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ForumsMetabolic Health & DiabetesFasting insulin levels — need advice

Fasting insulin levels — need advice

JenMemphis Tue, Nov 11, 2025 at 4:15 PM 21 replies 1,428 viewsPage 1 of 5
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JenMemphis
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Memphis, TN
Nov 11, 2025 at 4:15 PM#1

Putting this up for argument rather than for agreement. I have read it twice and I am still not certain what it supports.

HbA1c reflects roughly three months of average glycaemia weighted toward the most recent weeks, which is why repeating it at six weeks tells you very little. The improvement on this class comes from two directions — direct glucose-dependent insulin secretion and glucagon suppression, plus the indirect effect of weight loss on insulin sensitivity — and the second continues after the first has plateaued.

Where I think it is weakest: the subgroup findings are the part I trust least — with enough subgroups something is always significant, and these were not all pre-registered.

The bit I cannot resolve on my own is why A1C lags the way it does, and what to look at in the meantime if you want to know sooner. Practical detail welcome, however dull — the duller the better.

Note on sourcing:
Figures above are from the primary publication rather than the press summary. If a number here disagrees with one you have, post yours and we will work out which of us is reading a secondary source.
8 3MikeKY_noInsulin, Dr.RaviCardio, jennifer_SEA and 5 others
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julia.endo
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Nov 11, 2025 at 4:21 PM#2
JenMemphis said:
HbA1c reflects roughly three months of average glycaemia weighted toward the most recent weeks, which is why repeating it at six weeks tells you very…

Insulin sensitivity test (HOMA-IR) on glycaemic control — arguably the most important metabolic marker most people aren't tracking:

HOMA-IR = (fasting insulin × fasting glucose) ÷ 405

My numbers: Baseline HOMA-IR = 4.3 (insulin resistant) → Current = 1.3 (insulin sensitive)

Anything above 2.0 indicates insulin resistance. The goal is below 1.5. GLP-1 agonists address the root metabolic dysfunction, not just the symptoms. This is why they work so much better than calorie restriction alone.

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Dr.SurgeonPGH
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Nov 11, 2025 at 4:27 PM#3
JenMemphis said:
HbA1c reflects roughly three months of average glycaemia weighted toward the most recent weeks, which is why repeating it at six weeks tells you very…

Complete metabolic panel trending on glycaemic control — sharing because comprehensive data helps everyone:

TestBaselineMonth 3Month 6Month 12
Glucose (fasting)1271059183
Insulin (fasting)2313116
HOMA-IR5.53.81.91.1
Uric Acid8.56.75.84.8

The insulin resistance improvement (HOMA-IR) is what my endo focuses on most. Going from 5.5 to near 1.0 is a metabolic transformation.

Last edited: Nov 11, 2025 at 7:27 PM
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Dr.EndoEP
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Nov 11, 2025 at 4:33 PM#4
Dr.SurgeonPGH said:
Complete metabolic panel trending on glycaemic control — sharing because comprehensive data helps everyone: Test Baseline Month 3 Month 6 Month 12…

Fasting insulin is the lab my functional medicine doctor cares about most for glycaemic control: it's a much earlier marker of metabolic dysfunction than glucose or A1C.

My fasting insulin: 31 → 13 → 7 uIU/mL over 9 months. Target is <7. By the time your fasting glucose is elevated, your insulin has been elevated for YEARS trying to compensate.

Ask your doctor to include fasting insulin in your bloodwork panel. It's cheap (~$20) and incredibly informative.

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MeganSA_TX
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Nov 11, 2025 at 5:06 PM#5
julia.endo said:
Insulin sensitivity test (HOMA-IR) on glycaemic control — arguably the most important metabolic marker most people aren't tracking: HOMA-IR = (fasting…

Same experience, arrived at from the opposite direction. Nothing to add that would improve it.

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