INSULIN, FASTING

INSULIN, FASTING

Insulin blood test also referred to as fasting insulin test, is a test used to measure the amount of insulin in the body. It is also used to monitor the treatment of abnormal insulin levels and also to monitor insulin resistance.

Fasting insulin measures the level of insulin in your blood. Fasting insulin outside the normal range could indicate diseases such as type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Higher insulin levels are linked to insulin resistance and may increase the risk of heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer's.Typically, you will be asked to fast for 8 hours before the blood sample is collected. Occasionally, a healthcare practitioner may do testing when fasting is not possible, such as when a glucose tolerance test is done.

The insulin fasting blood test is chiefly used as a test insulin levels and to diagnoses diabetes and insulin resistance. The test can also hypoglycemia, an insulin related disorder. Insulin is a peptide hormone that is produced by the pancreas and is used to control the level of glucose in in the blood.

Too much insulin can lead to serious health problems. Having high levels, also known as hyperinsulinemia, has been linked to obesity, heart disease and cancer (1, 2 , 3 ). High blood insulin levels also cause your cells to become resistant to the hormone's effects.