|  | Conditions Treatments | Diabetes

Normal Insulin Resistance Test

Insulin resistance describes a condition in which the body produces insulin, but does not use it correctly. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases states that scientists have discovered that insulin resistance is genetic, but adds that a lack of physical activity and excess weight can also cause the condition. There are two tests that are usually used to identify insulin resistance.

  1. Symptoms

    • Insulin resistance causes the fat, muscle and liver cells to cease to use insulin properly. Insulin usually causes these cells to take in glucose and use it as an energy source. When suffering from insulin resistance, the cells require more insulin than usual to undergo this process. Eventually the pancreas, which produces insulin, cannot keep up with the demand and stops producing insulin, increasing glucose levels in the bloodstream. Insulin resistance itself usually has no symptoms, but it can lead to other conditions that do exhibit symptoms, such as diabetes. Extreme insulin resistance may cause dark patches on the skin, especially on the back of the neck.

    Fasting Glucose Test

    • In this test you are asked to fast for eight hours before a blood sample is taken. If the glucose levels are above 100 after this time, there is a chance that you are suffering from insulin resistance.

    Glucose Tolerance Test

    • In this test, you are asked not to eat for eight hours. Two hours after drinking a sweet liquid, a blood test is taken. A blood sugar level of 140 or greater may indicate that you are suffering from insulin resistance.

    Euglycemic Clamp

    • A euglycemic clamp, also known as a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, involves an IV infusion of insulin into one arm. The clamp, a variable glucose IV infusion, is attached to the other arm. A number of blood tests are then taken at various times to see how well the insulin is helping the muscle, fat and kidney cells use the glucose. The more glucose left in the blood, the more insulin resistant the patient.

    Considerations

    • An euglycemic clamp is the only test designed to specifically test for insulin resistance. However, as insulin resistance rarely has any symptoms and the test is so expensive to perform, your doctor will usually use fasting glucose testing and glucose tolerance testing to identify insulin resistance. If you experience symptoms of low insulin levels, such as weight loss accompanied by increased thirst, nausea and vomiting, please contact your doctor immediately.

Diabetes - Related Articles