Insulin resistance doesn’t just appear overnight—it develops gradually over time, often going undetected in routine lab panels. By the time fasting glucose levels are elevated, significant metabolic disruption may have already taken root.

Early markers of insulin resistance include:

• Fatigue or brain fog after meals
• Midsection weight gain
• Cravings for sugar or refined carbs
• Skin tags or darkened patches
• Hormonal imbalances
• Difficulty losing weight despite effort

Fortunately, functional testing can detect these imbalances well before traditional labs flag them as “abnormal.”

Many patients receive a “normal” result on their fasting glucose or A1c—yet still exhibit signs of metabolic dysfunction. According to Dr. Larsen, conventional tests may miss the window for true prevention. Instead, she encourages clinicians to explore more sensitive markers, such as:

• Fasting insulin levels
• Postprandial (after meal) glucose and insulin response
• C-peptide
• Cortisol rhythm (to assess adrenal stress as a contributor)
• Triglyceride to HDL ratio
• Comprehensive hormone testing (especially in women with PCOS)

With Meridian Valley Lab’s testing panels, clinicians can uncover underlying causes of insulin resistance such as:

• Hormonal imbalances (estrogen/testosterone/cortisol disruption)
• Chronic stress and circadian rhythm dysfunction
• Poor cellular response to insulin due to inflammation
• Environmental toxicity or heavy metal exposure

These insights allow for targeted interventions before metabolic breakdown progresses.

Dr. Larsen outlines a multi-step approach to improve insulin sensitivity using personalized, root-cause strategies:

• Stabilize blood sugar through balanced meals and reduced processed carbohydrates
• Rebuild muscle with resistance training and movement throughout the day
• Reduce stress via mindfulness, sleep optimization, and adaptogenic herbs
• Support detoxification pathways to reduce inflammatory load
• Optimize micronutrient intake, particularly magnesium, chromium, and omega-3s
• Consider supplements like myo-inositol, berberine, or alpha-lipoic acid

These foundational steps can not only halt insulin resistance but also reverse early metabolic dysfunction.

Meridian Valley Lab offers multiple tools to assess and monitor insulin resistance—including fasting insulin, cortisol rhythm, and full hormone profiling.

• In-office collections available
• Convenient home testing kits available for dropship to patients

Panels can be paired with:

• 24-hour urine hormone profiles
• Food sensitivity and gut health analysis
• Adrenal function testing
• Cardiometabolic risk evaluations

Each profile includes free physician consultation support to help you craft a personalized protocol based on patient results.

 Part 1 reflection: Early indicators and diagnostic blind spots here.

 Part 2 reflection: Smarter assessment strategies beyond A1C here.

 Part 3 reflection: Treatment strategies and re-testing intervals here.

About Blood Sugar Control

Poor blood sugar control is an insidious problem that commonly has no obvious signs or symptoms for many years – sometimes decades — before it is detected. By the time a patient is diagnosed, much damage has already been done, laying the foundation for more serious problems and complications. The tragedy in this is that blood sugar dysregulation is highly treatable by non-pharmacological methods when caught early.

References

If you’d like a supporting peer-reviewed reference list for early insulin markers, postprandial response frameworks, and functional reversal strategies discussed in this webinar, please contact our team.