Confusing

Insulin tests are a blood test that measure the level of insulin hormone in your blood.

In Type 1's, who don't produce any, the number would be low. In Type 2's, it may show low enough that meds can be prescribed to make you produce more insulin. It may show high enough to indicate that your body may be producing lots but your cells aren't absorbing it properly (Insulin Resistance). Again there are meds prescribed for this.

Not sure when the test came out. Looking at my lab report the test description just says "insulin" with a parameter of 40-190 pmol/L and mine was 14. The low number indicated that I wasn't producing very much.

I had the test (along with the usual HBA1C, cholesterol, thyroid) done 4 years ago when they wanted to measure how much insulin was floating around in my bloodstream at fasting. They were suspecting that after treating me as a Type2 for 2 years and I wasn't responding, that I might be a Type1. Considering my blood sugar was almost always high and that I was on maximum-dose-triple-therapy and had been for a while, it was clear that no amount of medication was helping me produce enough insulin. I needed injections. Stupid me didn't understand all of it at the time and thought I could still improve my situation with diet & exercise and didn't go on insulin at the time. Within 4 months I was down to 92 pounds, very sick, and quickly put on insulin. I was definitely Type1.

Your numbers sound great to me! Congrats on all your achievements so far. You seem to be doing well with your diet, too, just look at your weight loss. Pat yourself on the back for your successes and try not to worry too much about your numbers - creates stress & anxiety and we (our bodies) don't like that

I'm not as knowledgeable as others about IR so, hopefully they can explain better. Keep on doing what you're doing 'cause it does seem to be working for you.

As with most (Diabetes) testing and test results, they all have to be read in context of the patient's situation and not one of them is a diagnosis alone (it's a combination of factors that leads to diagnosis/recommendations). A high or a low insulin level is not a diagnosis and certainly not which Type you might be. Someone could have a low number that meds like metformin, Avandia, Actos, etc. could be prescribed to increase insulin production.

I had the insulin test done only after almost 2 years of medication that wasn't working for me. Other contingent factors - i.e. continuing to lose weight & high BGL, etc - were what led my docs to think I might actually be a slow-onset Type1. A combination of the regimen (diet, meds, etc.) I was on, plus what was happening to me, plus the results of this tests... helped to confirm that I was indeed a Type1. My BGLs were usually above 260 and regularly around 300.

Discuss all your concerns with your doctor - that's what they're there for He's the "knowledge base" for you to tap into and hopefully, you have a doc that'll work with you and explain things so that you understand. I never walk away from my appointments "confused".

Try not to worry so much about your 130s - 160s BGLs. You're seeming to keep things under 180 which, in my book anyway, says you're right on track.

Cheers,
Kris