Insulin resistance is the first sign of poor metabolic health, and is a growing health concern. It affects about 1 in 3 adults, many of whom don’t even know they have it. That’s because it often develops silently, with no obvious symptoms in the early stages. It occurs when your cells stop responding effectively to insulin, the hormone responsible for helping glucose (sugar) enter your cells for energy. To compensate, your body produces more insulin to keep blood sugar levels stable. Over time, this overproduction can become harmful, making it difficult to lose weight and can lead to chronic conditions like Type 2 Diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, PCOS, fatty liver disease, and even certain cancers. 
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The good news? Insulin resistance is preventable and, in many cases, reversible. Early identification and targeted lifestyle changes can significantly improve insulin sensitivity and overall health.
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How Do I Know If I Have Insulin Resistance?
Unfortunately, insulin resistance often goes undiagnosed until it has progressed. Many doctors won’t flag it unless you already have high blood sugar or another related condition.
However, there are some early physical signs that may indicate insulin resistance:

• Increased abdominal fat

• Frequent fatigue, especially after meals

• Cravings for carbohydrates and sugar

• Dark, velvety patches of skin (acanthosis nigricans), especially around the neck or armpits

• Difficulty losing weight despite effort

• Skin tags

If any of these sound familiar, it’s worth getting tested.
 
What Blood Tests Should I Ask For?
To assess for insulin resistance, ask your GP for the following:

• Fasting glucose

• Fasting insulin

Note: Fasting insulin is not routinely tested, so you may need to request it specifically.

 

Calculating Insulin Resistance Using Fasting Insulin Test
Any value above 5 µU/mL would class you as being insulin resistant

Unfortunately, this often goes undetected by Doctors as the reference range for insulin resistance can be as high as 25 µU/mL

 

Calculating Insulin Resistance using HOMA-IR
Another way to calculate insulin resistance is with the HOMA-IR calculation:
HOMA-IR = (Fasting Insulin [µU/mL] × Fasting Glucose [mmol/L]) ÷ 22.5
 
For example:
If your fasting insulin = 15 µU/mL
And your fasting glucose = 5.2 mmol/L
HOMA-IR = (15 × 5.2) ÷ 22.5 = 3.47
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Interpreting results of HOMA-IR

• Under 1.0 = optimal

• Between 1.0 and 2.0 = mild insulin resistance

• Over 2.0–2.5 = moderate to significant insulin resistance

These numbers do not provide a formal diagnosis of insulin resistance, but can offer a helpful indication of how your body is responding to insulin.