home Endocrinology Normal blood insulin levels after meals and on an empty stomach. Insulin deciphering the norm in the blood

Normal blood insulin levels after meals and on an empty stomach. Insulin deciphering the norm in the blood

Insulin is one of the most important hormones in the human body. It plays a dominant role in regulating metabolism. Insulin promotes normal glucose absorption, participates in the process of glycogenolysis (glycogen breakdown), and also enhances the synthesis of proteins and fats.

Insulin deficiency leads to the development of severe chronic disease – diabetes 1 type. This disease has a destructive effect on the entire body of the patient and in the most severe cases can lead to loss of vision, amputation of limbs, heart attack, stroke, renal failure, sexual impotence, infertility and other serious complications.

Elevated levels of insulin in the blood usually indicate the development of type 2 diabetes. This disease is no less dangerous for humans than insulin-dependent diabetes and can also cause serious consequences and even the death of the patient.

This is why it is so important to know what the level of insulin in the blood is in men, women and children, and what can lead to an increase or decrease in this indicator. In addition, you should remember how a blood test for insulin is performed and how to prepare for this type of diagnosis.

Properties of insulin

Everyone knows that insulin is a very important hormone, but not everyone can say with certainty what it is responsible for. It should be emphasized that insulin has no analogues in the human body, therefore any disturbances in its secretion lead to severe disturbances in the functioning of the body.

The hormone insulin is secreted by β-cells of the pancreas, which are located in the so-called islets of Langerhans. β-cells occupy more than 70% of the organ, and the rest is made up of α- and δ-cells that produce the hormones glucagon and somatostatin.

From this it is already clear what higher value insulin has for normal functioning body. This hormone is indispensable for the absorption of carbohydrates, which are the main source of energy for humans. Only insulin is able to increase the permeability of cell membranes and ensure the penetration of glucose into cells.

This helps maintain a person’s energy balance and saturate him. vitality. Therefore, people with impaired insulin production always suffer from severe weakness and apathy. However, this is far from the only property of insulin; this hormone also has a whole list of other equally important qualities.

The role of insulin in the human body:

Insulin increases the permeability of cell membranes, allowing glucose to enter the cell;
Promotes the breakdown of glucose into pyruvic acid– the main source of energy for humans;
Binds glucose molecules together and turns them into glycogen, which is then stored in the liver and muscles as reserve fuel for the body;
Minimizes the action of enzymes that break down fats and thus prevents the use fatty acids as sources of energy;
Improves protein absorption by helping cells absorb amino acids;
Actively participates in the saturation of tissues with mineral ions, especially potassium, magnesium and phosphorus;
Prevents fatty acids from entering the bloodstream;
Takes part in DNA replication, thereby improving tissue regeneration;
Enhances protein synthesis, stopping the process of their breakdown;
Promotes the synthesis of fatty acids in the liver.

Normal blood insulin levels at all ages

The pancreas secretes insulin throughout 24 hours a day, but especially a large number of The hormone is released during food intake. This is explained by the fact that after eating a person’s blood sugar level increases significantly, and insulin helps lower the glucose concentration and keep it within normal limits.

If a patient's body contains too much insulin, this indicates that his cells have lost sensitivity to this hormone. Such high insulin in the blood are observed in patients with type 2 diabetes, as well as in people suffering from severe obesity and consuming harmful foods.

The fact is that a large layer of fat does not allow insulin to interact with body tissues, thereby provoking an increase in blood glucose levels. In this case, the insulin concentration can be reduced only by dropping overweight and following a strict low-carb diet.

Lack of insulin usually affects people with pancreatic dysfunction. There are several reasons for a decrease in insulin in the blood, the main one of which is the death of pancreatic β-cells. This dangerous violation inevitably leads to a serious diagnosis - type 1 diabetes.

Therefore, you should remember what insulin norm is typical for children, adults and the elderly, and what a high insulin content means in relation to normal units. We must not forget that insulin is a hormone responsible for the absorption of glucose, an increased concentration of which in the blood is detrimental to humans.

Blood insulin levels for different age categories:

Children – from 3 to 20 mked/l
Women – from 3 to 25 mked/l
Women during pregnancy – from 6 to 26 mcad/l
Men – from 3 to 25 mcad/l
Elderly people – from 6 to 30 mked/l, for old people up to 35 mked/l.

Many people only become aware of changes in insulin levels when they experience symptoms of diabetes.

But determining the amount of this hormone is not a very difficult task and only requires a few diagnostic tests.

Blood test for insulin levels

A blood test for the level of insulin in the blood in adults and children can be carried out in two ways - on an empty stomach and after a carbohydrate load. To make a diagnosis of diabetes, it is recommended to undergo both of these tests, which will allow you to get the most accurate results and eliminate possible errors.

Unlike a blood glucose test, which can be done at home using a glucometer, an insulin test is done only in a clinic. Devices that measure insulin have not yet been invented, although such a testing device would be very useful for people prone to diabetes.

Fasting insulin test.

As the name suggests, this test must only be taken on an empty stomach. In this case, at least 8 hours should pass between the last meal and blood sampling from the patient, and 12-14 hours is best. Therefore, it is recommended to undergo this study in the morning after a night’s sleep, which will allow the patient to easily tolerate the forced refusal of food.

Speaking about what to do in order to correctly undergo an insulin test, the value of which is extremely important in identifying diabetes, it is necessary to mention the importance of following a diet. So, 24 hours before diagnosis, you should exclude all fatty foods and sweet foods from your diet, and also refrain from drinking alcohol.

In addition, in order to correctly determine the level of insulin in the blood, you should avoid heavy physical activity and strong emotional experiences, including positive ones. In addition, you should stop smoking cigarettes for a while.

In the morning immediately before the study, it is forbidden to eat or drink any drinks other than clean water without gas. Blood for analysis of insulin levels is taken from a finger, but in in rare cases a sample is used to perform this test venous blood on an empty stomach.

Often, along with this type of diagnosis, endocrinologists recommend that the patient undergo an ultrasound examination of the pancreas. This will reveal serious inflammation and organ damage, leading to the death of β-cells.

Results may be lower than the above standard. This is completely normal, since when you fast for 8 hours, the insulin level decreases and ranges from 1.9 to 23 mKed/l. In children, insulin normally ranges from 2 to 20 mcd/l on an empty stomach. In pregnant women, this figure is significantly higher and equals 6-27 mcd/l.

Glucose load assay.

You should prepare for this test in the same way as for the previous research method. This means that you should not eat food for at least 8 hours before the glucose tolerance test. You should also adhere to other mandatory requirements mentioned above.

During the test, the patient is given a glucose solution to drink in a volume of 75 ml for adults and 50 ml for small children. Then they wait two hours and after the release of insulin, blood is drawn for testing. When measuring insulin levels, the patient must remain completely calm - do not worry and do not engage in physical activity, as this seriously affects the results of the analysis.

Ideally, the insulin concentration after a glucose load should be from 13 to 15 mKed/L for adults, from 16 to 17 mKed/L for pregnant women, and in children insulin 10 to 11 mKed/L.

But if the result of the analysis is lower or higher, but does not exceed the normal limits for healthy person, then such indicators should be considered harmless.

Symptoms of high and low insulin

The symptoms that appear in humans with high and low insulin are largely similar. As is known, type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus develop according to the same pattern, although they have different reasons occurrence. With these ailments, the patient feels extremely unwell, but their first signs may not be too noticeable.

It is important to remember that diabetes mellitus is a disease that must be detected quickly, without waiting for it to develop. dangerous complications. Of course, its main symptoms are lack and excess of insulin, as well as high sugar in the blood, since this hormone is responsible for the absorption of glucose.

But you can check the insulin level in the blood only in laboratory conditions. Therefore, you should be aware of other symptoms that indicate the development of diabetes. These include the following characteristic features:

Intense thirst;
Excessive urination;
Sudden weight loss;
Increased appetite;
Dryness and flaking of the skin;
Increased irritability;
Chronic fatigue;
Leg cramps;
Numbness and tingling in the limbs;
Slow wound healing;
Frequent colds;
Cystitis, urethritis and candidiasis in women;
Low potency in men;
Hair loss;
Inflammation of the gums, caries;
Skin itching, frequent dermatitis.

The presence of these symptoms in a person may indicate a serious disturbance in the functioning of the pancreas and impaired insulin secretion. This condition requires immediate medical attention.

How to raise and lower insulin

Knowing what the normal insulin level should be, many patients wonder: how to increase or decrease insulin in the blood? This can be done most effectively by using special medicines that help fight diabetes.

So, drugs to lower sugar also help reduce the secretion of the hormone insulin and lower its concentration in the body in type 2 diabetes. Insulin-lowering medications should be taken daily to reduce the load on the pancreas and prevent it from becoming depleted.

If these numbers are more or less, then you should be concerned and find out the reason.

Why measure insulin levels?

Measuring insulin levels can help identify certain diseases.

What does an elevated level of insulin in the blood indicate?

About type 2 diabetes mellitus,
About Cushing's syndrome,
About acromegaly (chronic excess of growth hormone),
About some liver diseases,
About insulinoma (tumor that produces insulin),
About dystrophic myotonia (neuromuscular disease),
Obesity,
About impaired cell resistance to insulin and carbohydrates.

Increased amounts of insulin may be found in the blood of a pregnant woman. In many cases, such an increase is due to the body's reaction to a new physiological state and is normal.

A deviation from the normal insulin level in women may be a signal of polycystic ovary syndrome. This is especially likely if there is a noticeable increase in body fat in the abdominal area.

What does a low level of insulin in the blood indicate?

About type 1 diabetes mellitus,
About juvenile diabetes
About diabetic coma
About hypopituitarism (a disease associated with disturbances in the functioning of the pituitary gland).

Long-term physical activity can lead to a decrease in the amount of insulin.

Any changes in insulin levels may also indicate problems in the pancreas, because they immediately affect the production of this hormone.

For diabetics, at the stage of diagnosing the disease and determining the type of diabetes, an insulin test allows you to develop the correct treatment tactics.

How do deviations from the normal amount of insulin affect your well-being?

Changes in insulin levels immediately affect blood sugar levels. This is precisely what is associated with the sensations of a person whose insulin is outside the normal range.

Evidence of insulin deviation from normal:

Thirst,
Itching of the skin,
Frequent trips to the toilet
Increased fatigue, lethargy,
Poor wound healing.

When your insulin levels rise sharply, your sugar levels will also drop sharply. In addition to the above symptoms, in this case there may also be:

Sudden attacks of hunger
Shiver,
Heartbeat
sweating,
Fainting.

How is insulin level determined?

A blood test for insulin is done on an empty stomach because the amount of insulin increases quickly after eating. It is produced by the pancreas in response to the appearance of carbohydrates in the body. In addition, you need to stop taking medications the day before the test. Of course, this is done in consultation with the attending physician. Venous blood is taken to determine insulin levels. There are several ways to perform this analysis.

What are the dangers of deviations from normal insulin levels?

Increased insulin levels promote development hypertension, reduces the elasticity of the arteries. This significantly increases the risk cardiovascular disorders. Insulin promotes wall thickening carotid artery, which disrupts the normal blood supply to the brain. Such conditions can cause loss of clarity of thinking in old age.

Reduced amounts of insulin most often lead to type 1 diabetes. This disease disrupts the functioning of almost the entire body.

If you have doubts about the normal levels of glucose and insulin in the body, it is better to get tested. Then, when problems are identified, it will be possible to take action without allowing serious complications to develop.

Insulin is a protein hormone produced by the pancreas. Renders big influence on metabolic processes in almost all tissues of the body. One of its main tasks is to control blood glucose levels.

Thanks to insulin, the process of glucose absorption by fat and muscle cells is accelerated, and the formation of new glucose cells in the liver is inhibited. Creates a supply of glycogen - a form of glucose - in cells, promotes the preservation and accumulation of other energy sources, such as fats and proteins. Thanks to insulin, their breakdown and utilization are inhibited.

If the pancreatic function is not impaired and the gland is in order, it constantly produces the amount of insulin necessary for the normal functioning of the entire body. After eating, the volume of insulin increases, this is necessary for the high-quality processing of incoming proteins, fats and carbohydrates.

In the event that there are functional deviations in the activity of the pancreas, a malfunction occurs in the functioning of the whole organism. This disease is called diabetes mellitus.

When insulin production is insufficient, type 1 diabetes mellitus occurs. In this disease, the beta cells of the pancreas, which produce insulin, are destroyed. The body is not able to properly assimilate incoming food.

To keep the body functioning in good condition, such a patient is given insulin “for food” before meals. The volume that should cope with the high-quality processing of incoming food. Insulin is also administered between meals. The purpose of these injections is to provide normal work body in between meals.

When insulin is produced in the body in the required volume, but its quality is impaired - type 2 diabetes mellitus occurs. With this type of disease, the quality of insulin is reduced and it cannot have the desired effect on the body's cells. In fact, such insulin is of no use. It is unable to process glucose in the blood. At this type drugs are used to stimulate insulin to act.

Blood insulin level is normal

Insulin. Norm for women by age (table)

The level of normal insulin in the blood of both men and women is approximately the same, there are slight differences in certain situations.

When the glucose level in the body increases, the pancreas begins to produce insulin more actively. Such moments in healthy female body occur during puberty, pregnancy and old age.

All these situations are clearly reflected in the tables below:

The level of insulin in a woman’s blood varies depending on her age. Over the years it has increased noticeably.

Normal blood insulin levels in men

In men, just like in women, the amount of insulin in the body changes depending on age.

In old age, additional energy is required, so after sixty, in men, as in women, the volume of insulin produced becomes greater and reaches 35 mcad/l.

Insulin in the blood. Normal in children and adolescents

Children and teenagers make up special category. Children do not need additional energy, so their production of this hormone is slightly reduced. But during puberty the picture changes dramatically. Against the background of everyone hormonal surge Indicators of insulin levels in the blood of adolescents become higher.

When insulin levels fluctuate within the above indicated numbers, this means that the person is healthy. In a situation where the hormone is higher than the indicated indicators, upper diseases may develop over the years. respiratory tract and other organs, these processes may become irreversible.

Insulin is a hormone with character. Its level can be affected by many factors - stress, physical strain, pancreatic disease, but most often the disorder is caused by a person's existing diabetes.

Symptoms indicating that there is an increase in insulin are itching, dry mouth, long-healing wounds, increased appetite, but at the same time there is a tendency to lose weight.

A situation where insulin is below the required level indicates prolonged physical activity or that a person has type 1 diabetes. Diseases of the pancreas should also not be excluded. Pallor, palpitations, fainting, irritability, and sweating are often added to the above symptoms.

How to find out your insulin level?

An analysis is required to determine insulin levels. There are two main types of analysis - after a glucose load and on an empty stomach. In order to make a diagnosis of diabetes, both of these tests must be performed. Such a study can be carried out exclusively in a clinical setting.

This analysis is carried out on an empty stomach in the morning, so that the results most clearly reflect reality; it is recommended not to eat at least 12 hours before blood sampling. That's why this analysis prescribed in the morning, which allows you to prepare well for donating blood.

The day before the analysis, all fatty food, sweets, and alcoholic drinks should also be abstained. Otherwise, the result obtained may not correspond to reality, which will complicate the procedure correct setting diagnosis.

In addition to menu adjustments, it is necessary to lead a calmer lifestyle on the eve of the test - give up active sports, heavy physical work, try to avoid emotional experiences. It would be a good idea to quit smoking a day before the test.

After sleep, before donating blood for analysis, you should not eat or drink anything except clean, still water. Blood is taken from a finger; in rare cases, venous blood is taken, also on an empty stomach.

In addition to blood tests, doctors often prescribe ultrasound examination pancreas, which allows us to find out the reasons for improper insulin production.

Results may be lower than in the table above. So the normal indicator for an adult will be parameters from 1.9 to 23 µC/l. for children under 14 years of age, this figure can vary from 2 to 20 mCed/L. in pregnant women this figure will be from 6 to 27 mCed/l.

Insulin norm during glucose load

To understand how quickly and how well the body is able to produce insulin, a test is performed to determine this hormone after an insulin load. Preparation for this diagnostic method is carried out in exactly the same way as in the previous case. Avoid eating for at least 8 hours, avoid smoking, alcohol and physical activity should be refused.

Before testing the level of insulin in the patient’s blood, two hours before blood sampling, he is given a glucose solution to drink - 75 ml for adults and 50 ml for children. After the solution is drunk, the body begins the processes of producing insulin and its work to neutralize glucose.

During the entire time you must not perform active physical activities or smoke. After two hours, the blood is taken for analysis, measuring insulin levels.

During collection, the patient is required to remain calm, otherwise the result may be incorrect.
After such an analysis normal indicators there will be the following parameters: for an adult the numbers will be from 13 to 15 mKed/l, for a woman carrying a baby the normal indicators will be numbers from 16 to 17 mKed/l, for children under 14 years of age the normal values will be numbers from 10 to 11 mKed/l .

In some cases, it may be advisable to conduct a double analysis to determine the insulin content in human plasma. The first test is performed on an empty stomach in the morning, after which the patient is given glucose to drink and blood sampling is repeated two hours later. The combined analysis will provide an expanded picture of the action of insulin.

How do insulin levels change after eating?

After eating, proteins, fats and carbohydrates enter the body, the pancreas begins to actively produce hormones for the proper absorption of all this variety. That is, the volume of insulin increases sharply, which is why it is impossible to correctly determine the norm of insulin content in the human body after eating. As food is processed, insulin levels return to normal.

If you exercise while monitoring your hormone levels with hormonal tests, this will facilitate the transport of glucose into muscle tissue, and its level in the blood will decrease significantly, which means you will avoid excess fat deposits due to glucose.

Sports exercises along with a properly formed menu will also help get rid of the development of insulin resistance, that is, the body’s rejection of insulin.

During exercise, excess fat in the muscles is burned and in return energy is delivered to the muscle cells. This helps activate metabolism

What is hormonal balance?

This is the ratio of hormones with which you can control metabolic processes in the body. If the doctor knows your hormonal balance, this helps him determine where exactly in the body fat deposits accumulate more and where less.

When the level of estradiol, as well as testosterone and the hormone, is restored in the body thyroid gland T3 (in its free form), this helps insulin resistance gradually disappear.

What does glucose intolerance mean and how to deal with it?

When there is too much glucose in the blood, it is difficult to control. And the body may develop glucose intolerance. As a result, a person is also at risk of developing diabetes.

Doctors may first diagnose hypoglycemia - this is a low level of glucose in the blood. Less than normal means less than 50 mg/dl. Although there are situations when a person's glucose level is normal, there are fluctuations - from high to too low glucose levels, especially after eating.

Glucose nourishes brain cells, giving it the necessary energy to work. If glucose is produced or enters the body less than normal, the brain immediately gives a command to the body about this.

Why might blood glucose levels be high? When insulin production increases, glucose levels drop sharply. But as soon as a person eats something sweet, especially sweet cakes (carbohydrates), then after 2-3 hours the level of glucose in the blood can rise sharply. Such fluctuations can cause the body to become glucose intolerant.

What to do?

The menu needs to be changed urgently. Exclude heavy carbohydrate foods and flour from it. An endocrinologist will help with this. It can also help cope with hunger pangs that occur when blood glucose levels drop sharply.

Keep in mind that this condition (increased appetite, accumulation of fat deposits, weight that you cannot control) is not just a sign of depression, as the clinic may tell you. If you are treated with antidepressants for this condition, this can lead to even more detrimental consequences.

These may be symptoms of hypoglycemia - low blood glucose levels - plus glucose and insulin intolerance. It is necessary to restore hormonal balance and establish a healthy menu.

How to detect insulin resistance?

To identify the body's resistance to insulin, it is important to first perform a test showing the response of insulin to glucose. During this test, your doctor will be able to determine your blood glucose levels and how they change every 6 hours.

Every 6 hours, the insulin level is determined. Using these data, you can understand how the amount of glucose in the blood changes. Are there big jumps in its increase or decrease?

The insulin level must also be taken into account here. By the way it changes, you can understand how insulin reacts to glucose.

If the insulin level is not taken into account, then this is a simplified analysis, the so-called glucose tolerance test. It only helps determine how the body perceives blood glucose levels and whether it can regulate them.

But whether the body has insulin perception can only be determined with a more detailed analysis.

With this state of the body, disturbances in brain function may occur. It is especially harmful to the brain when glucose levels rise and fall sharply. Then a woman may experience the following symptoms:

A blood glucose level above 200 is a symptom of hyperglycemia. This state is initial stage development of diabetes mellitus.

Glucose level too low

It may be low all the time or decrease sharply after eating. Then doctors observe the following symptoms in a woman.

At physical exercise– strong and rapid heartbeat
Sharp, inexplicable restlessness, anxiety, even panic
Muscle pain
Dizziness (sometimes to the point of nausea)
Abdominal pain (in the stomach area)
Shortness of breath and rapid breathing
The mouth and nose may become numb
The fingers on both hands may also become numb.
Inattention and inability to remember, memory lapses
Mood swings
Tearfulness, breakdowns

Besides these symptoms, how else can you tell if your glucose and insulin levels are low or high?

How can you tell if something is wrong with your glucose?

You need to measure the amount of it during the period when you have not yet had breakfast in the morning. At least 12 hours must pass after the last meal. If the glucose level is from 65 to 100 units, this is normal.

Some doctors argue that an increase of another 15 units - to the level of 115 units - is an acceptable norm.

Concerning latest research, then scientists say that an increase in glucose levels above 100 mg/dL is already an alarming symptom.

This means that the body may develop the initial stage of diabetes. Doctors call this condition the body's intolerance to glucose.

What is the risk for a woman with elevated glucose levels?

Know It's Serious: According to medical research, even slight increase blood glucose levels – risk of developing diabetes.

If fasting glucose levels rise more than 126 units and steady-state glucose levels reach 200 units or higher, it can be fatal.

The development of diabetes may be indicated by a glucose level 2 hours after a meal of more than 200 mg/dL.

How to determine the level of insulin in the body?

This is much more difficult than determining glucose levels, because insulin levels can vary. We will introduce you to the average insulin level.

An insulin level analysis performed on an empty stomach is 6-25 units. Insulin levels normally reach 6-35 units 2 hours after eating.

How can you tell if a person is developing diabetes?

It is necessary to measure the level of glucose and insulin 2 hours after eating - this is the best way to determine the body’s tendency to develop diabetes.

If glucose in the body is from 140 to 200 units (one hour after eating), the risk of developing diabetes is very high. Its initial stage is possible.

If the glucose level after a meal is from 140 to 200 units (but not more) - this is already diabetes.

You need to contact an endocrinologist for examination.

Please note that different laboratories may have different different norm determination of glucose and insulin levels. Therefore, ask your doctor at what level you should start to worry and start treatment.

At-risk groups

If a woman is found on an empty stomach high level insulin, this may mean she has polycystic ovary syndrome.

This condition can occur in women before menopause. It may be accompanied by sudden weight gain, especially in the abdomen and waist.

Normal level you need to know and control insulin in order not to gain excess weight and keep your weight under control.

Another way to control your glucose levels

Do a hormone test to determine your glucose levels using the ratio of other hormones. In particular, the level of hemoglobin A1C. This hemoglobin supplies oxygen to red blood cells.

Know that if your body is no longer able to control your blood glucose levels, your hemoglobin levels will respond by increasing.

A test for this hormone will help determine exactly whether your body can still regulate glucose levels or has lost this ability.

The test is so accurate that it can tell you exactly what your glucose levels have been over the past 90 days.

If diabetes has already developed, your hemoglobin level will indicate whether you need to change your diet. This hormone can be used to determine whether your diet has contributed to the development of glucose intolerance syndrome in your body.