Insulin
Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas that helps cells take in glucose from the blood. It is tested fasting, often together with glucose.
At a glance
- Sample
- Blood
- Units
- µIU/mL (US), pmol/L (Europe)
- Often looked at with
- Glucose, HbA1c
- Preparation
- It is usually taken fasting, after 8–12 hours without food, often together with glucose. Biotin (vitamin B7) in supplements can skew the result: tell the lab if you take it.
Units: µIU/mL and pmol/L
US labs print insulin in µIU/mL (mIU/L and mU/L give the same number); many European labs print it in pmol/L. To convert, multiply µIU/mL by 6.
pmol/L = µIU/mL × 6 · 1 µIU/mL = 6.00 pmol/L for human insulin
This converter changes units only. It doesn’t tell you whether a number is in or out of any range: that depends on the range printed by your own lab, and on your doctor. Soma does not diagnose and is not medical advice.
Why lab ranges differ
Each lab sets its reference range for its own method and analyser, and many ranges differ by age and sex. Two labs can print different ranges for the same blood, so a result is read against the range on its own report, not against a number from another lab or a website.
Soma charts every insulin result against the range printed by the lab that measured it.
What can affect the result
- Food less than 8 hours before the test.
- Hemolysis: red blood cells breaking down in the tube.
- Biotin in supplements can skew some methods.
If something like this applies, mention it to the doctor who reads your results.
Questions
How do I convert insulin from µIU/mL to pmol/L?
Multiply µIU/mL by 6. For example, 10 µIU/mL is 60 pmol/L.
Why does my lab’s insulin range differ from another lab’s?
Each lab sets its range for its own method and equipment, and many ranges differ by age and sex. That’s why a result is best read against the range printed on the same report.
How do I prepare for a insulin test?
It is usually taken fasting, after 8–12 hours without food, often together with glucose. Biotin (vitamin B7) in supplements can skew the result: tell the lab if you take it. Follow your lab’s instructions.
Related tests
Got a lab report with Insulin?
Share it to Soma: it reads every row on your phone, with no account and no upload, and puts your insulin on one chart with your earlier results, each against the range your lab printed.
Sources
- Insulin in Blood — MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
- Units: the factor from Knopp, Holder-Pearson and Chase, Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, 2019.
Mention of a source doesn’t mean it endorses Soma. This page explains the test; it doesn’t diagnose and is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about what your results mean.