Insulin is the "storage hormone." Chronically elevated insulin locks fat cells, prevents autophagy, and drives inflammation. It is often elevated for a decade before blood glucose rises.

Keeping fasting insulin low (< 5 uIU/mL) indicates that your cells are sensitive to the signal, requiring only a whisper of insulin to do the job.

Before blood sugar rises (Pre-diabetes), the pancreas overworks to keep it down by pumping out massive amounts of insulin. High fasting insulin reveals this "hidden" dysfunction years before a diagnosis.

Chronically high insulin prevents lipolysis (fat burning) even in a caloric deficit. Until you lower your basal insulin, your body is biologically locked out of its own fat stores, making weight loss metabolic torture.

Insulin stimulates the liver to produce VLDL particles (the precursors to LDL) via de novo lipogenesis. Chronically high insulin keeps this production line running overdrive.

Lowering fasting insulin via diet and fasting turns off the tap, reducing the total number of particles entering circulation.