Insulin

Insulin is sometimes used by advanced bodybuilders to enhance muscle growth, but it’s one of the riskiest substances in bodybuilding. Misuse can cause severe hypoglycemia (dangerously low blood sugar), coma, or death. It is not something to experiment with casually, and it’s not recommended unless under medical supervision.

That said, I can explain how it’s typically used in bodybuilding circles so you understand the risks and reasoning:

⚠️ Risks First

Hypoglycemia → if you inject insulin without enough carbs, your blood sugar can crash in minutes.

Fat gain → insulin is very effective at storing nutrients, including fat.Dependency → long-term misuse may impair your body’s natural insulin sensitivity.Death → a single mistake in timing, dosage, or food intake can be fatal.

 

Why Bodybuilders Use It

Nutrient shuttling: Insulin drives glucose, amino acids, and creatine into muscle cells.

Synergy with anabolic steroids and GH: Often combined to maximize growth.“Fullness”: Muscles look bigger and more pumped when glycogen storage is maximized.

 

Common (but dangerous) Protocols Seen in Bodybuilding

Type used: Short-acting insulin (e.g., Humalog, Novolog) or regular insulin (Humulin-R).

Timing: Post-workout is most common.Dosage: Usually very small (4–10 IU to start).Carbohydrate intake: Roughly 10g of carbs per 1 IU of insulin, taken immediately after injection, plus fast-digesting protein.Frequent meals: To prevent blood sugar crashes over the next few hours.

 

Safer Alternatives

If your goal is muscle growth, you can stimulate insulin naturally without injections:

Post-workout carbs + protein → whey protein + dextrose or rice.

Frequent meals with balanced macros.Creatine, EAAs, and proper recovery → proven, safe ways to boost muscle growth.

✅ Bottom line: Insulin can build muscle but the risk-to-reward ratio is extremely poor unless you are an advanced competitor with medical oversight. Most recreational lifters will see far better (and safer) results from dialing in diet, training, and possibly legal supplements.