Educational information from Her Form — reviewed for accuracy by our health specialists.
Not a substitute for personal medical advice. Optional 1:1 consults with Robyn, our consulting women's-health specialist, are available on request.
What it is
Fasting insulin shows how hard the pancreas is working to keep blood sugar normal. It rises long before HbA1c or fasting glucose change.
Why it matters for women
High fasting insulin is the earliest marker of insulin resistance — the metabolic driver behind PCOS, perimenopausal weight gain and stubborn hormonal symptoms.
Optimal range
<7 μIU/mL.
Standard lab range
Lab range goes up to 25 — already deep into insulin resistance.
When it's high
- ↑Insulin resistance
- ↑PCOS
- ↑Belly weight gain
- ↑Sugar cravings, energy crashes
When it's low
- ↓Lean, fit metabolism (good)
- ↓Type 1 diabetes (rare)
References
- RACGP — Type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance guidelines— HbA1c targets, insulin resistance screening and management
- NICE — Type 2 diabetes (NG28)— Blood-glucose monitoring and HbA1c interpretation
- Endocrine Society — Insulin resistance and metabolic health— Metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance in women
- Jean Hailes — PCOS and metabolic health— Blood-sugar management in PCOS and perimenopause
References are provided for educational context only. Always interpret results with a qualified healthcare professional.
A note on interpretation. Ranges above are what our health specialists works to in healthy women. They are not a diagnosis — a single result always needs context from your symptoms, cycle phase and other markers.