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How Do You Test For Insulin Resistance


What Do I Need To Do To Prepare For These Tests

Are You Insulin Resistant? Here’s How to Test It
  • You will need to be fasted, which means that you would have blood taken in the morning before you eat and youve fasted for about 13 hours. So, for example, finish eating at 7pm the night before the test is taken at 8am the next morning.
  • No exercise or stress, as they both cause your body to release glucose and will cause an incorrect reading.
  • Eat a moderate amount of carbohydrates. Its best if you eat a moderate to higher amount of carbs leading up to the tests, especially if youve been eating a low carb diet. If your body isnt used to eating carbs, then it may overcompensate/ overproduce insulin, leading to a falsely elevated test result.
  • For the oral glucose tolerance test you will need to allow up to 4 hours, so take a good book with you to the clinic.

    How To Test For Insulin Resistance With An Insulin Response To Glucose Test

    There are some people whose fasting insulin may be normal, yet their insulin response to dietary glucose isnt.;;

    To test this, youll need to work with a healthcare professional or research lab. You drink a small cup of 75 grams of pure glucose and immediately get your blood drawn every 30 minutes for two hours.;

    There are a couple ways to assess insulin resistance with this method. The numbers Im sharing with you here come from Dr. Bikmans book Why We Get Sick.;


  • If your insulin peaks at 30 minutes and steadily comes down, youre likely insulin sensitive which is good.;
  • If your insulin peaks at 60 minutes, rather than 30 minutes, youre probably insulin resistant and your likelihood of getting type 2 diabetes later in life is five times higher than normal, so youre in the caution range.;
  • If your insulin progressively climbs and peaks at 120 minutes, youre most certainly insulin resistant and youre almost 15 times more likely to get type 2 diabetes, so Dr. Bikman classifies this as the Trouble range.;
  • How Are Moles Treated

    If a dermatologist believes a mole needs to be evaluated further, they will do aà biopsy by shavingà or cutting out the entire spot so that it can be evaluated under the microscope. This is a simple procedure.

    If the mole is found to be cancerous, the dermatologist will cut out the entire mole or scar from the biopsy site by cutting out the entire area and a rim of normal skin around it, and stitching the wound closed.

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    How To Reverse Insulin Resistance

    If you have insulin resistance, you want to become the oppositemore insulin sensitive .

    Physical activity makes you more sensitive to insulin, one reason why its a cornerstone of diabetes management . Dont wait until youre diagnosed with diabetes to start moving more. The earlier you take action , the better off youll be.


    Weight loss is important too, as is avoiding high blood sugar, reducing stress, and getting enough sleep .

    These lifestyle changes really work. Talk with your health care provider about how to get started.

    Carbs And Fat Together Make You As Fat As Possible

    Pre

    And because sugar and fat are burned reciprocally, if you combine them it makes you as fat as possible. All the fat just goes straight to storage.

    Nutritional scientists have discovered this and actually use this methodology to fatten up rats. Researchers created an obesogenic rat chow made up of 14% protein, 45% fat and 40% carbohydrates.

    Well, thanks to the USDA, our basic dietary recommendations are basically the same obesogenic rat chow.


    The fat and sugar accumulate in your bloodstream, causing more futile insulin secretion. When your insulin levels are chronically elevated, this is called hyperinsulinemia.

    Unsubstantiated evidence led experts to substitute saturated fats for poisonous carbohydrates. Now hundreds of millions of people around the globe are insulin resistant today.

    Every time you eat carbohydrates especially refined, high glycemic carbs your body goes to war with itself. And you lose.

    Ancel Keys Junk science has destroyed your health.

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    Causes And Risk Factors Of Insulin Resistance

    • With;a family history of type 2 diabetes
    • With a personal history of;gestational diabetes
    • Over the age of 45
    • Who are Hispanic, African American, Native American, or Asian American
    • With a waist circumference larger than 40 inches or larger than 35 inches
    • With a history of;high blood pressure ;or high triglycerides

    The risk factors for insulin resistance are similar to the;risk factors for prediabetes;and type 2 diabetes. But lifestyle changes can help your body use insulin properly, which can;reduce your risk of diabetes.

    Physical Activity And Exercise

    Muscles burn glucose for energy. The more you move, the more glucose your muscles take out of the blood for energy use, which helps to lower your blood sugar levels. This allows for a reduction in insulin secretion, lessening the burden on your pancreas.

    Likewise, muscles that dont move dont use up blood sugar, so insulin levels can rise to process any excess. Studies show that a mere five days of bed rest induces a state of insulin resistance in completely healthy volunteers.27 Multiple studies show that long-term inactivity is strongly associated with insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and pre-diabetes.28

    Any type of regular movement can help. Studies suggest that high-intensity interval training , resistance training, and cardio training all improve glucose utilization and thereby improve insulin sensitivity.29

    No matter what your preferred form of movement or exercise, it is clear: inactivity can lead to insulin resistance. And movement increases insulin sensitivity as long as the exercise continues.30 So if you stop moving regularly, insulin resistance may come back.


    One more thing on exercise: you likely cannot outrun a bad diet. Exercising regularly but still eating a high-carbohydrate, high-sugar diet will likely partially, if not completely, counteract many of the benefits derived from exercise.31

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    How To Test For Insulin Resistance With A Homa Score

    If you can only get fasting insulin, try to get your blood glucose measured at the same time so you can measure your homeostatic model assessment, or HOMA score.;

    Your HOMA score is a formula that considers both fasting glucose and fasting insulin. Its more helpful than fasting insulin alone to determine your insulin sensitivity.;

    Insulin sensitivity has an inverse relationship to insulin resistance. Insulin sensitivity is essentially how sensitive your cells are to insulin.;


    The more insulin sensitive you are, the less insulin resistant you are. The less insulin sensitive you are, the more insulin resistant you are.;

    Heres the equation to determine your HOMA score.

    • In the US:; / 405
    • For most other countries: / 22.5

    Theres no consensus yet, but according to Dr. Bikmans book a value over 1.5 indicates insulin resistance, and above 3 usually means youre on the edge of having type 2 diabetes. Unfortunately, even fasting insulin may have some limitations.;

    Can Acanthosis Nigricans Be Prevented

    How to know if you’re insulin resistant using routine blood tests

    When acanthosis nigricans is related to obesity, weight management is an important part of prevention. A diet that contributes to reduced insulin also can help prevent acanthosis nigricans.

    Other preventive strategies include treating medical problems that are linked to acanthosis nigricans and avoiding medications that tend to cause or worsen the condition .


    Don’t Miss: Mayo Clinic Diabetes Diet Journal

    How Is Acanthosis Nigricans Treated

    Eating a special diet can help reduce circulating insulin and may lead to some improvement of the acanthosis nigricans.

    Other treatments to improve skin appearance include Retin-A, 20% urea, alpha hydroxyacids, topical vitamin D, and salicylic acidprescriptions. These are only minimally effective, however.

    Acanthosis nigricans caused by a drug may go away once the medication is stopped.

    What Are Normal Fasting Insulin Levels

    Unfortunately, because the focus has been on glucose for so long, there is not a wide consensus on insulin levels. Ideally, your blood insulin levels should be less than ~6 microunits per milliliter of blood .;


    While ~89 microunits per milliliter is the average for men and women, its not good to be average in this case. According to Dr. Bikman in Why We Get Sick, a person with 8 microunits per milliliter has double the risk of developing type 2 diabetes as a person with 5 microunits per milliliter.

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    What Can You Do About It

    While it may not be possible to defeat insulin resistance entirely, there are ways to make the bodys cells more receptive to insulin.

    • Getting active is probably the best way to combat insulin resistance. Exercise can dramatically reduce insulin resistance in both the short and long terms. In addition to making the body more sensitive to insulin and building muscle that can absorb blood glucose, physical activity opens up an alternate gateway for glucose to enter muscle cells without insulin acting as an intermediary, reducing the cells’ dependence on insulin for energy. While this doesn’t reduce insulin resistance itself, it can help people who are insulin resistant improve their blood sugar control.
    • Weight loss can also cut down on insulin resistance. No single diet has been proved to be the most effective. Some evidence suggests, though, that eating foods that are low in fat and high in carbohydrates can worsen insulin resistance. Research has also shown that people who undergo weight-loss surgery are likely to become significantly more sensitive to insulin.
    • No medications are specifically approved to treat insulin resistance. Yet diabetes medications like metformin and thiazolidinediones, or TZDs, are insulin sensitizers that lower blood sugar, at least in part, by reducing insulin resistance.

    What Are Clinical Trials And Are They Right For You

    How to Test for Insulin Resistance: 10 Steps (with Pictures)

    Clinical trials are part of clinical research and at the heart of all medical advances. Clinical trials look at new ways to prevent, detect, or treat disease. Researchers also use clinical trials to look at other aspects of care, such as improving the quality of life for people with chronic illnesses. Find out if clinical trials are right for you.

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    Ways To Combat Menopausal Weight Gain Due To Insulin Resistance

    Many women find that they gain weight sometimes a significant amount during menopause.; And, to make matters worse, their old tried and true ways of getting the weight off simply dont work.

    There are many theories regarding the causes of weight gain at menopause.; Its a complex issue that includes a combination of poor diet sedentary lifestyle, stress, and many other factors.; But, the truth is, whatever the underlying cause, insulin resistance is the primary driver of menopausal weight gain. And, the key to reversing it and achieving lasting weight loss is to keep insulin levels low.

    Now, to be clear, menopause does not cause insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is the result of overall poor hormonal health. If you are struggling with post-menopausal insulin resistance and weight gain here are some additional recommendations:

  • Take a magnesium supplement. Fully 80 percent of people have a magnesium deficiency. If you have a high sugar diet or take certain medications, you can become deficient in magnesium even if you eat foods that contain the mineral. And, according to Carolyn Dean, M.D., many symptoms attributed to menopause are actually identical to symptoms of magnesium deficiency, including hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, and anxiety.
  • Have you ever been diagnosed with insulin resistance?; What have you done to reverse it?

    Additional Resources from Dr. Northrup


    Actionable Steps To Reverse Insulin Resistance

    The opposite of insulin resistance is insulin sensitivity. You want your body to only release small amounts of insulin and for it to be very effective.

    How can you become more insulin sensitive?

    If you have insulin resistance, your body is at war with yourself. Your pancreas is willing to blow up everything to win. And your cells are extremely stubborn, have shut the door and are not giving up. They cant give up because theyre full!

    The loser of the battle: your health.

    Youre calling for the white flag. Below are some ways to reverse it and end this futile war.


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    Fasting Blood Glucose Test

    A fasting blood glucose test will show your fasting blood sugar level. Youd have this test done after not eating or drinking for at least 8 hours.

    A high level may require a second test a few days later to confirm the reading. If both tests show elevated levels of blood glucose, your doctor may diagnose you with prediabetes or diabetes.

    • Fasting blood sugar levels under 100 milligrams/deciliter are considered normal.
    • Levels between 100 and 125 mg/dL indicate prediabetes.
    • Levels equal to or greater than 126 mg/dL are diagnostic for diabetes.

    Depending on the lab, these numbers could vary up to 3 mg/dL points in the cutoff numbers.

    Choosing The Best Assessment Technique

    Do You Know Your Insulin Level | insulin level blood test |insulin resistance test at home

    The hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp technique is the most scientifically sound technique for measuring insulin sensitivity, and it’s against this standard that all other tests are usually compared. Because this and similar “clamp” techniques are expensive, time consuming, and labor intensive, they are not very practical in an office setting.


    To overcome these obstacles, alternative tests have been developed, including the frequently sampled IV glucose tolerance test , insulin tolerance test , insulin sensitivity test , and continuous infusion of glucose with model assessment . Unfortunately, all of these methods require IV access and multiple venipunctures, making them relatively impractical for office assessment. The oral glucose tolerance test does not require IV access but does involve several venipunctures and 2 to 4 hours of patient and technician time. Each of these tests has been shown to correlate reasonably well with dynamic clamp techniques.

    Clamp Techniques & Insulin Infusion Tests

    A variation of this technique, the hyperinsulinemic-hyperglycemic clamp provides a better measurement of pancreatic beta cell function but is less physiologic than the euglycemic technique.

    Taking The Minimalist Approach

    Fasting Methods For Assessing Insulin Sensitivity

    I0 x G0__________

    1__________

    ISI = exp

    ISI = exp

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    What Is The 1800 Rule

    For example, if a person is taking a total of 30 units of rapid-acting insulin through the day, they would calculate like this:

    • They divide 30 into 1,800.
    • This gives an insulin sensitivity factor of 60.

    This means that 1 unit of fast-acting insulin would reduce this persons blood sugar levels by 60 mg/dl.

    Imagine that a persons target goal is to have their glucose at 100 mg/dL before meals, but their actual glucose is 220 mg/dL before the meal. The person will calculate like this:

    • 220100=120
    • 120/60 is 2

    They will add 2 units of fast-acting insulin to their insulin amount for that meal.

    For regular insulin, the person would divide into 1,500 instead of 1,800. However, most people do not use this type of insulin nowadays.

    A person should test their insulin sensitivity factor every day.

    To do this, they will:

  • Check and record their blood sugar levels.
  • Take a correction dose of insulin, based on their current sensitivity factor.
  • Retest their blood sugar levels 2 and 3 hours after taking the insulin dose.
  • If the ratio is correct, the persons blood sugar level should be within a 40-point range of their target.

    If it is out of this range on two or more occasions, they may need to change their correction factor. The person should speak to their doctor about this. They may need further testing to confirm the results.

    If blood sugar levels drop below 70 mg/dL, the person should stop the assessment and treat their low blood sugar, for example, by eating or drinking something.

    What Should Your Blood Glucose Levels Actually Be

    In the functional medicine world, we dont just take the average of non-diseased populations, we look for actually healthy people and find what their blood glucose is, and low and behold, this range is much smaller.

    The functional medicine normal range is 4.16to 4.77!

    As you can see, these ranges are quite different from the medical model. These are the ranges that I work with my clients to get into.

    Dont just accept being told that your levels are normal, or not being notified at all. If you get the actual figure, you can make an informed decision about how normal it actually is.

    The second reason for this is that insulin resistance is not like catching a stomach bug, you dont just wake up in the night with insulin resistance, it develops over time. By narrowing the normal range down to whats actually healthy, we can catch those on their way to developing insulin resistance and stop it in its tracks.

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    How To Treat Insulin Resistance

    This article was co-authored by Damaris Vega, MD. Dr. Damaris Vega is a board certified Endocrinologist. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico with a BS in General Science and subsequently earned an MD from the Ponce School of Medicine, Ponce, PR. During medical school, Dr. Vega served as president of the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society and was selected as her school’s representative for the American Association of Medical Colleges. She then completed a residency in Internal Medicine and a fellowship in Endocrinology, Diabetes, Mineral, and Metabolism at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. Dr. Vega has been recognized for excellent patient care multiple times by the National Committee for Quality Assurance and received the Patients’ Choice Award in 2008, 2009, and 2015. She is a fellow of the American College of Clinical Endocrinologists and is an active member of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, the American Diabetes Association, and the Endocrine Society. Dr. Vega is also the founder and CEO of Houston Endocrinology Center as well as a principal investigator for multiple clinical trials at Juno Research, LLC.There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 18,615 times.

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