Insulin Fasting Test - Price, Purpose, Preparation, Range, & More

Table of Content

Introduction to Insulin Fasting Test

Insulin, a hormone the pancreas produces, holds immense significance in regulating blood sugar levels. It facilitates glucose uptake into cells to be used as an energy source or stored for later use. It maintains stable blood sugar levels and ensures proper cellular functioning. Any abnormalities in their levels in the blood indicate metabolic disorders, including prediabetes, diabetes, and insulin resistance. Doctors often suggest an Insulin Fasting Test to individuals experiencing symptoms of any metabolic disease. Also called the Fasting Insulin Test, the Insulin Fasting Test assesses a person’s insulin levels during fasting. It thoroughly evaluates how well the body responds to blood sugar levels & maintains glucose homeostasis.

Redcliffe Labs is the name to recall if you are looking for a reliable diagnostic service provider for an Insulin Fasting Test. Being the best Omnichannel Pan India Diagnostic Service Provider, we provide a comprehensive range of routine to specialized tests under one roof at highly competitive rates. Abnormalities in Insulin levels are not good, so measure it on time to diagnose the problem and take the appropriate measures in time. So, book the Insulin Fasting Test with us now and avail of doorstep sample collection convenience.

Test Details In Brief:

Symptoms That May Call For An Insulin Fasting Test:

Several symptoms and risk factors may prompt healthcare practitioners to suggest an Insulin Fasting Test to assess your metabolic health. Such symptoms & risk factors are:

• Unexplained Weight Gain: If you are gaining weight without any changes in your dietary or routine plans, especially around the abdomen, it could be related to insulin resistance. You should get yourself tested at the earliest to confirm the cause and take appropriate measures accordingly.
• Frequent Thirst Or Urination: Excessive thirst and urination could also indicate high blood sugar levels, which could be associated with insulin resistance or diabetes.
• Tingling Or Numbness: Individuals experiencing tingling or numbness in hands or feet usually may have diabetes, and getting tested is essential to confirm the cause.
• Increased Hunger: If you are feeling hunger more often, even shortly after having a proper meal, it might be a sign of insulin resistance.
• Chronic Fatigue: Unexplained prolonged fatigue, even after proper rest, could also be associated with insulin resistance. It happens when the body’s cells are not properly using glucose for energy.
• Dark Skin Patches: Dark patches, especially around the neck or armpit usually indicate insulin resistance.

Remember, every individual may complain of different symptoms and experience severity according to their body type, age, gender, medical history, current situation, and other factors. Therefore, timely diagnosis is essential to confirm the problem and take preventive measures accordingly.

Apart from these symptoms, certain risk factors could also be linked with insulin resistance, which may prompt healthcare practitioners to suggest an Insulin Test, such as:

• Sedentary Lifestyle: Individuals leading a sedentary lifestyle, lacking physical activity or following poor dietary choices, are at high risk of developing metabolic conditions and may need an Insulin Fasting Test.
• Hormonal Imbalance: If you have conditions like thyroid disorders or other diseases related to hormonal imbalance, you may need to get yourself tested to confirm the cause.
• High Cholesterol Levels: Elevated cholesterol levels could also be linked with insulin resistance, which must be diagnosed promptly.
• High Blood Pressure: Hypertension or High Blood Pressure is another risk factor associated with insulin resistance that could be severe if left unaddressed.
• Previous Gestational Diabetes: Women with a history of gestational diabetes during pregnancy are more at risk of diabetes and may be asked to get tested.

Whether it’s the risk factor or symptoms, these could be associated with different health conditions. Therefore, timely diagnosis is essential to determine the cause and appropriately take preventive measures. So, book your Fasting insulin test at home with us now.

Purpose Of Insulin Fasting Blood Test:

• Diagnose Insulin Resistance: Insulin resistance can spike blood sugar levels, which over time contributes to a high risk of type 2 diabetes & other complications. Measuring insulin levels identifies insulin resistance, giving you enough time to measure & manage it well.
• Assess Metabolic Health: While assessing metabolic health, an Insulin Fasting Lab Test may also evaluate an individual’s risk of diabetes or other cardiovascular disease.
• Help Monitor Ongoing Treatment: Apart from diagnosing insulin resistance and assessing metabolic health, the test has a significant role in monitoring individuals undergoing treatment for insulin resistance or diabetes. While measuring how well the treatment works, this test helps healthcare professionals adjust dosage as and if required.

Overall, getting tested correctly and in time can ensure accurate diagnosis and help prevent potential complications.

Causes of Insulin Resistance

Doctors and researchers are still working on discovering the cause of insulin resistance. However, the following are some causes of insulin resistance. 

• Sedentary lifestyle 
• Cushing’s disease 
• PCOD/ PCOS 
• Excessive liver fat 
• High inflammation 
• High insulin levels in the blood 
• Intake of a high-calorie diet. 
• High doses of steroids. 
• Being obese or overweight. 

Why Would A Doctor Recommend The Insulin Fasting Test? 

Symptoms and risk factors are certain reasons they would recommend the Insulin Fasting test. However, there are other reasons, too. For reference, here are a few: 

• They can suggest the test during an annual health checkup to determine the insulin level. 
• For pregnant women, check whether the pregnancy is causing gestational diabetes. 
• Check your diabetes in case of a family history. 
• If your last reports indicate high blood sugar levels. 

Why Do You Need The Insulin Fasting Test? 

Here are the reasons you need the Insulin Fasting Test: 

• A glucose test that had indicated a low glucose level. 
• Symptoms of hypoglycemia or low blood glucose. Symptoms such as: 
• Dizziness 
• Headache
• Confusion
• Excessive hunger
• Sweating 
• Feeling shaky 
• Arrhythmia 
• Fainting or seizures 
• Risk of insulin resistance. It includes: 
• Heart disease 
• Type 2 diabetes 
• PCOS 
• Prediabetes 
• Acanthosis nigricans 
• To transplant the pancreas that is making insulin. 
• To remove an insulinoma (a tumour that produces insulin and causes low blood glucose). 

What Does The Insulin Fasting Measure? 

Our blood has insulin, and the insulin fasting test helps measure it. It also evaluates the ability to regulate blood sugar levels. Your cells take energy from glucose formed through carbohydrates in the diet. Insulin is a hormone in the cells that uptakes glucose from the blood for utilisation and storage. 

What is the Insulin Fasting Test Used For?

The test is also popular, and its names include fasting insulin, insulin serum, C-peptide test, glucose tolerance test, and total & free insulin. There are many reasons a doctor may use the Insulin Fasting Test. It includes: 

• The test can determine the reason for low glucose levels in people with hypoglycemia. 
• To identify insulin resistance in people. 
• For individuals with type 2 diabetes, the test assists in understanding the efficiency of the present treatment plan. 
• Aids in monitoring the working of the pancreas to understand the workings of surgeries, including islet cell transplantation. 

Fasting Serum Insulin Test Results 

The Fasting serum insulin test results help your healthcare professional analyse the cause of abnormal insulin levels. Along with results, they will consider looking at your family history. The reports can give either: 

• Excess insulin and average or slightly above normal blood sugar levels indicate insulin resistance. 
• Insulin levels are within normal range or high. However, the blood glucose levels are below average, indicating hypoglycemia. 

The normal range of insulin fasting is 2.0-25.0 u/ml. The doctor may conduct the fasting insulin test with a fasting glucose test. Here is a breakdown of what results or disorder may appear. 

The normal range of insulin can differ based on the meal consumed. Let’s understand: 

Reasons for High Insulin Levels 

A healthcare professional is the right person to guide you in understanding why. However, high insulin levels can indicate:

• Pancreatic tumour 
• Cushing’s syndrome 
• Intake of excess insulin as a treatment for diabetes. 

Fasting Insulin Normal Range:

The Fasting Insulin Level Normal Range is somewhat <25.0 μU/mL. The levels above this normal range usually indicate Insulinoma, Type 2 Diabetes, Infantile Hypoglycemia, Hyperinsulinism, Obesity, Hyperthyroidism, Cushing’s Syndrome, and other metabolic conditions. However, further evaluation is essential for accurate diagnosis. On the contrary, extremely low levels also indicate health problems and untreated type 1 diabetes mellitus. However, Fasting Serum Insulin Test result interpretation may vary for every individual, depending on their health condition, age, gender, medical history, and other factors. Therefore, getting tested in time and following a healthcare practitioner’s advice is essential to prevent complications to a possible extent.

Insulin Fasting Test Preparations:

Though it is a simple blood test, some general guidelines that one may be advised to follow for accurate diagnosis include the following:

• Your doctor may ask you to fast for 8-10 hours before the test, as the test aims to assess insulin levels during fasting.
• If you have a known medical condition or are on some prescribed or non-prescribed medicine, you should inform your healthcare practitioner, as it can otherwise interfere with your test results.
• Do not drink or smoke; it can influence test results and cause discrepancies.
• Stay calm during the procedure, and if you have any fears or known allergies, keep your healthcare practitioner informed before the test.

Apart from that, if any special instructions are provided, follow them properly to avoid inaccuracies in the test results. Remember, even a single mistake can cause discrepancies in the test results, therefore, follow all the instructions provided by your healthcare practitioner to prevent complications.

Insulin Fasting Test Procedure:

The procedure is simple and may include the following steps:

• A phlebotomist may first tie a band around the arm and clean the site using a disinfectant.
• Once the site is cleaned, the phlebotomist will use a sterile needle to puncture it and collect blood appropriately.
• After collecting the blood, they may apply a cotton ball or bandage over the punctured site to prevent bleeding and minimize the risk of infections.
• The collected sample will then be transferred to the vial to send to the lab for further evaluation.

The procedure is quick and hassle-free. It is safe but may cause a little pain or bruise at the punctured site. In rare cases, one may experience infection. If symptoms persist for longer than usual, seek medical assistance at the earliest.

Tips To Balance Insulin Levels:

Balancing insulin levels is critical to keep your health in check and prevent varied complications associated with insulin resistance, diabetes, or metabolic health. Some tips that can help you manage these levels well are:

• Switch To A Healthy Diet: Your diet is the key, whether it is about balancing insulin levels or maintaining overall health. Therefore, always eat healthy and keep a distance from food items that can influence insulin levels and affect your health. It is always advisable to discuss your dietary choices with your healthcare practitioner so they can suggest the best according to your body type, health, and other factors.
• Limit Sugars & Refined Carbs: Apart from eating healthy, keeping an eye on what should not be eaten is also essential. Sugar and refined carbs are the two strongest enemies that can influence your insulin levels and lead to complications. Minimize sugary foods, beverages, and highly processed carbs to keep blood sugar & insulin in balance.
• Up Your Fiber Intake: Fiber is your health’s forever friend that you need to slow down glucose absorption, promoting stable blood sugar levels.
• Exercise Regularly: Being physically active is another important thing that can ensure promising health outcomes. Routine physical activity improves insulin sensitivity, allowing cells to use insulin more effectively. Therefore, it should be a part of your healthy lifestyle.
• Manage A Healthy Weight: Being overweight contributes to various health issues, and insulin or metabolic health-related problems are no different. Therefore, if you are obese, losing a little weight is essential to improve insulin sensitivity & regulate blood sugar levels.
• Stick To A Healthy Eating Schedule: Your meal time can influence insulin levels. Therefore, you should aim for consistent meal time while avoiding prolonged fasting, which can fluctuate blood sugar levels.
• Watch Your Alcohol Intake: If you drink alcohol, choose moderation, as excessive intake can affect blood sugar levels and lead to various other health issues.
• Get Tested In Time: Last but not least on the list is taking timely diagnosis seriously. You should get yourself tested in time to measure and monitor insulin levels. Getting tested not only helps detect the abnormalities but also helps you take preventive measures in time.

These general tips may or may not work for different individuals, depending on their health status, the severity of the condition, and other factors. Therefore, taking guidance from the experts is advisable.

Treatment For Insulin Fasting 

A doctor is the best to guide you through the treatment process. However, these steps can aid your lifestyle. Certain methodologies for insulin fasting treatment include: 

• Follow a keto or low-carbohydrate diet 
• Intake of a low-calorie diet
• Exercise daily for at least 30 minutes 
• Get in touch with a dietician and follow a healthy diet. 

Risks Associated with the Insulin Fasting Test 

The Insulin Fasting test has minor risks. These risks could be: 

• Slight pain 
• Bruising 
• Blood loss
• Weakness
• Dizziness 
• Nausea 

Fasting Insulin Test Price @ Redcliffe Labs

After the quality, accuracy, and turnaround time, price is another major factor most people consider while booking tests. Most people push diagnostic tests because of the high cost, leading to more complications. Hence, Redcliffe Labs, intended to bring diagnostic to the doorstep of every individual, offer all types of health tests & packages at highly competitive rates. Therefore, the Fasting Insulin Test Price is just starts at Rs 699 and goes up to Rs 800 with us. So, delay no more, and benefit from accurate and affordable diagnostic services with Healthy India Ki Trusted Lab, Redcliffe Labs.

Insulin Fasting Test Cost in Different Cities - Redcliffe Labs

Note: We also offer Insulin Fasting Test PAN India. Please call the number 8988988787 to check the availability of our services in your area.

Book A Timely Insulin Fasting Test With Redcliffe Labs Today!

Delay in the diagnosis can cause concern, as if left unaddressed for longer, imbalanced insulin levels can worsen the symptoms and lead to varied complications. Therefore, delay no more and book your Insulin Fasting Blood Test with us today. Being your trusted diagnostic partner, we promise reliable services at reasonable rates. In addition, we provide express slots to help you get tested samples picked within 45 minutes and get reports within a stipulated time frame.

Other Insulin Related Tests/Packages That You Can Book With Redcliffe Labs

Sample Report of Insulin Fasting Test - Redcliffe Labs