Insulin levels — anyone have experience?

Can confirm this is real. Pre-GLP-1, I tried to manage my insulin resistance with strict low-carb/keto for 18 months. Results were decent: | Marker | Pre-Keto | 18 Mo Keto | Added Sema 6 Mo | |--------|---------|-----------|----------------| | Fasting Insulin | 36.2 | 18.4 | 8.6 | | HOMA-IR | 9.12 | 4.38 | 1.82 | | Fasting Glucose | 108 | 96 | 86 | Keto got me halfway there. Adding semaglutide got me to the finish line. The combination was more effective than either alone for me. I think the GLP-1 addressed the hepatic insulin resistance that dietary changes alone couldn't fully resolve.

This whole thread is gold. I want to add that my HOMA-IR improvement correlated perfectly with my CGM data. As HOMA-IR dropped, my glucose variability (measured by coefficient of variation) dropped proportionally: | HOMA-IR | CGM Mean Glucose | CGM CV% | |---------|-----------------|---------| | 6.4 | 128 mg/dL | 32% | | 3.8 | 112 mg/dL | 24% | | 1.6 | 96 mg/dL | 16% | Makes sense — as insulin sensitivity improves, glucose excursions after meals get smaller because the insulin response is faster and more efficient. The CGM basically gives you a real-time visual of your HOMA-IR improving.

Update: I showed my doctor the HOMA-IR calculation and referenced the conversation here (without the medical advice, just the concept). He actually paused and said "you know what, you're right — this paints a more urgent picture than the A1c alone." He's referring me to an endocrinologist and starting metformin 500mg in the meantime. Also ordered C-peptide and fasting insulin for a follow-up in 8 weeks. This thread may have changed my health trajectory. Thank you to everyone in this thread. I'm 34 — catching this now vs. at 44 with full-blown diabetes is a gift. 🙏

this makes me SO happy. This is exactly why I bang the drum about fasting insulin and HOMA-IR. A1c has its place, but it's the tip of the iceberg. The real metabolic story is happening underneath, and fasting insulin is the window into it. Everyone reading this: if you've never had fasting insulin checked, add it to your next lab order. It costs $25-35 out of pocket and it might be the most informative $30 you ever spend on your health. Calculate your HOMA-IR (fasting insulin x fasting glucose / 405) and know your number. Knowledge is power.