Measure Insulin, Master Your Metabolism
Introduction
Welcome to an educational resource inspired by Dr. Ben Bikman’s insulin-centric approach to health, as shared in The Human Upgrade podcast [1]. Insulin resistance, affecting ~50% of adults worldwide, is a hidden driver of diabetes, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, and more [1, 2]. For first responders—police, firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics—understanding insulin resistance is critical when managing diabetic emergencies, where patients may be confused, slurring speech, or unconscious. This webpage distills Bikman’s insights, offering practical tools to measure insulin, reverse resistance, and prevent crises. Diabetics and the public will also find actionable steps to take control of their metabolism. Explore our companion resources for deeper insights tailored to responders:
Academic Paper: Comparing and Contrasting Dr. Ben Bikman’s Insights on Insulin Resistance Across Six Metabolic Classroom Transcripts and The Human Upgrade Podcast – A 2000-word college-level analysis of Bikman’s podcast and Metabolic Classroom lectures, detailing insulin’s role, causes, and solutions. Perfect for responders seeking scientific grounding. [Link to Academic Paper – Insert URL]
Instructional Guide: An Instructional Guide for First Responders and Laypeople in Managing Diabetic Emergencies with an Insulin-Centric Approach – A 7000-word manual for responders and families, providing protocols to stabilize patients, investigate scenes, and document insulin resistance clues. Essential for handling emergencies effectively. [Link to Instructional Guide – Insert URL]
Why Insulin Matters
Insulin regulates blood sugar, fat storage, and brain function, but when cells resist its signals (insulin resistance), elevated insulin levels (hyperinsulinemia) cause widespread harm [1]. Bikman highlights:
Diabetes: Insulin resistance leads to high blood sugar, driving type 2 diabetes [1].
Alzheimer’s: Brain insulin resistance impairs cognition, termed “type 3 diabetes” [1].
Heart Disease: High insulin promotes inflammation and hypertension [1].
PCOS: Insulin disrupts hormones, affecting fertility in women [1].
Globally, ~50% of adults have insulin resistance, often undetected because standard glucose tests miss early hyperinsulinemia [1]. First responders see the consequences in emergencies, where patients may exhibit drunk-like symptoms (slurred speech, staggering) from low blood sugar [1, 3]. Our Academic Paper compares Bikman’s podcast insights with his lectures, offering responders a rigorous understanding of insulin’s role.
Causes of Insulin Resistance
Bikman identifies key drivers, many visible in emergency scenes:
Frequent Carbohydrates: Eating carbs (bread, soda, rice) 5-6 times daily spikes insulin, desensitizing cells. Carbs make up 70% of global calories [1].
Fat Cell Hypertrophy: Excess fat cells resist insulin, worsening hyperinsulinemia [1].
Environmental Toxins: Plasticizers (e.g., in shampoo bottles), pesticides, and diesel exhaust increase fat cell growth [1].
Stress and Poor Sleep: Cortisol from stress or late-night screen exposure raises glucose, triggering insulin spikes [1].
Seed Oils: Soybean or canola oil may indirectly worsen resistance via fat cell changes [1].
Responders can spot these in kitchens (soda cans, seed oils) or bathrooms (plastic products) during diabetic emergencies, linking diet and environment to crises [1]. The Instructional Guide teaches responders to investigate these triggers, enhancing emergency response.
Consequences of Insulin Resistance
Insulin resistance causes immediate and long-term effects:
Emergency Symptoms: Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia, <70 mg/dL) leads to tremors, slurred speech, staggering (drunk-like), confusion, seizures, or unconsciousness. High blood sugar (hyperglycemia, >250 mg/dL) causes thirst, lethargy, rapid breathing, or fruity breath (DKA) [1, 3].
Physical Signs: Skin tags (neck/armpit bumps) and acanthosis nigricans (dark, crinkled skin) signal chronic insulin resistance [1].
Chronic Diseases: Diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and hypertension emerge over time [1].
First responders encounter these symptoms in emergencies, often mistaking drunk-like behavior for intoxication [3]. The Instructional Guide details how to recognize and stabilize these presentations, ensuring effective care.
Measuring Insulin Resistance
Bikman advocates insulin-focused tests to detect resistance early [1]:
Fasting Insulin Test: Measures insulin after an 8-12 hour fast (<6 µU/mL ideal, ≥18 high). Test late morning to avoid cortisol spikes [1].
Triglyceride-to-HDL Ratio: Blood test; <1.5 optimal (<1 for East Asians) [1].
Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs): Track glucose patterns, revealing insulin issues [1].
Responders can check CGMs or glucometers in emergencies to guide treatment (e.g., glucagon for hypoglycemia) [1]. Diabetics should request insulin tests from doctors. The Academic Paper analyzes these metrics across Bikman’s teachings, providing scientific context for responders.
Resolving Insulin Resistance
Bikman’s strategies lower insulin and prevent emergencies:
Control Carbohydrates: Avoid starches/sugars (bread, soda). Choose vegetables [1].
Prioritize Protein: Meat, eggs, fish stabilize insulin [1].
Embrace Fats: Butter, olive oil fuel ketosis, “wasting” 500-600 calories daily [1].
Fasting: Caloric (no calories) or metabolic (MCT oil) fasting lowers insulin [1].
Resistance Training: Weightlifting boosts sensitivity [1].
Cold Immersion: Cold showers burn glucose [1].
Sleep: Avoid blue light at night to stabilize glucose [1].
Responders can adopt these to counter fast food reliance, while diabetics reduce medication needs [1]. The Instructional Guide shows how to spot these habits (e.g., low-carb foods) in emergency scenes, informing care.
Insulin Resistance: A Public Health Crisis
Insulin resistance rivals drug addiction in impact:
Epidemic Scale: Affects ~50% of adults, costing $4.3 trillion annually [2].
Carbohydrate Addiction: Frequent carbs trigger insulin spikes, hunger, and compulsive eating, like drug reward cycles [4]. The Instructional Guide frames this as an “addiction,” urging responders to document dietary clues.
Responder Irony: ~40% of responders are obese, reliant on carb-heavy fast food, increasing their risk [5]. The Instructional Guide proposes health programs to address this.
First responders, as “Insulin Detectives,” can fight this crisis by managing emergencies and advocating insulin testing, as detailed in our resources.
Take Action
Test Insulin: Ask your doctor for a fasting insulin test.
Adopt Bikman’s Strategies: Cut carbs, lift weights, try fasting.
Learn More: Read our Academic Paper for insulin resistance science [Link to Academic Paper – Insert URL] or the Instructional Guide for emergency protocols [Link to Instructional Guide – Insert URL].
Share: Post on X with #MeasureInsulin or share with responders and diabetics.
Connect with Dr. Bikman
Watch the podcast: The Human Upgrade with Dave Asprey [1] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ta5_bhcZfwY – print this link for editing).
Follow Dr. Bikman on X: @BenBikmanPhD.
Resources
Academic Paper: 2000-word scientific comparison of Bikman’s podcast and lectures, ideal for responders and researchers. [Link to Academic Paper – Insert URL]
Instructional Guide: 7000-word manual for managing diabetic emergencies, essential for first responders and families. [Link to Instructional Guide – Insert URL]
Endnotes
Asprey, D. (Host). (2025). Blood sugar hack: The fastest way to burn fat, optimize hormones & reverse disease [Video podcast episode]. In The Human Update. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ta5_bhcZfwY (print this link for editing).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). National diabetes statistics report. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes (print this link for editing).
American Diabetes Association. (2023). Standards of medical care in diabetes—2023. Diabetes Care, 46(Suppl. 1), S1-S291.
Ludwig, D. S. (2018). The carbohydrate-insulin model of obesity: Beyond “calories in, calories out.” JAMA Internal Medicine, 178(8), 1098-1103.
Flegal, K. M., et al. (2023). Prevalence of obesity among U.S. adults. JAMA, 329(12), 1023-1030.