An Insulin test evaluates the concentration of insulin in your blood. The pancreas produces insulin, a hormone that enables glucose to enter cells in muscles, fat, and the liver for energy. Insufficient or excessive insulin production can lead to hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) or hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar). Hence, an Insulin test is vital for determining if your insulin levels are within the normal range.

The Insulin fasting test assists doctors in diagnosing hypoglycaemia, measuring insulin resistance, and deciding on the need for insulin therapy in type 2 diabetes. The test can also help track the effectiveness of pancreatic islet cell transplants in type 1 diabetes, where the immune system attacks insulin-producing cells.

If you reside in Hyderabad and have symptoms indicating an insulin-related condition, an insulin blood test can help determine your pancreas's insulin output. Schedule an Insulin Fasting test in Hyderabad today to check your insulin levels.

To ensure accurate results when scheduling a Fasting Insulin test at home in Hyderabad, consider the following:

• Prerequisites: You must fast (avoid food and drink) for 10 to 12 hours before the Insulin test.

• Best Time to Get Tested: The Fasting Insulin test can be conducted at any time of the day, as long as you have completed a 10- to 12-hour fasting period.

• Who Should Take an Insulin Fasting Test: Anyone can schedule this test, but it is especially recommended for:

• • Individuals experiencing low blood glucose levels or hypoglycemia symptoms such as dizziness, shaking, confusion, and sweating.

  • Those at risk for or diagnosed with conditions associated with insulin resistance such as heart disease, prediabetes, diabetes, and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

  • People who have had pancreatic surgery, like islet cell transplantation or insulinoma removal, monitor insulin levels and assess the effectiveness of treatment.

• Cautions Before Taking an Insulin Fasting Test: Typically, there are no specific precautions for this test. However, if you are taking biotin supplements (vitamin B7) or medications containing biotin, your doctor may advise you to stop them at least one day before your test. Always consult your doctor before discontinuing any medications.

If a recent blood glucose test showed low blood sugar levels, your doctor might recommend an Insulin Blood test to find the underlying cause. Symptoms of low blood sugar include:

• Sweating

• Weakness

• Dizziness

• Anxiety

• Trembling

• Hunger

• Nausea

• Irritability

• Confusion

• Headache

• Irregular heartbeat

Your doctor may also order this test to diagnose and monitor insulin resistance, especially if you have prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, PCOS, or heart disease.

The Insulin Blood test can help determine if insulin therapy is needed for type 2 diabetes.

Additional reasons for this test include:

• Assessing the effectiveness of islet cell transplantation, where insulin-producing tissue is transplanted into the pancreas.

• Ensuring no residual tumour tissue remains after the removal of an insulinoma, a benign pancreatic tumour that causes excessive insulin production, and monitoring for recurrence.

Use this table to interpret the results of the Fasting Insulin tests and understand the conditions associated with it:

Consult your doctor to understand your test results accurately.