Likely pre diabetes but low fasting insulin

[Lizzy16]

Hello,
I’m a fairly new poster but was hoping fellow members may be able to shed light on some issues I’m working on

My fasting sugar has always been pretty good but has crept up slightly over years. Recently 5.3
My fasting insulin in 2018 was 6 but in the last few years it’s been 3 and I haven’t been in ketosis most of that stretch. I used to pat myself on the back lol but I’m now seeing it in a different light
No recent HbA1c but in past always normal. It will be interesting to check it soon

I’m currently wearing a Continuous Glucose Monitor and it’s been a true eye opener. It recorded my sugar rising to 9.1 following an alcohol free beer drunk with seed crackers (just seeds only) and 20 grams goats cheese. Yes I know the beer has some carbs(I rarely have one) but my understanding is that a bsl of 9.1 reflects ‘pre diabetes’ despite the fact my insulin is so low.ie not insulin resistance more of insulin lack

I’m assuming this is pancreatic Beta cell dysfunction. I’m wondering if my stress related illness a few years ago affected my pancreas? I’m hoping if I get consistent good sugar control I can get some pancreatic function improvement ??

Im not overweight BMI 21 and I’m active every day (swimming, 20 min run, hiking, resistance) Lately I’m in and out of ketosis but planning to tighten up after the cfm gives me more info

I’ve got the cgm for another 12 days.

Does anyone have any insights or suggestions ? Any experience with raised sugars and low insulin?

I’m so happy I tried the CGM as it has given me a different take on my glucose control and further encouragement to fully adopt the diet suggestions
I have SCI/brain fog intermittently which I’m still nutting out all the contributory factors but I’m thinking sugar control is now on the list as a significant factor !

It’s my personal belief that chronic stress is a ‘type’ of AD on its own but clearly other factors can contribute
Thanks for any input

[JD2020]

My A1c has always been fine, 5.1 or 5.2. It recently crept up to 5.5 or 5.6. I made significant changes, and it didn't budge. Finally doc tested fasting insulin, and it turned out I was at about 50% of the low end of normal, so not normal at all. I also wear a CGM periodically, and one thing that was really interesting is that when I got tense at work, I could feel things changing, and sure enough, my blood sugar was spiking. The endocrinologist said that my body simply could not keep up.

I started 1000 mg of metformin 2 x per day, and all is well. Recent A1c is 5.2, and I think I can get it lower because I had been on vacation for 3 weeks, and I ate whatever I wanted.

In the meantime, the endocrinologist tested for T1D and T2D. There are blood tests that can identify T1D before you even have symptoms. Thankfully, so far I am in the clear. She also tested to see if there was anything attacking my pancreas (autoimmune) and again, so far I am in the clear. Perhaps the family I come from has weak pancreases, and maybe that is the reason for the high rate of diabetes. The way I figure it, I can either be on meds now or after the diagnosis, and I am still planning on dodging that bullet!

I hope this is helpful.

[mike]

My fasting insulin in 2018 was 6 but in the last few years it’s been 3 and I haven’t been in ketosis most of that stretch.

Fasting insulin by itself is not a very useful marker. It would be good to get a glucose stress test with insulin. You take a set amount of glucose and watch how your Blood Sugar and Insulin levels respond over time.

[Lizzy16]

Thank you Mike

[Veero]

Would measuring C-peptide give any further insight?

[TCHC]

Hello,
I’m a fairly new poster but was hoping fellow members may be able to shed light on some issues I’m working on

My fasting sugar has always been pretty good but has crept up slightly over years. Recently 5.3
My fasting insulin in 2018 was 6 but in the last few years it’s been 3 and I haven’t been in ketosis most of that stretch. I used to pat myself on the back lol but I’m now seeing it in a different light
No recent HbA1c but in past always normal. It will be interesting to check it soon

I’m currently wearing a Continuous Glucose Monitor and it’s been a true eye opener. It recorded my sugar rising to 9.1 following an alcohol free beer drunk with seed crackers (just seeds only) and 20 grams goats cheese. Yes I know the beer has some carbs(I rarely have one) but my understanding is that a bsl of 9.1 reflects ‘pre diabetes’ despite the fact my insulin is so low.ie not insulin resistance more of insulin lack

I’m assuming this is pancreatic Beta cell dysfunction. I’m wondering if my stress related illness a few years ago affected my pancreas? I’m hoping if I get consistent good sugar control I can get some pancreatic function improvement ??

Im not overweight BMI 21 and I’m active every day (swimming, 20 min run, hiking, resistance) Lately I’m in and out of ketosis but planning to tighten up after the cfm gives me more info

I’ve got the cgm for another 12 days.

Does anyone have any insights or suggestions ? Any experience with raised sugars and low insulin?

I’m so happy I tried the CGM as it has given me a different take on my glucose control and further encouragement to fully adopt the diet suggestions
I have SCI/brain fog intermittently which I’m still nutting out all the contributory factors but I’m thinking sugar control is now on the list as a significant factor !

It’s my personal belief that chronic stress is a ‘type’ of AD on its own but clearly other factors can contribute
Thanks for any input

Hi Lizzy

I'm sorry I only just saw this, so you may not have a CGM any more. If not, can you get another? You don't say what kind of experiments you did with the CGM. When I had mine, I tried different foods on their own to see what effect they had, then tried them with added healthy fats, to see how much difference it made, then tried them with a 20 min brisk walk immediately after.
It was really enlightening. I think everyone is different, so you might get very different results from me, but worth testing out.

good luck, let us know how you get on!

Lindsey