In this article
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.
At Genoryx, fasting insulin and HOMA-IR are core components of every longevity panel. Book a comprehensive assessment.
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Markers in this article
Sources
Studies named in this article that we matched to the original paper. A study described without enough detail to identify it is not listed.
- 01Anjana RM, Unnikrishnan R, Deepa M, et al. Metabolic non-communicable disease health report of India: the ICMR-INDIAB national cross-sectional study (ICMR-INDIAB-17). Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. 2023. doi:10.1016/S2213-8587(23)00119-5 (opens in a new tab)
This article is for education. It is not a diagnosis or a treatment plan; decisions about tests, medicines or supplements belong in a consultation with a physician who knows your history.
About the author
Dr. R. Brahmananda Reddy
MSc Dermatology, University of Hertfordshire (UK) · Founder & Chief Longevity Physician
MBBS · MSc Dermatology (University of Hertfordshire, UK) · Fellowship in Aesthetic & Regenerative Medicine (University of Greifswald, Germany). 13+ years in clinical practice.
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