Insulin Resistance Test Description
Insulin resistance (IR) is a condition characterised by resistance to the effects of insulin at a cellular level. Muscle, liver and adipose tissue require increasingly greater amounts of insulin to transfer sugars from the bloodstream. When the body's cells ignore the extra insulin made by the pancreas, this results in high glucose AND high insulin levels in the bloodstream. Untreated insulin resistance may lead to Type 2 Diabetes and require medical intervention and ongoing treatment.
How To Test For Insulin Resistance
Insulin Resistance is calculated from both the fasting insulin and fasting glucose results to create the HOMA-IR score (homoeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance). The HOMA-IR score can be used to identify subtle insulin resistance, even before it is evident in more traditional screening measures like Haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and fasting blood glucose.
The symptoms for insulin resistance include characteristics such as:
- weight gain,
- fatigue,
- cravings,
- irritability,
- depression,
- poor concentration and memory.
In addition, Insulin Resistance is a key component of the Metabolic Syndrome along with abdominal obesity, elevated LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels, low HDL cholesterol and high blood pressure.
A strong family history of diabetes is a major risk factor for high levels of insulin resistance, along with high GI carbohydrates intake including excessive alcohol consumption; lack of regular exercise; stress and nutritional deficiencies such as chromium, vanadium and magnesium.
How Can We Diagnose and Treat Insulin Resistance?
Our practitioners have seen hundreds of patients presenting with symptoms of Insulin Resistance. Very often they have had the standard Fasting Glucose or HbA1c test which has come back within the normal range. This is not enough information for us to truly understand if blood sugar regulation is functioning optimally. There are additional tests that are available to us, the most common one we request includes Fasting Glucose and Fasting Insulin which is used to calculate the HOMA-IR score. These tests give us a much better idea as to how well blood sugar regulation is functioning at a cellular level.
Insulin Resistance Test Pricing
Book an online consultation or a face to face appointment at our Brisbane or Graceville clinics with one of our nutritionists or naturopaths and let us help you understand if insulin resistance is an underlying cause of your health issues. We offer a range of tests including the Insulin Resistance Index.
Make a booking for the Insulin Resistance Test package (including a test interpretation session).
What We Can Help With
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