Insulin resistance · Doctor-Led · Reversible

Insulin resistance — measure it, treat it, reverse it.

Insulin resistance is the earliest reversible stage of the metabolic disease spectrum — before prediabetes, before type 2 diabetes, before fatty liver. Most Dubai clinics never measure it. Aafiyah's British GPs test fasting insulin, calculate HOMA-IR and treat the driver, not just the weight.

Programme price

From AED 2,999/month

Includes prescription, monthly GP review, baseline + 3-monthly bloods, WhatsApp access.

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Insulin resistance, in one page

Your pancreas releases insulin after every meal to move glucose out of the blood. When cells stop responding, the pancreas releases more — chronically. High circulating insulin drives fat storage (especially visceral), raises appetite, worsens sleep and eventually damages the pancreas itself.

Reverse it early and the damage is undone. Wait, and it becomes prediabetes, then type 2 diabetes, then irreversible complications. Measuring insulin isn't optional — it's the whole point.

The Aafiyah pathway

Free 15-minute GP call to review symptoms — energy dips, sugar cravings, brain fog, disproportionate abdominal weight, dark skin patches (acanthosis nigricans). Baseline bloods include fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, HbA1c, fasting glucose, lipids, ALT, GGT, uric acid and vitamin D.

Your GP walks you through the numbers and builds a stepped plan: nutrition that lowers postprandial insulin, resistance training, sleep and stress work, metformin where indicated, and GLP-1 medication only when the lifestyle foundation is in and eligibility is met.

Why 'normal' HbA1c isn't reassuring

HbA1c only rises after the pancreas starts to lose the battle — by then insulin has been elevated for years. Fasting insulin catches the problem years earlier, when it's still fully reversible. If your last check-up said 'HbA1c normal, all fine' without measuring insulin, you were missed, not cleared.

Common questions

Questions patients ask.

What is HOMA-IR?+

HOMA-IR is a calculation combining fasting insulin and fasting glucose to score insulin resistance. Above ~2.0 suggests insulin resistance; above ~2.9 suggests significant resistance. Your GP interprets the number in context.

Can insulin resistance be reversed without medication?+

In many people, yes — with nutrition, resistance training, sleep and weight loss. Medication is a support tool, not a first step, in most cases.

Is metformin safe long-term?+

Yes, metformin has one of the longest safety records in medicine. It's often first-line for insulin resistance with associated risk factors.

Do you prescribe GLP-1 for insulin resistance alone?+

Only when BMI thresholds and other clinical criteria are met, and after lifestyle has been given a fair trial. It's a strong tool used carefully.

How often are bloods repeated?+

Baseline, then every 3 months. This is how we know whether the plan is working — you can feel better long before HbA1c moves.

Talk to a named British GP first.

Free 15-minute call. No prescription until we've reviewed your history, bloods and eligibility. Honest guidance either way.

Preventive care · Dubai

Catch issues early in Dubai — doctor-led screening, bloods & longevity baseline.

Same-day appointments across Dubai and neighbouring communities. Home or clinic visits. WhatsApp us — the message is pre-filled with your area so our team can route you to the closest available slot.

Nearest service areas

Flagship clinic: Unit G09, Churchill Executive Towers, Business Bay · Home visits 24/7.

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★★★★★5.0(6 reviews)
"Called at 8am with a fever, had a British-trained doctor at my door by 11. He sat with me for 45 minutes — not the 5 minutes I'm used to. Prescription delivered same day. Felt like having a proper GP again."
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Business Bay resident
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"The 40+ marker report came back with a real conversation, not a PDF dumped in my inbox. Caught a vitamin deficiency I'd been ignoring for years."
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Executive, DIFC
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Priya R.
Post-op recovery, Dubai Marina
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"Fell ill on day two of our trip. Doctor in the suite within 90 minutes, full assessment, prescription to the hotel pharmacy. Genuinely NHS-standard care in Dubai."
Mohammed A.
Visiting from London
Hotel Doctor Visit
"My father refuses to leave the house. Aafiyah's team comes monthly, manages his medication, and treats him with such dignity. It changed everything for our family."
Lucia D.
Senior care, Jumeirah
Elderly Home Care
"Called at 8am with a fever, had a British-trained doctor at my door by 11. He sat with me for 45 minutes — not the 5 minutes I'm used to. Prescription delivered same day. Felt like having a proper GP again."
Sarah M.
Business Bay resident
Home Doctor Visit
"We finally have one doctor who knows all of us. The kids actually like going. Follow-up calls happen without us chasing. Worth every dirham."
James W.
Family of four, Downtown
Membership · Gold
"The 40+ marker report came back with a real conversation, not a PDF dumped in my inbox. Caught a vitamin deficiency I'd been ignoring for years."
Aisha K.
Executive, DIFC
Annual Health Check
"After surgery I dreaded going back to a hospital for dressings. Their nurse came every other day, the doctor checked in by WhatsApp. Healed faster than I expected."
Priya R.
Post-op recovery, Dubai Marina
Nurse Home Visits
"Fell ill on day two of our trip. Doctor in the suite within 90 minutes, full assessment, prescription to the hotel pharmacy. Genuinely NHS-standard care in Dubai."
Mohammed A.
Visiting from London
Hotel Doctor Visit
"My father refuses to leave the house. Aafiyah's team comes monthly, manages his medication, and treats him with such dignity. It changed everything for our family."
Lucia D.
Senior care, Jumeirah
Elderly Home Care
Three ways to start with Aafiyah

Start where you're comfortable.

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