What are Insulin Resistance biomarkers

Insulin resistance biomarkers are blood signals that show how well your cells respond to insulin and how hard your pancreas must work to keep sugar in a healthy range. They come from the organs that govern energy use—the pancreas, liver, muscles, fat tissue, and the immune system—and together reveal the ongoing tug‑of‑war between insulin, glucose, and fats. Core markers reflect insulin production (insulin, C‑peptide), circulating sugar (glucose), and fat handling (triglycerides, HDL cholesterol). Others suggest how the liver responds to insulin (liver enzymes), how much fat is being released into the bloodstream (free fatty acids), and whether there is quiet, chronic inflammation (C‑reactive protein). Hormones made by fat cells (adipokines such as adiponectin and leptin) add insight into fat tissue health and insulin sensitivity. By measuring this network, blood tests can uncover insulin resistance early—often before glucose stays high—making the hidden workload on the pancreas visible and highlighting metabolic stress linked to fatty liver and heart risk. Over time, these biomarkers show whether lifestyle or medicines are restoring tissue responsiveness (insulin sensitivity).

Why is blood testing for Insulin Resistance important?

• Screen for insulin resistance early, before diabetes develops.
• Spot hidden insulin imbalance even when glucose looks normal.
• Clarify fatigue, cravings, and weight gain by linking symptoms to insulin resistance.
• Guide personalized diet, activity, sleep, and medication choices to improve sensitivity.
• Protect heart and liver health by flagging heart disease and fatty liver risks.
• Protect reproductive health by flagging PCOS, ovulation, and gestational diabetes risks.
• Track progress as lifestyle or treatments lower fasting insulin and TyG index.
• Best interpreted with HbA1c, lipid panel, waist size, and your symptoms.

What insights will I get?

Insulin resistance blood testing provides a window into how efficiently your body manages energy, with far-reaching effects on metabolism, cardiovascular health, brain function, reproductive balance, and immune resilience. At Superpower, we assess insulin resistance using three key biomarkers: Insulin, Glucose, and the Triglyceride-Glucose (TyG) Index. Together, these markers help reveal how well your body responds to insulin—a hormone central to moving glucose from your bloodstream into your cells for fuel.

Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that signals cells to absorb glucose. Glucose is the main sugar circulating in your blood, serving as a primary energy source. The TyG Index combines fasting triglyceride and glucose levels to provide a sensitive estimate of insulin resistance. When cells become less responsive to insulin, both insulin and glucose levels can rise, and the TyG Index increases, signaling that the body is working harder to maintain stable blood sugar.

Healthy insulin, glucose, and TyG Index values suggest that your body is efficiently using insulin to keep blood sugar stable, supporting steady energy, vascular health, and balanced metabolism. When these markers are elevated, it may indicate that your cells are struggling to respond to insulin, which can disrupt energy balance and stress multiple organ systems over time.

Interpretation of these biomarkers can be influenced by factors such as age, pregnancy, acute illness, certain medications, and laboratory assay differences. These variables should be considered when evaluating results to ensure an accurate understanding of your metabolic health.