The Hormone Hiding in Plain Sight

Insulin is not merely the hormone that manages blood sugar. It is a master regulatory signal that influences virtually every chronic disease pathway: atherosclerosis, cancer cell proliferation, neurodegeneration, fat storage, inflammation, and biological aging.

The Insulin Resistance Timeline

Years 1-5: Cells lose sensitivity, pancreas compensates with more insulin. Standard tests detect nothing. Years 5-10: Fasting insulin climbs to 10-20 μIU/mL. Arterial damage accelerates. Standard tests still "normal." Years 10-15: Fasting glucose starts rising. Prediabetes finally diagnosed. But a decade of damage has occurred.

Optimal Fasting Insulin: 2.6 – 5.0 μIU/mL

Centenarians consistently maintain fasting insulin below 5 μIU/mL. HOMA-IR should ideally be below 1.0.

How Insulin Drives Disease

Cardiovascular disease through cholesterol synthesis and endothelial dysfunction. Cancer through IGF-1/mTOR pathway activation. Neurodegeneration through brain insulin resistance. Metabolic dysfunction through visceral fat accumulation.

India's Insulin Crisis

Over 100 million diabetic patients, 130+ million with prediabetes. South Asians have genetic predisposition to insulin resistance at lower BMI thresholds.

Interventions

Resistance training, zone 2 exercise, time-restricted eating, reduced refined carbohydrates, sleep optimisation, and CGM monitoring.

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At Genoryx, fasting insulin and HOMA-IR are core components of every longevity panel. Book a comprehensive assessment.