Insulin resistance

Question
Is there any test that can be done to indicate whether I suffer from insulin resistance or not. I've been on a low fat, low carb diet for about 4 monthes and I've already lost 20 Kgs but suddenly I stopped losing weight and actually started gaining a little bit although I'm still on the diet and exercising as well. I just want to know what's keeping my body from losing more weight. (I'm 1.88 m tall and my weight now is 80 kgs).
Thanks in advance.

Answer
Hello Ismael!

Insulin may be used, often along with glucose and C-peptide levels, to help diagnose insulinomas and to help diagnose documented acute or chronic (fasting) hypoglycemia. Insulin and C-peptide levels also may be used to monitor endogenous (produced by the body) insulin, check for insulin resistance, and to help determine when a type 2 diabetic might need to start taking insulin injections to supplement oral medications.

Insulin levels are sometimes used in conjunction with the glucose tolerance test (GTT). Blood glucose and, sometimes, insulin levels are measured to evaluate insulin resistance, particularly in obese individuals.



When is it ordered?
Insulin levels are most frequently ordered following an abnormal glucose test and/or when a patient has acute or chronic symptoms of hypoglycemia, such as sweating, palpitations, hunger, confusion, visual problems, and seizures (although these can be caused by other conditions).  
Insulin and C-peptide are produced by the body at the same rate as part of the activation and division of proinsulin in the pancreas. Both may be ordered to evaluate how much insulin in the blood is due to endogenous production (what your body is making) and how much is from exogenous (produced outside the body) sources. Insulin tests will reflect the total, while C-peptide will reflect only the endogenous insulin.

Your doctor also may order both tests to verify that an insulinoma has been successfully removed. If you are one of the few people who have received an islet cell transplant to restore your insulin-producing capability, your insulin level may be monitored to determine whether or not this procedure is successful over time.



What does the test result mean?
NOTE: A standard reference range is not available for this test. Because reference values are dependent on many factors, including patient age, gender, sample population, and test method, numeric test results have different meanings in different labs. Your lab report should include the specific reference range for your test. Lab Tests Online strongly recommends that you discuss your test results with your doctor. For more information on reference ranges, please read Reference Ranges and What They Mean.


Insulin levels must be evaluated in context. If fasting insulin and glucose levels are normal, most likely the body's glucose regulation system is functioning normally. If insulin is elevated and glucose is normal and/or moderately elevated, then there may be some insulin resistance at the cellular level. If the insulin is low and the glucose is high, then most likely there is insufficient insulin being produced. If insulin levels are normal or elevated and glucose levels are low, then the patient is hypoglycemic due to excess insulin.
Elevated insulin levels are seen with:

1. Acromegaly
2. Cushing's syndrome
3. Drugs such as corticosteroids, levodopa, oral contraceptives
4. Fructose or galactose intolerance
5. Insulinomas
6. Obesity
7. Insulin resistance, such as appears in early type 2 diabetes

Decreased insulin levels are seen with:

1. Diabetes
2. Hypopituitarism


Is there anything else I should know?
Insulin for injection used to come strictly from animal sources (cow and pig pancreas cells). Now, most insulin is made by biochemical synthesis to identically match the insulin produced from human cells.
There are different pharmaceutical preparations of insulin with different properties.  Some are quick-acting with a short duration and others are time-release preparations that take longer and last longer. Diabetics may take mixtures and/or different types of insulin throughout the day.

Insulin assays are not identical in the way that they measure insulin.  There are differences in how well they can detect the different kinds of insulin.  If your insulin result is not what your doctor was expecting, he or she may want to talk to the laboratory that performed your test about the types of insulin you are taking.  If you are going to have several insulin assays done, they should be performed by the same laboratory to ensure consistency.

If you have developed anti-insulin antibodies, they will interfere with your test and need to be removed before an accurate insulin level can be measured.  If you have these antibodies against insulin, your doctor may want to measure them whenever you have an insulin test done and whenever they contemplate changing your insulin formulation.

For more answers to your nutrition questions check out "Ask the Nutritionists" by George Rapitis at www.authorhouse.com or your favorite bookstore.

-George Rapitis, Bsc. Nutritionist
www.juiceblend.com

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