03/17/2026
Most metabolic dysfunction does not start with high blood sugar.
It starts with compensation.
Your pancreas quietly produces more and more insulin to keep glucose “normal.”
Your lab report looks fine.
You feel fine.
But biologically, the system is under strain.
Chronically elevated insulin:
• Drives visceral fat storage
• Increases low-grade inflammation
• Impairs endothelial function
• Accelerates vascular aging
By the time glucose rises, the process has often been unfolding for years.
This is why I recommend looking beyond fasting glucose alone.
Fasting insulin — and the HOMA-IR score — can reveal insulin resistance much earlier.
Longevity is not about reacting to disease.
It’s about recognizing physiology before pathology appears.
Save this for your next lab visit.
And share it with someone who thinks “normal bloodwork” means everything is fine.
— Dr. ME
