> 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