Insulin Resistance Score: Know your number.

An insulin resistance score is a metric used to measure how efficiently your body responds to insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar. Insulin resistance occurs when cells in the muscles, liver, and fat don’t respond well to insulin, making it harder for glucose (sugar) to enter the cells. As a result, blood sugar levels stay high, leading the pancreas to produce more insulin in an attempt to lower glucose levels. Over time, this can lead to prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, and other health complications.

The insulin resistance score is calculated using blood tests that assess factors such as glucose, hbA1c, insulin and C-peptide. Some tests, like the HOMA-IR (Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance), are commonly used for this purpose. Scores can vary, but generally, a higher score indicates higher insulin resistance, while a lower score suggests that the body is effectively responding to insulin.

Knowing your insulin resistance score can help you and your healthcare provider assess your risk for conditions related to insulin resistance. It can also guide lifestyle changes, such as adopting a balanced diet, increasing physical activity, or other targeted interventions to improve insulin sensitivity and support metabolic health. Regular monitoring can be a proactive step in preventing or managing insulin-related conditions, empowering you to take charge of your health.

 In general, when routine lab tests are ordered only a blood sugar is ordered, occasionally an HbA1c. This is not sufficient to get the full picture. If blood sugar looks ‘normal’ we are not seeing how hard your body is working to keep that blood sugar normal and that in a nutshell is what insulin resistance is: your body working too hard!!