> Is fasting insulin the same thing as fasting blood glucose? No, but the two often do mirror one another. The Eades use insulin (fasting and two-hour post prandial) extensively in their clinic as a marker for insulin resistance (hyperinsulinemia). From the Protein Power LifePlan: "We consider normal fasting insulin levels to be anything under 10 mg/dl. Anything above 10 mg/dl we consider to be abnormal and an indication of insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia. "...[A two-hour post glucose insulin evaluation] will uncover those people who oversecreate insulin in response to food, an important bit of information, since many people who have normal fasting levels will have a much higher than normal two-hour insulin level. "A major study has found that, in general, men with insulin resistance will usually have an elevated fasting insulin level, while women with insulin resistance tend to have much higher two-hour insulin response. So people, especially women, with a normal fasting insulin level but whose symptoms or history suggest insulin resistance should have a two-hour insulin test done." The Eades then point out a similar test, the insulin challenge test, that they feel has the most utility and provides the most information as to an individual's insulin resistance status. In this test, a small amount of insulin is administered intravenously to a patient who has fasted overnight. Since insulin drives blood sugar into the cells, the Eades measure blood sugar levels over the next 15 minutes looking for sharp drops. For those with normal insulin sensitivity, blood sugar levels should drop by half (ex. 100 mg/dl to 50 mg/dl) within 15 minutes. For those with impaired insulin sensitivity, blood sugar levels do not drop off as significantly (ex. 100 mg/dl to 80 mg/dl). This test can be repeated to gauge improving insulin sensitivity with treatment (low carb diet, exercise, supplements...)." Rob