There has been much attention given to the documentation of insulin resistance in patients with PCOS over the last few years. Patients with PCOS findings, and in some cases patients with only anovulation, are being tested for insulin resistance. The blood is evaluated for insulin and glucose. Normally the fasting blood work will demonstrate a normal range glucose and a low insulin level. After a dose of sugar the blood glucose level increases as well as an increase in secreted insulin.
Abnormal values can indicate insulin resistance, and in some cases, diabetes.
Values below 23 are considered normal. These values may be different at different clinics or labs. Glucose values over 200 at any point may indicate diabetes and further testing may be needed to confirm the diagnosis of diabetes. Often times patients with diabetes will have elevated fasting glucose levels which again is evidence for diabetes. Some investigators have reported a fasting glucose to insulin ratio is accurate enough to predict insulin resistance.