen-call⁠ ⁠

⁠1-ON-1 NEGOTIATION CONSULT ⁠https://calendly.com/the-pa-is-in/negotiate⁠⁠

CONNECT WITH TRACY 🤝

⁠LINKEDIN ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracybingaman/⁠⁠

⁠INSTAGRAM ⁠https://www.instagram.com/mrstracybingaman/⁠⁠

WEBSITE⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.tracybingaman.com⁠

🎁 Bonus Freebie: Grab your free guide with 48 healthcare-specific side hustle ideas at 👉 tracybingaman.com/gig

Keywords: PA career longevity, lessons from practicing medicine, healthcare burnout recovery, physician associate career advice, sustainable medical careers, clinician burnout prevention, work life balance for PAs, part time medicine, negotiation in healthcare, PA mentorship, healthcare boundaries, career reflection medicine, avoiding burnout in healthcare, clinician identity, long term medical careers, PA professional development

Most clinicians don’t need to work harder to earn more — they need better strategy.

In this episode of The PA Is In, Tracy breaks down three proven ways clinicians can increase their income without adding more clinic hours or sacrificing their sanity.

Whether you’re stuck with tiny annual raises, feeling underpaid for your productivity, or craving more financial flexibility, this episode gives you practical steps you can take right now.

• Why negotiating where you already work is one of the most overlooked income strategies

• How to advocate for higher base pay, clearer bonus metrics, and better schedules

• When commission-based or productivity pay can work in your favor

• How to diversify income with side gigs that don’t require more shifts

• Real-world examples of paid surveys, advisory panels, remote work, and flexible clinical roles

• Why strategic job changes often lead to the biggest pay jumps — and how to negotiate them properly

• What to negotiate beyond salary (spoiler: it’s not just money)

• Free Side Gig Guide (48 ideas for clinicians): www.tracybingaman.com/gig

• Negotiation Consults: www.tracybingaman.com/negotiation-consult

• Clinician Income Lab (self-paced negotiation course): www.tracybingaman.com/CIL

You don’t have to pick just one strategy. Many clinicians combine all three — negotiating where they are, adding flexible income streams, and making intentional career moves — to build income that actually supports their life.

If you found this episode helpful, leave a review and share it with a clinician who needs to hear it.

SPONSORS: ADVANCED PRACTICE PLANNING, LLC: advancedpracticeplanning.com/fi

SERMO https://app.sermo.com:443/?sermoref=39d97a2c-f699-4f8b-b2f9-1eb131e18c75&utm_campaign=tell-a-friend

CONNECT

⁠FREE 30-MINUTE COACHING CONSULT⁠ ⁠⁠https://calendly.com/the-pa-is-in/gen-call⁠ ⁠

⁠1-ON-1 NEGOTIATION CONSULT ⁠https://calendly.com/the-pa-is-in/negotiate⁠⁠

CONNECT WITH TRACY 🤝

⁠LINKEDIN ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracybingaman/⁠⁠

⁠INSTAGRAM ⁠https://www.instagram.com/mrstracybingaman/⁠⁠

WEBSITE⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.tracybingaman.com⁠

🎁 Bonus Freebie: Grab your free guide with 48 healthcare-specific side hustle ideas at 👉 tracybingaman.com/gig

In this episode, you’ll learn:Resources mentioned:
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