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Insulin, Fasting

Insulin, Fasting

Also referred as
Fasting insulin
Insulin serum
Insulin F
10,845+ booked recently
For men & women
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18 hours
Contains
1 test
Know more about this test

The Insulin, Fasting test checks the levels of insulin hormone in the blood after fasting for 8-12 hours. This hormone is made by the pancreas, which controls blood sugar levels. This test helps check how well your body is using insulin. It also helps determine your risk for insulin resistance (where the body does not respond properly to insulin).

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Blood
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Overnight fasting required for 8 to 12 hours
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Understanding Insulin, Fasting

Insulin helps the body's cells use blood sugar for energy. When cells do not respond well to insulin (called insulin resistance), the levels of blood sugar rise. The Insulin, Fasting test checks for abnormal blood sugar metabolism and insulin resistance. These problems are often seen in individuals with diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome (includes belly fat, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and cholesterol levels), and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

The Insulin, Fasting test is usually done with other glucose-related tests, such as fasting blood glucose or oral glucose tolerance tests. The 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 can also help detect insulinomas, which are insulin-producing pancreatic tumors. 

The Insulin, Fasting test is generally safe and well-tolerated. However, you may experience minimal discomfort or bruising at the blood draw site. You must fast for 8-12 hours (only drinking water is permitted). You should inform your doctor about all your medications, as some may impact the test results.

Test results may vary across laboratories due to differences in methodologies and laboratory guidelines. Do not self-medicate and always consult a doctor to understand your test results correctly. Your doctor will use these results to determine if you need medications, lifestyle changes, or other treatments to manage your condition. 

Lifestyle Tips to Support Healthy Insulin Levels:

Healthy Weight Icon - Free Download ...Healthy weight: Maintaining a healthy weight supports insulin sensitivity and decreases insulin resistance. 

🥗Eat (Diet): Eat a high-fiber, low-sugar diet with leafy greens, legumes, whole grains, healthy fats, and lean proteins to improve insulin resistance and diabetes.

🏃 Activity (Exercise): Engage in regular physical activity such as walking, strength training, or yoga to help the body absorb glucose more efficiently, lowering insulin resistance.

🛌 Lifestyle (Sleep): Prioritize quality sleep. Poor sleep can increase insulin resistance and disrupt metabolic health.

👩‍⚕️ Talk to Your Doctor (Consult): Do not self-medicate. Always consult your healthcare provider before taking any new medications or supplements or making major lifestyle changes.

🚭Habits (Alcohol & Smoking): These habits can worsen insulin resistance and disrupt blood sugar control.

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What does Insulin, Fasting measure?

The 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 that helps the body 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. The 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

Other tests that may be prescribed when the results of the Insulin, Fasting test are abnormal include a blood glucose, proinsulin, C-peptide, cortisol, and plasma β-hydroxybutyrate (BHOB) test.
The Insulin, Fasting test measures the total amount of insulin in the blood after a period of overnight fasting (8-12 hours).
The 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).
Your fasting insulin level shows how much insulin your body makes without the influence of food. High levels may suggest insulin resistance. Low levels may indicate reduced insulin secretion.
High insulin levels in the blood can happen for many reasons. These include not being active, being overweight, getting older, eating too many carbs, or having a family history of diabetes. It can also be caused by pregnancy, poor sleep, health conditions like fatty liver or PCOS, hormone problems like Cushing’s syndrome or acromegaly, smoking, and certain medications like steroids, antipsychotics, or HIV drugs.
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.
The Insulin, Fasting test measures insulin levels, while the fasting blood sugar (FBS) test measures blood sugar. Together, they help detect prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, and insulin resistance.
Insulin secretion can be influenced by: a) Diet (especially high sugar intake), b) Obesity, c) Physical activity, d) Genetics, e) Hormonal changes.
The fasting insulin test price can vary depending on various factors. These may include your location, diagnostic laboratory, and whether the test is done as a single test or as part of a health screening package.
Content created by
Written by:
Dr. Lipika Khurana
PGDHHM, BDS
Reviewed by:
Dr. Anupriya Nautiyal
MD Pathology, MBBS
Want to know moreRead our editorial policy
Last Updated8th Oct 2025

Insulin, Fasting test price for other cities

Price inBangaloreRs. 789
Price inMumbaiRs. 945
Price inNew DelhiRs. 719
Price inPuneRs. 769
Price inHyderabadRs. 760

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Contains 1 test
Insulin, Fasting