Insulin

What is Insulin?

Fasting insulin shows how much insulin your body makes to keep your blood sugar steady at rest. A high value is like a thermostat that has to work hard to hold the temperature. A lower value means your cells respond smoothly to insulin: favourable for your energy, weight and metabolism over the long term.

Clinical frame

Fasting insulin reflects the compensatory response of the beta cells to the prevailing insulin sensitivity. Raised fasting insulin with normal glycaemia is often the earliest laboratory signal of insulin resistance, years before fasting glucose rises. Together with glucose it forms the basis of the HOMA indices.

What moves this value?

Belly fat, little movement, sleep deprivation and lots of processed carbohydrates gradually lead your body to make more insulin.

Building muscle, regular movement, fewer late snacks and better sleep make your cells more sensitive again over a few months.