Chapter 4 - Insulin Resistance

[playhound71]

Good Day.

I'm very confused about my reading of my HOMA result and also my recent blood test for S-Insulin.

My HOMA result was:

Glucose Fasting 5.3 mmol/L
Insulin Fasting 6.7 mU/L
HOMA Score 1.6 ratio

S-Insulin - 4 mU/L

Blood tests:

Sodium - a little low, still normal but on the lower end - often an indication of the adrenals being a little tired.

Anion Gap - still good but a little higher than previously - it is an indication of acid/alkali balance in the body - lower is better

Iron - circulating Iron & saturation are high but the ferritin is good - (haemochromatosis)

TSH - still in normal range but over 2 is subclinically under active.

Oestradiol - this is a little higher than expected and may also be playing a bit of havoc - could be influenced from soy and phytoestrogen foods you are eating but we should keep this in mind and if your weight doesn't shift based on the Insulin resistance then a salivary hormone test could b e an option to evaluated how much of a run oestradiol is getting compared to progesterone and testosterone

Insulin - interestingly this is the test that I always do to check for insulin resistance and if I saw this level I would tell the person they were actually hypoglycaemic not hyperglycaemic. Should I be careful about lowering it too much as insulin doesn't appear to be my issue according to this result. I get very hangry - especially if I go too long without food, you could also feel quite tired, lazy, unmotivated, irritable, dizzy. My Insulin level on bloods is 4.

HbA1c is also at a good level.

Vitamin D - is good

My waist circumference is double my height. 171cm and
I had a recent skin tag frozen off my neck.
I have discolouration on my neck as well as small red dots on my belly. I also have dark elbows.

I have a family history of Type 2 diabetes.

I am 100% plant based so feel like I have avoided Type 2 diabetes with my lifestyle choices.

But still confused about the HOMA test and Insulin result and how to treat it do I continue with your protocol for Insulin Resistance?

With gratitude

[Lara]

So, your height is 171cm? What is your waist measure?

Much of what you've described sounds like insulin resistance, including HOMA-IR index (anything above 1 is insulin resistance). This would be an example of how (as I describe in the book) a low insulin reading can be misleading or inaccurate.

And in my view, a plant-based diet does not protect against insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes. And can, in fact, promote it. Again, for reasons I discuss in the book, such as deficiency of taurine, choline, and other important nutrients for metabolic health.