Insulin saves lives in diabetes care. In some corners of the physique and strength world, though, it’s been repurposed as a performance/image-enhancing drug (PIED) because of its anabolic effects.
“Insulin is super dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing”: What lifters told us
A new interview study with lifters in Australia and the UK asked a simple question: how do people in PIED communities think about insulin risks and what do they actually do about them?
What lifters said
- Peers drive decisions. Most people first heard about insulin from friends, training partners, or coaches – often alongside chatter about stacking with other drugs.
- Everyone knows it’s risky. Interviewees repeatedly called out insulin as “not for beginners,” stressing routine, precision and responsibility.
- Silence is common. Some avoid talking about it publicly because they don’t want to encourage reckless use – or be blamed if someone gets hurt.
- Routinising reduces risk (to a point). People who do it described strict habits around meals, training, and monitoring so they can spot problems early.
- The scariest issue is hypoglycaemia. When blood sugar crashes, symptoms can escalate fast (sweats, dizziness, confusion) – with real risk of coma if mismanaged.
Why insulin is a different beast
Unlike many PIEDs, a small mistake with timing, food, or measurement can snowball quickly. Mixing insulin into already complex stacks (AAS, stimulants, thyroid meds, etc.) only multiplies the uncertainty. Counterfeit products add another layer of danger.
Red flags lifters called out
- Taking insulin without understanding basic blood-glucose concepts
- Stack pressure: “everyone on the team is doing it”
- No plan for bad days (missed meals, illness, travel, appetite loss)
- Confusing units/measurements or following random internet “protocols”
- Treating wearables and biometrics like decoration instead of decision tools
What a safer culture looks like
We’re not endorsing use. We’re sharing what athletes said would reduce harm in the real world:
- Default to “don’t.” If you’re not crystal-clear on risks, skip it. Insulin is a medical drug with real overdose potential.
- If you’re considering it, slow everything down. One change at a time, with long windows to observe effects. Don’t add insulin on top of a moving stack.
- Separate performance goals from peer status. “Chemical capital” isn’t coaching. The loudest person isn’t the safest mentor.
- Make health the limiter. Objective guardrails (blood pressure, resting heart rate, sleep, lab work arranged through a clinician) should veto “just push through.”
- Plan for bad days. What happens if you can’t eat, you’re sick, or travel derails your schedule? If the answer is “I’ll wing it,” that’s your sign to park it.
- Use trusted testing and non-judgemental support. Counterfeits exist. Confidential product screening and clinician check-ins beat guesswork. (This is where PEDTest and RoidSafe are your support.)
- Talk honestly – without glamourising. Peer debriefs about close calls help the community learn, but avoid posting “protocols” or dose play-by-plays.
The takeaway
Lifters in this study weren’t naive; they framed insulin as a high-consequence choice that demands structure most people don’t keep up outside of diabetes care. The biggest risk isn’t just the drug – it’s stacking complexity, counterfeit supply, and the pressure to copy what a mate did.
At Anabolica, with Tim Piatkowski, PEDTest, and RoidSafe, we’re here to replace rumour with reality: clear information, practical guardrails, and confidential pathways to medical support. If performance is the goal, health is the governor and no body comp target is worth a blood sugar crash.
