Insulin Fasting Test in Kathmandu

About this test

Insulin is the hormone your pancreas releases to move glucose out of the bloodstream and into your cells, and this test measures how much of it is circulating after an overnight fast. Unlike a fasting glucose, which tells you the sugar level, fasting insulin reveals how hard the pancreas is working to keep that level normal — a distinction that matters enormously in the early stages of type 2 diabetes. Doctors most often order it when there are signs of insulin resistance: stubborn weight gain around the abdomen, dark velvety skin folds at the neck and armpits (acanthosis nigricans), borderline-high fasting sugar, or a fatty-liver finding on ultrasound. It is a cornerstone investigation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, a very common reason for irregular periods and difficulty conceiving among younger women in Kathmandu. The result is rarely read alone. It is usually paired with a fasting glucose so the laboratory or your physician can calculate the HOMA-IR index, a simple ratio that estimates resistance more reliably than either number by itself. At the opposite end, an unexpectedly high insulin alongside a low blood sugar can point to an insulin-secreting tumour or to the effects of injected insulin, while a very low level supports type 1 diabetes or advanced pancreatic failure. Because urban Nepali diets have shifted towards refined rice, sugar, and processed snacks, insulin resistance is being detected earlier and more frequently, often years before frank diabetes appears. Catching it at this stage gives the best chance to reverse the trajectory through diet, weight loss, and exercise.

Sample type

Blood (serum)

Preparation

8–12 hours of overnight fasting required. Plain water is allowed; avoid tea, coffee, sugary drinks, and smoking before the draw. If you take insulin or diabetes tablets, ask your doctor whether to delay the morning dose until after the sample.

Turnaround time

Reports for Insulin Fasting are typically ready within: Same Day. Reports can be collected at the clinic during opening hours or shared via WhatsApp once they are ready.

Also known as

Other hormones tests we run

These are routinely ordered alongside Insulin Fasting or as part of the same diagnostic workup.

How to book

WhatsApp is the fastest way — message us with the test name and your preferred time, and we'll confirm a slot the same day. You can also walk into the clinic at Rumba Chowk, Sanobharang any day between 7AM and 8PM, or fill in our online booking form.