The Blood Test That Catches Diabetes 20 Years Early
7:36 · Dr. Eric Berg DC · 2026-09-20
What is normal insulin? Learn what fasting insulin levels can reveal about insulin resistance, how to lower fasting insulin, how to decode A1C levels, and what you can learn to help prevent type 2 diabetes. Just so you know, my full line of high-quality supplements is available on Amazon — search Dr. Berg Supplements. 0:00 What is normal insulin?0:14 What is normal blood sugar? 1:23 Insulin resistance explained1:55 Insulin levels explained4:16 What is normal fasting insulin? 5:02 High fasting insulin side effects6:12 Normal A1C levels explained Your blood contains only a surprisingly small amount of glucose at any given time. Even with about 5 liters of blood circulating through your body, normal blood glucose amounts to roughly a teaspoon of sugar. In diabetes, it’s closer to 2 teaspoons, so even a relatively small increase can make a significant difference. Blood sugar levels can look normal for years before diabetes develops. Insulin’s primary job is to remove sugar from the blood. This means the body may be producing more and more insulin to keep blood sugar under control long before glucose levels become obviously elevated. Normal fasting insulin levels vary from country to country and are often based on population averages. The problem is that if a large portion of the population already has insulin resistance, an “average” insulin level may not necessarily reflect optimal metabolic health. A fasting insulin test is one of the best ways to detect insulin resistance early. Focus on getting your fasting insulin below 5, reducing sugar intake, and avoiding frequent snacking.