The Blood Test That Catches Diabetes 20 Years Early
In a Nutshell
The video argues that fasting insulin testing using optimal ranges (<5 μU/mL) can detect insulin resistance and diabetes risk 10–20 years before blood glucose or A1C rises, because the pancreas compensates with excess insulin until beta cells are exhausted. Current lab reference ranges are inflated by including sick individuals, so values up to 24 μU/mL are falsely labeled “normal.” Early detection requires cutting refined carbs and snacking to keep insulin low, preventing obesity, cancer, and other chronic diseases tied to hyperinsulinemia.
These notes were generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies.
The body contains approximately 5 L of blood. Normal blood glucose is 1 tsp of sugar in 5 L of blood. Diabetes is defined as 2 tsp of sugar in 5 L of blood. Despite the average person consuming 60 to 65 tsp of sugar per day, many people maintain normal blood glucose levels for decades because insulin removes sugar from the blood. Insulin's primary job is to remove sugar from the blood. The pancreas produces insulin and sends it into cells, instructing them to absorb more glucose.
Continued consumption of refined carbohydrates leads to insulin resistance. Too much insulin is toxic, just as too much glucose is toxic. This toxicity causes problems in arteries, high blood pressure, and issues with eyes, nerves, and heart.
Reference ranges for normal fasting insulin vary significantly by country:
- US: 2.6 to 24.9 micro units per milliliter
- UK: 2.0 to 25 micro units per milliliter
- Brazil: 2.5 to 13.4 micro units per milliliter
- France: 5.1 to 5.6 micro units per milliliter
These ranges are determined by taking 95% of the average population, excluding the highest and lowest 5%. However, 40% of this 95% population has insulin resistance and metabolic issues, which inflates the reference range to include sick individuals.
When doctors state that an insulin level of 24 is within normal range, they are indicating the patient falls within the average range that includes many sick people. This is analogous to stating normal body temperature is 98.6 to 104 degrees, and a reading of 103 is normal because it includes people with infections. Laboratory results also show 66% variation between different labs.
Lifestyle and longevity doctors recommend a better range that excludes the sick population with insulin resistance. The target fasting insulin level should be less than 5 micro units per milliliter.
- Between 5 and 8 micro units per milliliter: early insulin resistance has begun
- Between 8 and 15 micro units per milliliter: insulin resistance is present
- Between 15 and 25 micro units per milliliter: significant insulin resistance exists with excessive insulin production
Type 1 diabetics who inject insulin aim to use the minimum amount possible because higher insulin levels increase side effects. Side effects of too much insulin include:
- Obesity
- Increased cancer risk
- Shorter lifespan
- Decreased benefit from autophagy during fasting
Insulin spikes occur not only from carbohydrates but from eating any food, including healthy foods. This makes snacking problematic. Most chronic diseases involve insulin resistance, which initially presents with excessive insulin production.
When the pancreas produces excessive insulin over time, the beta cells that produce insulin become exhausted. They eventually stop producing insulin, causing blood glucose to remain elevated due to insufficient insulin to remove sugar from the bloodstream.
A1C measures how much sugar has bound to hemoglobin in red blood cells, making protein unavailable. While A1C correlates with type 2 diabetes, it is not a good initial predictor because it depends on glucose levels in the bloodstream. Insulin can compensate for elevated glucose for 10, 15, or 20 years before the pancreas becomes exhausted.
The only way to detect diabetes and other problems early is through fasting insulin testing using optimal ranges rather than wide population averages. The goal is to maintain fasting insulin below 5 micro units per milliliter. This is achieved by reducing sugar consumption and decreasing snacking frequency.
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