Fasting Insulin

[Miemie]

Hi guys,

Just a quick question, fasting insulin of 3.8 miu/ml, is that pretty normal, apparently range is 0.29 - 9.4.

Thanx
Miemie

[morrisma]

3.8 (69 for US) is a little low. The range you quoted is okay if I assume you meant 2.9-9.4 (52-170). 0.29 would be dead I think.

The lower end is a problem for me because it is low enough to trigger a liver dump and shoot my sugar through the roof. I like to be over 5.5 (100) to prevent that.
Mike

[sumi]

Mieme, I have never had an insulin level test, although I would like to know what it is, Or did you mean, as Morrisma assumed, a fasting bg level?

[fgummett]

The site I found specifically did not list a range as it depends so much on age, sex and other factors... they advise you to go by the range given by your lab and discuss it with your Doctor :)

Lab Tests Online - Insulin... (http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/insulin/test.html)
Reference values are dependent on many factors, including patient age, gender, sample population, and test method, and numeric test results can have different meanings in different labs.

For these reasons, you will not find reference ranges for the majority of tests described on this web site. The lab report containing your test results should include the specific reference range for your test(s). Please consult your doctor or the lab that performed the test(s) to obtain the reference range if you do not have the lab report.

[Miemie]

Mieme, I have never had an insulin level test, although I would like to know what it is, Or did you mean, as Morrisma assumed, a fasting bg level?
Hi Susan, no its not bg, the fasting insulin is to test if your pancreas is making enough insulin, normally type 2s have high fasting insulin, another test is the c-peptide
Miemie

[foxl]

Miemie, then it looks like you are in the lower half of the range.

[Miemie]

3.8 (69 for US) is a little low. The range you quoted is okay if I assume you meant 2.9-9.4 (52-170). 0.29 would be dead I think.

The lower end is a problem for me because it is low enough to trigger a liver dump and shoot my sugar through the roof. I like to be over 5.5 (100) to prevent that.
Mike
Hi Mike, are u talking about fasting bg or insulin. Why Im asking I have been diagnosed as pre diabetic, fasting bg 5mmol, after 2 hours 8.3 (with OGGT), they say the fasting insulin is normal, I just want to know if any of u maybe had an idea? Miemie

[morrisma]

Sorry,
I mis-read the question and was speaking of blood glucose. Never heard of testing for insulin levels directly, only the indirect measurement of blood glucose.
Mike

[foxl]

I have -- but most people use C-peptide, because the half-life of insulin is sl short. C-peptide's is longer.

[Miemie]

The site I found specifically did not list a range as it depends so much on age, sex and other factors... they advise you to go by the range given by your lab and discuss it with your Doctor :)

Lab Tests Online - Insulin... (http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/insulin/test.html)

Hi Fgumett, I also checked on all possible sites, and couldnt find anything, dr says its fine, but I dont feel well, ecspecially after a meal, if I eat something with sugar, even a little bit, I feel dizzy, have palpitations, dry mouth,and my bg goes to about 8 sometimes 10.4. If I eat low carb foods my bg doesnt go above 5, stays between 3.9 and 4.9, which also makes me feel bad. This has been going om for 3 months. Dr says the bg cant cause the symptoms, but Im not so sure Regards Miemie

[Miemie]

Miemie, then it looks like you are in the lower half of the range.

Linda do u think I should do a c-peptide?

[foxl]

Linda do u think I should do a c-peptide?


Well at least ask your MD WHY they did an insulin instead of C-peptide??

[Ronin]

Hi Miemie!

At risk of disagreeing with some of the other members I understand that different countries use different tests as well as numerical systems.

Looking at the range that the lab calls "normal" it would seem that your numbers are on the low end of the normal scale -- pretty much the same condition as mine based on an annual C-Peptide test.

What does this all mean? Actually quite a lot. First of all your elevated BG levels are not the result of insulin resistance. That is the good news and it indicates that your body will react favorably to diet and exercise.

There is a downside and that is your pancreas may be slowing down. Again, modifications to diet and exercise patterns may take the stress off the pancreas and thereby extend the functional life of the organ to a point beyond your ability to survive some other disorder. Or, you may be headed towards Type-1.5 or LADA in the future. You can, however, avoid the trial-and-error method of using a lot of Type-2 medications (which increase insulin sensitivity and don't address low to no insulin but does give you all the side-effects) and go straight to insulin injections if/when the pancreas fails.

[Miemie]

Well at least ask your MD WHY they did an insulin instead of C-peptide??

I think I should Linda, they say all is fine, but all of a sudden Im sitting with high bp as well. They tell me Im pre diabetic, and that they must monitor it closely, and thats where they leave it, no follow up plan. I feel that theyre taking it too lightly. Im just worried about Lada, Im 33, and not overweight. Now i know type 2s are not always overweight, but thats why I wanted to know about the insulin, Miemie

[Miemie]

Hi Miemie!

At risk of disagreeing with some of the other members I understand that different countries use different tests as well as numerical systems.

Looking at the range that the lab calls "normal" it would seem that your numbers are on the low end of the normal scale -- pretty much the same condition as mine based on an annual C-Peptide test.

What does this all mean? Actually quite a lot. First of all your elevated BG levels are not the result of insulin resistance. That is the good news and it indicates that your body will react favorably to diet and exercise.

There is a downside and that is your pancreas may be slowing down. Again, modifications to diet and exercise patterns may take the stress off the pancreas and thereby extend the functional life of the organ to a point beyond your ability to survive some other disorder. Or, you may be headed towards Type-1.5 or LADA in the future. You can, however, avoid the trial-and-error method of using a lot of Type-2 medications (which increase insulin sensitivity and don't address low to no insulin but does give you all the side-effects) and go straight to insulin injections if/when the pancreas fails.
Hi Ronin, thx so much for ur reply, what u say makes sense, Linda also mentioned that its on the low side. The drs says and does nothing about it, so I have to take my own measures. I just needed someone who understands how I feel, reassure me that Im not overreacting. I am trying all the preventative measures, just have to work on the exercise! Regards Miemie

[Ronin]

Hi Miemie!

I'm glad I was of some assistance. It is not at all unusual to feel a bit overwhelmed when all these test results come in and the MD's aren't as overwhelmed as you are. Actually that is the most common case with Pre-D's.

About exercise: my chosen obsession is bicycling and tandem bicycling (actually I prefer the tandem to my single because it gives Linda and me a common activity). I use the word obsession because that it almost what it takes to make exercise work. You have to not only want to do it for your health, but like to do it for itself. I love the feeling of freedom that the bicycle brings -- to have Linda along and sharing the load only makes that better.

I don't know where your passion lies but the key is that it has to be something that will get you breating hard and moving and that you can vision yourself doing for upwards of an hour or more each-and-every day and you will miss it if you don't. It could be swimming, running, walking, hiking, ballroom dancing, tennis, fencing, or whatever fills the general requirements of using your muscles.

To be sure it isn't easy to find that perfect match but when you find it -- WOW! You will feel better, your BG levels will improve, you will sleep better and even perform better at work. Yeah, you will be an abosolute bore around people who don't share your passion but consider that the other folks who go on-and-on-and-on... about their favorite TV show or sport that they watch but don't actually participate in are really the boring folks. They aren't living their passion -- they are simply watching others do what they can't or won't. (FWIW: I got a lot of grief for using bicycling analogies in business meetings because I was the only one who understood the sport, but I loved the guys completely missing that I was making fun of all their football, basketball, and hockey analogies when I knew they didn't actually know how it feels to do these things.)

[Miemie]

Hi Ronin,

You are so right! Passion in anything that you do is so important, ecspecially sport. I love netball (almost like basketball), but I hurt my ankle last year, and had an op on it as a result of that in December, so any sport that has a lot of running is really out for me.

I like yoga, and am starting to do it. I also like spinning (my hubby works shifts which makes it really impossible for him to cycle with me), so I prefer staying in one place. The two of us also play golf when we have the chance.

But I know I have to do a lot more.

Ronin, just another question, do you also experience it that your bg levels are sometimes very normal, even after eating high carb meals? Mine has been really fine for the past 2 weeks, staying rather on the low side than on the high side.

Thanks again for all your assistance and help, its really appreciated!