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Insulin, Fasting

Insulin, Fasting

Also referred as
Fasting insulin
Insulin serum
Insulin F
For men & women
Know more about this test

An Insulin, Fasting test measures the insulin level in the blood after an overnight fast (8-12 hours). Insulin is a hormone the pancreas produces that regulates blood sugar (glucose) levels. Fasting insulin levels provide insights into insulin sensitivity (how well the body responds to insulin) and help assess glucose metabolism and the risk of developing insulin resistance-related conditions.

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Blood
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Why is this test booked?
Preparations
Overnight fasting required for 8 to 12 hours
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Understanding Insulin, Fasting

Insulin helps the body cells to uptake glucose (blood sugar) from the blood to produce energy. Insulin resistance occurs when cells do not respond effectively to insulin, leading to elevated blood sugar levels. An Insulin, Fasting test provides information about insulin resistance and abnormal glucose metabolism, which is commonly associated with conditions like diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome (a collection of conditions including abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and abnormal lipid levels), and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

An Insulin, Fasting test is usually done with other glucose-related tests, such as fasting blood glucose or oral glucose tolerance tests. Your doctor may advise this test following a low blood glucose test result and/or if you have low blood glucose (hypoglycemia) symptoms, such as profuse sweating, nervousness or anxiety, irritability, confusion, dizziness, hunger, fast heartbeat, etc. This test may also help detect the presence of an insulin-producing tumor in the islet cells of the pancreas (insulinoma).

An Insulin, Fasting test is generally safe and well-tolerated. However, as with any blood test, minimal discomfort or bruising may occur at the site where the blood sample is drawn. Overnight fasting (8-12 hours) is recommended before undergoing an Insulin, Fasting test. Do not eat or drink anything other than water during the fasting period. It is also essential to inform your doctor about any medicines you take, as some may affect your blood glucose levels and need to be adjusted or temporarily discontinued before the test.

Test result ranges are approximate and may differ slightly between labs depending on the methodology and laboratory guidelines. Talk to your doctor about your specific test results. The results will help them determine your medical condition, make recommendations for lifestyle modifications such as diet and exercise, decide whether or not medication will be required to manage your condition and formulate your overall treatment plan.

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What does Insulin, Fasting measure?

An Insulin, Fasting test evaluates the body's ability to regulate blood sugar levels by measuring the amount of insulin in the blood after an overnight fast. Glucose is a source of energy for the body to perform daily activities. Your body gets glucose from carbohydrates that are consumed in the diet. These carbohydrates are digested and converted into simple sugar (glucose). The cells then absorb the required amount of glucose to produce energy, and the remaining amount is stored in other forms, like fats. Insulin hormone helps the cells to uptake glucose from the blood for utilization and storage. Thus, it is necessary to maintain insulin levels in your body.

FAQs related to Insulin, Fasting

An Insulin, Fasting test measures the total amount of insulin in the blood after a period of overnight fasting (8-12 hours).
An Insulin, Fasting test helps identify conditions like hypoglycemia (low blood glucose), hyperglycemia (high blood glucose), and insulinoma (the presence of an insulin-producing tumor in the islet cells of the pancreas).
The insulin levels in your body spike when you eat or drink anything, which can cause false test results. Therefore, overnight fasting is required for an Insulin, Fasting test. The fasting state is also required for accurate insulin sensitivity evaluation, the detection of insulin resistance, and the diagnosis and monitoring of different metabolic disorders, including diabetes.
High insulin levels in the blood may occur due to sedentary (inactive) lifestyle, obesity, aging, a high carbohydrate diet, family history of diabetes, pregnancy, sleep-related problems, conditions like nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), hormonal problems like acromegaly or Cushing’s syndrome, habits like smoking, and due to the use of medicines like steroids, antipsychotics, and HIV medications.
Low levels of insulin may occur in the blood due to type 1 diabetes, hypopituitarism (low secretion of pituitary hormones), and pancreatic diseases like pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer.
Hypoglycemia, or very low levels of glucose in the blood, can cause symptoms like sweating, nausea, weakness, palpitations, dizziness, hunger, trembling, confusion, irritability, anxiety, blurred vision, irregular heartbeat, seizures, etc.
Hyperinsulinemia or a high insulin level means the amount of insulin in the blood is higher than usual. On its own, hyperinsulinemia is not exactly diabetes; however, it is often associated with type 2 diabetes.
Other tests that may be prescribed when the results of an Insulin, Fasting test are abnormal include a blood glucose, proinsulin, C-peptide, cortisol, and plasma β-hydroxybutyrate (BHOB) test.
Content created by
Written by:
Dr. Lipika Khurana
PGDHHM, BDS
Reviewed by:
Dr. Swati Gupta (Anand)
MBBS, MD Lab Medicine
Want to know moreRead our editorial policy
Last Updated18th Nov 2025

Insulin, Fasting test price for other cities

Price inAgraRs. 682
Price inAhmedabadRs. 682
Price inAllahabadRs. 330
Price inAmritsarRs. 682
Price inBangaloreRs. 550

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Insulin, Fasting