Test ID: B-207
Could Insulin Resistance Be the Root Cause of Your Symptoms?
Insulin resistance is one of the most common — and most overlooked — metabolic conditions. It can develop silently for years before blood sugar rises enough to trigger a diabetes diagnosis. Fasting insulin is the earliest and most sensitive marker. If you recognise any of the following, this test could reveal what’s really happening:
- Persistent hunger or cravings, even shortly after eating
- Unexplained fatigue or energy crashes, especially after meals
- Difficulty losing weight despite diet and exercise
- Weight gain concentrated around the abdomen
- Brain fog or difficulty concentrating
- Frequent urination or extreme thirst
- Tingling or numbness in hands or feet
- Frequent infections or slow healing
- High blood pressure or elevated triglycerides
- Family history of type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome
- Diagnosed with PCOS, fatty liver, or pre-diabetes
What Is Fasting Insulin and Why Does It Matter?
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that acts as a “key” to allow glucose into your cells for energy. When cells stop responding to insulin effectively, the pancreas compensates by producing more — leading to chronically elevated insulin levels long before blood glucose rises.
This is why fasting insulin is a far more sensitive early warning marker than fasting glucose or HbA1c alone. Catching elevated insulin early gives you the best opportunity to reverse insulin resistance through targeted lifestyle changes — before it progresses to type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease.
- Optimal fasting insulin: 1–8 μIU/mL
- Normal range: 1–15 μIU/mL
- Elevated insulin may indicate insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, or increased cardiovascular risk
What This Test Measures
- Fasting Insulin (μIU/mL) – The primary marker for detecting insulin resistance, assessing pancreatic beta cell function, and evaluating metabolic and cardiovascular risk — even before glucose intolerance appears
How It Works
- Order your kit — delivered to your door
- Collect your sample at home — a simple finger-prick blood spot, taken within 1 hour of waking while fasting (no food or drink other than water)
- Post your sample to our CLIA-certified laboratory using the instructions provided
- Receive your results by email within 3–5 working days of the lab receiving your sample
What You Get With Your Results
Your personalised report includes:
- Your fasting insulin level displayed clearly in graphics and numbers
- A written interpretation by a Hormone Specialist PhD Doctor
- Guidance on what your result means for your metabolic health and what to do next
Who Is This Test For?
This test is suitable for men and women who want to:
- Detect insulin resistance early — before blood sugar becomes elevated
- Investigate the hormonal root cause of weight gain, fatigue, or cravings
- Assess metabolic health as part of a broader cardiovascular or hormone check
- Monitor the impact of diet, exercise, or medication on insulin levels
- Understand their risk of type 2 diabetes, PCOS, or metabolic syndrome
Related Tests
Insulin doesn’t work in isolation. For a fuller metabolic picture, consider pairing with:
- CardioMetabolic & Cortisol Test Kit — assess cortisol-driven metabolic stress alongside insulin
- Female Weight Management Profile — hormones, thyroid & metabolism for women
- Male Weight Management Profile — hormones, thyroid & metabolism for men
Key Information
- Must be collected fasting — within 1 hour of waking, no food or drink other than water
- Collect your sample from home and post to our lab — no clinic visit required
- Results delivered by email within 3–5 working days
- Laboratory fee included — no hidden costs or additional charges
- Valid for 12 months from the date of purchase
- Analysed by a CLIA-certified laboratory with over 11 million tests performed
- Customers are responsible for posting their sample to the laboratory