do you have insulin resistance?
Scientists have known since 2005 that insulin resistance can set the stage for Alzheimer’s disease by
gradually restricting the brain’s ability to produce energy, but since most doctors don’t test for thisvery common metabolic problem, most people don’t even know they have it. The tests most doctors
use to evaluate your metabolic health are the fasting glucose and hemoglobin A1C. These aregood tests for type 2 diabetes, but they are not good tests for insulin resistance, because bothof these tests can remain perfectly normal even if you have had insulin resistance for a longtime. The additional metabolic tests included in the table below are much more useful in helping you
estimate where you stand on the insulin resistance spectrum.
Test Yourself for Insulin Resistance
Test

ResultFasting blood glucose

Below 100 mg/dl (5.5mM) is good; between 70 and 85 mg/dL(3.9 and 4.7mM) is ideal
Above 100 mg/dl (5.5mM) strongly suggests insulin resistance

Fasting triglycerides

Below 100 mg/dl (1.1mM) is ideal
Over 150 mg/dl (1.7 mM) makes insulin resistance very likely(Note: African Americans can have very low fasting triglycerides
but still have insulin resistance)

HDL cholesterol

Men: higher than 40 mg/dL (1.04 mM) is good
Women: higher than 50 mg/dL (1.3 mM) is good

Triglyceride-to-HDL ratio(Divide your triglycerides byyour HDL)

Below 2.0 is good; the closer to 1.0 the better

Waist-to-height ratio(Divide your waist
circumference by your height)

Below 0.5 is good

Hemoglobin A1c

Below 5.7% (39 mmol/mol) is ideal(Your triglycerides should be no more than twice your HDL)(Your waist circumference should be less than half your height)©Georgia Ede MD · diagnosisdiet.com
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Consider a Ketogenic Diet—but Look Before You Leap!
If you have insulin resistance, the ketogenic diet can be powerful medicine, because it lowers yourglucose and insulin levels so effectively. These are very healthy changes but if they happen too
quickly or without proper clinical supervision, it can be uncomfortable or even medically dangerous.
The ketogenic diet can lower blood pressure, lower the levels of certain medications, or make somemedications feel too strong. For all of these reasons, it is very important to consult with your healthcare providers well before starting any type of low-carbohydrate diet to ask for their guidanceand support. This is particularly important if you have any existing medical problems or take any
prescription medications. Educational resources for clinicians interested in learning more are included
below.
More Information and ResourcesBook (2024): Change Your Diet, Change Your Mind by Georgia Ede MD. A comprehensive guidethat shows you how to combine the truth about brain food with the cutting-edge science of brain
metabolism to optimize your mental health. Chapter 8 includes a detailed explanation of insulin
resistance and how it can lead to Alzheimer’s disease.
Psychology Today article (2016): “Avoiding Alzheimer’s Could Be Easier than You Think”
CME Clinician Training Program: Ketogenic Diets for Mental Health A comprehensive course forpractitioners of all backgrounds, taught by Dr. Ede. Available as live, virtual, small-group classes or as aself-paced video course.
Clinician Directory: Looking for a practitioner to support you on your journey to better metabolic andmental health? Search this international database of practitioners who use ketogenic diets in their careof people with mental health concerns. A free public service available to all.

©Georgia Ede MD · diagnosisdiet.com
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License CC BY-NC-ND 4.0