Fasting Insulin

(Cathy) #1

Hello. I am a Canadian and recently had a fasting insulin test done and don’t know how to interpret the results considering I have been keto for more than 7 yrs… My results tells me info in ‘pmol/L’. Any one know how to convert that or what I should hope to have in the method of measurement! Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.

(Richard Morris) #2

Divide pmol/l by 6 to get mU/l.

The normal Physiological range for fasting insulin is 4mU/l to 13 mU/l.

I have 19.8 mU/l which is horrible.

Why it’s important is because when you are fasted you should be burning body fat for energy. Insulin inhibits lipolysis (body fat burning). You can see that on this chart, and work out where your own fasting level puts you at.

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(Barbara Greenwood) #3

@richard, have you monitored your fasting insulin over time?

I’m considering having mine tested - my doc won’t be interested, I’m sure, I’ll have to pay privately, but I’ve found somewhere that does it for £39, so not a big problem. I’ve been T2D for 19 years and been keto for 7 months - last HbA1C was 40 (5.8%) in November, down from 62 (7.8%) in August, and my BG is now in the normal range most of the time. I’d love to see how my insulin is doing, and I’ve been wondering how often it makes sense to check it. What do you think?

(Patrick Belair) #4

Hi Cathy,

I’m also Canadian and I’m not able to get my fasting insulin test done.
There’s no box to checked on the sheet! My doctor writes it down but the result is never available.
I was wondering what description/code you have next to your result?

Thanks.

(Justin Hayes) #5

Not sure if request a test will work in Canada. Does Lab Corp or Quest Diagnostics operate there?
Request A Test is a website that seems to offer these kinds of tests. Not sure if there is a canadian equivalent, or if you can just travel in to visit a facility… Its $49 here.

http://requestatest.com/insulin-testing

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(Cathy) #6

Thank you Richard! That helps me a lot. My fasting insulin works out to be about 6.5 with that calculation so not too bad but considering I have been at this for 7 plus years, I might have expected it to be better.

(Cathy) #7

Hi Patrick. It is a requested test meaning the doctor writes it in on the requisition under ‘other’. It is referred to as a fasting serum insulin test. It is done at LifeLabs but I think they are only in 2 provinces so far. Call around and see if you can find another lab that performs that test.

(Cathy) #8

I would think that it should be included in annual bloodwork but it is not and it seems that my doctor thinks like many in that it ‘won’t tell me much’. I had to plead my case and he is pretty respectful and trusted that I had a good reason to request the test.

(Patrick Belair) #9

Thanks Cathy.
It’s probably not included in Quebec.
When I asked my doc to add it to the list of tests he told me that whatever the result he wouldn’t know what to do about it.

(Cathy) #10

My doc was puzzled as to why I wanted a fasting insulin and did not know anything about what it might tell me. I gave him a brief explanation of Dr. Joseph Krafts’ work and I think he gave in to stop me talking… :wink:

#11

Hi Barbara. I had the same question on my mind. Have you had your fasting insulin rechecked? If so any downward trend that correlates with your success on Keto and or HbA1c?

Thanks:grinning: