Proinsulin
An early signal of beta-cell strain, often elevated before glucose or C-peptide budge.
Consider this test if:
- Investigating episodes of hypoglycemia, especially fasting low blood sugar with confusion, sweating, or palpitations
- Working up a suspected insulinoma or MEN-1-related pancreatic tumor
- Impaired glucose tolerance or prediabetes, and looking at beta-cell strain beyond glucose alone
- Family history of type 2 diabetes and tracking metabolic risk with a finer marker
- Interpreting an unexpectedly high insulin level alongside C-peptide and glucose
- HSA/FSA eligible
- Typical results in 3-5 days · Reviewed by a real clinician
- Drawn at a CLIA/CAP-accredited lab near you ·
Pre-test considerations
Draw after a 12-hour fast for a baseline level. Results are interpreted together with insulin, C-peptide, and glucose drawn at the same time, so coordinate the collection. Note that chronic kidney disease, cirrhosis, and hyperthyroidism can raise proinsulin independent of diabetes risk.
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What this test is for
Proinsulin is the precursor molecule that pancreatic beta cells cleave into insulin and C-peptide, and normally only small amounts (about 3% of circulating insulin) leak into the blood. When beta cells are under strain, that proportion rises, which is why elevated proinsulin shows up in impaired glucose tolerance and is a recognized risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes, sometimes while fasting glucose and C-peptide still look normal. Markedly high levels point to insulin-secreting beta-cell tumors of the pancreas (insulinomas) and MEN-1-associated endocrine tumors, where proinsulin can occasionally be the only abnormal result and may itself cause hypoglycemia despite its low biological activity. Proinsulin also runs high in chronic kidney failure, cirrhosis, and hyperthyroidism because of slower clearance, so the number is read alongside insulin, C-peptide, and glucose. It is most useful in the workup of unexplained low blood sugar or as a finer look at beta-cell function when standard metabolic markers are equivocal.
What to expect
- 1 Book instantly
Click, book, done. Choose a convenient lab location near you. Transparent, up-front pricing.
- 2 Quick lab visit
Testing to fit your busy schedule, usually 15 minutes or less. Walk-in and appointments available.
- 3 Typical results in 3-5 days
Your results post straight to your dashboard as soon as the lab completes them.
- 4 Expert guidance
Included with Mito membership. A clinician reviews your results and your personalized action plan follows, with clear next steps.
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Every test at our cost
Members pay our cost on every test, with lab fees passed straight through. The full receipt is itemized, never padded.
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Upload past labs and watch your trends over time. Every marker and visit lives in one longitudinal record, so all your care stays together.
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Text anytime and get clinician-reviewed answers. When you want to go deeper, 1:1 consultations are available at affordable rates.
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Order any test or consult without joining. For $9/month, members unlock member prices, trend tracking, and year-round clinician guidance.
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Frequently asked questions
View all FAQsHow does pricing work?
Every test shows the member price next to the standard non-member price, so you can see what membership saves you. The member price is our cost — covering the lab and what it takes to run the service — never a profit on the test itself; Mito makes its money on the $9 membership, not on marking up your tests. Membership is $9/mo, and you still pay the lab’s order fee. Prices are itemized before you pay, with no hidden fees.
Where do I get tested?
Choose a partner lab (Quest, Labcorp, or BioReference) at checkout. If your cart spans multiple tests, we consolidate the whole order onto a single lab so you only make one visit.
Is this eligible for HSA/FSA?
Yes. This test is HSA/FSA eligible, and you can pay with your HSA/FSA card at checkout.
When will I get my results?
Your results post to your dashboard once your lab completes them, then a clinician reviews them and your full analysis and personalized action plan (with clear next steps) follow. Turnaround varies by test: specialty assays and at-home kits take longer, and each test shows its expected turnaround before you buy.
Do I need a doctor’s order?
No. Mito provides the lab order for you, so you can book and get tested without a separate doctor visit.
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