Insulin Resistance Panel

The 8 tests in this panel

What each one measures and the range labs usually print for adults. Ranges differ a little between labs, so the range on your own report is the one your result is judged against.

• Glucose

  Glucose is the sugar in your blood and your body's main fuel. This test shows how much is there at the moment the sample is drawn.

  Adults

  70–99 mg/dL

• Insulin

  Insulin is the hormone that moves sugar from your blood into your cells. This test shows how much is in your blood, usually after fasting.

  Adults

  2.6–24.9 µIU/mL

• HOMA-IR

  A calculated score that estimates how well your body responds to insulin, using a fasting glucose and a fasting insulin from the same blood draw.

• Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)

  A1c shows your average blood sugar over about the past 2 to 3 months, based on how much glucose is stuck to your hemoglobin.

  Adults

  4.8–5.6 %

• C-Peptide

  C-peptide is released along with insulin, so it shows how much insulin your own pancreas is making, even if you take insulin.

  Adults

  0.8–3.9 ng/mL

• Triglycerides

  A type of fat in your blood that carries energy from food. It rises after meals, and high levels are linked to heart disease and, when very high, pancreatitis.

  20+

  up to 149 mg/dL

• HDL Cholesterol

  HDL cholesterol is the cholesterol carried in HDL particles. Low levels are linked to more heart risk, but very high levels aren't clearly protective.

  19+

  40 and above mg/dL

• Triglyceride / HDL Ratio

  Your triglycerides divided by your HDL cholesterol. Researchers use it as a simple hint of insulin resistance, but there is no standard cutoff.

Labs can include one more test in this panel that we haven’t written up yet.