Insulin - Post Prandial

Insulin hormone is produced and stored in the beta cells of the pancreas. It helps the body cells to uptake glucose (blood sugar) from the blood for the production of energy. Without insulin, glucose cannot reach most of the body cells and remains in the blood instead. In insulin’s absence, your blood glucose rises to dangerously high levels and may eventually lead to a life-threatening condition called diabetic coma. Therefore, it is necessary for survival to maintain your insulin levels.

An Insulin - Post Prandial test is usually advised following a low blood glucose test result and/or when someone has symptoms of low blood glucose (hypoglycemia), such as profuse sweating, nervousness or anxiety, irritability, confusion, dizziness, hunger, fast heartbeat, etc. This test can also be used to detect the presence of an insulin-producing tumor in the islet cells of the pancreas (insulinoma).

It is advised to eat a standard meal that is not high in sugar or carbohydrates two hours before taking an Insulin-PP test. It is also important to inform your doctor about any medications that you take, as some of them may affect your insulin levels and need to be adjusted 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 the doctor 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.