Insulin

Insulin is a hormone produced by beta cells of the pancreas. It is released after meals and helps cells take up glucose from the blood; it also affects fat and protein metabolism, the liver, muscles and fat tissue.

What Insulin Does

Insulin’s main job is to keep blood glucose within a safe range. It increases glucose uptake in muscle and fat tissue, helps the liver store glycogen, limits excessive glucose production by the liver and reduces fat breakdown when enough energy is available after a meal.

Insulin Resistance

In insulin resistance, tissues respond less effectively to insulin. The pancreas has to release more of the hormone to keep glucose controlled. Over time this may go together with higher fasting glucose, elevated HbA1c, visceral obesity, fatty liver, high triglycerides and higher cardiovascular risk.

Keto And LCHF

Low-carb eating usually lowers the need for insulin because fewer foods sharply raise glucose. This can help insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, but people using insulin or glucose-lowering medication should change diet only with clinical monitoring because hypoglycemia is a real risk.

How To Assess It

“Low insulin” by itself is not a universal goal. Glucose, HbA1c, waist size, triglycerides, HDL, ApoB or LDL-C when relevant, blood pressure, weight, appetite and wellbeing matter more. Weakness, shaking, sweating, confusion, palpitations or sudden intense hunger during diet changes should prompt glucose checking and medication review.