Insulin

An insulin test is a blood test that helps evaluate insulin production by the beta cells in the pancreas. Insulin levels are most frequently ordered following a low blood glucose test result and/or when someone has acute or chronic symptoms of low blood glucose (hypoglycemia).
It can be used to:
-Diagnose the presence of an insulin-producing tumor in the islet cells of the pancreas (insulinoma)
-Determine the cause of low blood glucose (hypoglycemia)
-Identify insulin resistance
-Determine when a type 2 diabetic might need to start taking insulin to supplement oral medications