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Are there any devices that track insulin levels directly? That’s what I’d be most interested in. Folks conjecture that it’s your insulin response that causes w

Are there any devices that track insulin levels directly? That’s what I’d be most interested in. Folks conjecture that it’s your insulin response that causes weight gain rather than the blood sugar increase. They’re not as correlated as you’d expect! Source https://www.google.com/amp/s/optimisingnutrition.com/2015/05/03/glycemic-index-load-versus-insulin-load/amp/ https://www.google.com/amp/s/optimisingnutrition.com/2015/05...

beardface 8y ago
Summary: I have no citation but my understanding is that measuring insulin levels needs to be done from a blood draw, so a Freestyle Libre-type device wouldn't work. The Freestyle Libre and regular continuous glucose monitors measure glucose in the interstitial fluid under the skin - not blood. This is why the numbers can be wildly different to a blood glucose test done via finger-prick. From what I've seen while researching very low carb diets, insulin levels are incredibly important and influence a lot of body chemistry. For example, someone without type 1 diabetes can have a normal blood glucose but only because they're producing an enormous amount of insulin. A large amount of insulin in the blood will cause fat to be stored, so the patient puts on weight.
- village-idiot 8y ago
  Sounds like what you’d be interested in is insulin sensitivity, the ability to control blood sugar with the minimal amount of insulin possible. Sadly this is also a huge pain in the butt to measure, and the only way I’ve heard is to spike your blood sugar and time how long it takes to return to normal. I personally use a keto mojo to measure blood glucose and blood ketone bodies. I’m not diabetic so I don’t need to use it, but I’m a fan of being able to tell how far into ketosis I am.
- atomical 8y ago
  Your example is someone without diabetes but referred to as a patient?
  - beardface 8y ago
    My comment wasn't clear; apologies. I was referring to someone who had blood drawn to test for and diagnose high insulin levels. I'd classify anyone having that test in a clinical setting to be a patient.

beardface 8y ago

Summary: I have no citation but my understanding is that measuring insulin levels needs to be done from a blood draw, so a Freestyle Libre-type device wouldn't work. The Freestyle Libre and regular continuous glucose monitors measure glucose in the interstitial fluid under the skin - not blood. This is why the numbers can be wildly different to a blood glucose test done via finger-prick. From what I've seen while researching very low carb diets, insulin levels are incredibly important and influence a lot of body chemistry. For example, someone without type 1 diabetes can have a normal blood glucose but only because they're producing an enormous amount of insulin. A large amount of insulin in the blood will cause fat to be stored, so the patient puts on weight.

village-idiot 8y ago
Sounds like what you’d be interested in is insulin sensitivity, the ability to control blood sugar with the minimal amount of insulin possible. Sadly this is also a huge pain in the butt to measure, and the only way I’ve heard is to spike your blood sugar and time how long it takes to return to normal. I personally use a keto mojo to measure blood glucose and blood ketone bodies. I’m not diabetic so I don’t need to use it, but I’m a fan of being able to tell how far into ketosis I am.
atomical 8y ago
Your example is someone without diabetes but referred to as a patient?
- beardface 8y ago
  My comment wasn't clear; apologies. I was referring to someone who had blood drawn to test for and diagnose high insulin levels. I'd classify anyone having that test in a clinical setting to be a patient.