The present invention relates to the use of a substance with the core structure of formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates or prodrugs thereof, for the manufacture of a composition for the treatment of insulin resistance or diseases associated with insulin resistance, preferably in human subject in a daily dosage in a range of from about 5 mg to about 1500 mg. The invention furthermore relates to a method of treating insulin resistance or diseases associated with insulin resistance in a mammal, said method comprises administering to said mamma, preferably a human subject, a substance with the core structure of formula (I), preferably in a daily dosage in a range from about 5 mg to about 1500 mg. The substance is preferably isosteviol or steviol, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates or prodrugs thereof. Examples of diseases associated with insulin resistance are e.g. type 2 diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance syndrome, impaired glucose tolerance, the metabolic syndrome, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, arteriosclerosis, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hyperlipidemia, dyslipidemia, obesity, central obesity, polycystic ovarian syndrome, hypercoagulability, hypertension, microalbuminuria, or any combinations thereof.