Canadian Researchers Measure Insulin Levels for Early Signs of Diabetes, Obesity

By Irene Yeh 

September 17, 2025 | Measuring hyperinsulinemia, or elevated levels of insulin, has proven to be effective in measuring metabolic health and can help show the risk of developing diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. Researchers at the University of British Columbia Okanagan have developed a way to measure insulin levels using saliva, allowing for a non-invasive method without needles or lab-based blood work. 

How the Test Works 

For the study, the research team collected 1 mL of saliva into a tube from participants of different body sizes: normal weight, overweight, and obesity. Saliva samples and finger prick blood glucose were collected at fasting and 60 and 90 minutes after consuming a standardized meal-replacement shake (Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, DOI: 10.1139/apnm-2024-0532). The samples were processed in a lab to measure insulin concentration. 

The results showed that the overweight and obesity groups had higher insulin levels compared to the normal weight group. There were no significant differences found in fasting and post-meal glucose levels. “Overall, our hypothesis that saliva insulin might be a good marker of metabolic health and type 2 diabetes risk was supported,” said Jonathan Little, professor at UBC Okanagan’s School of Health and Exercise Sciences and co-author of the study. “We also developed preliminary cut-off points for what might constitute elevated saliva insulin levels that could be tested in future studies.” 

There were strong positive correlations observed between obesity markers, such as waist circumference and body mass index (BMI), and saliva insulin levels. 

“Elevated waist circumference is closely linked to visceral/abdominal adiposity and poor metabolic health,” explained Little. And though BMI is not considered a perfect reflection of body fat percentage or obesity status in patients, for this study, it “tracked closely with elevated waist circumference.” 

Future Plans 

The results of the test offer hope for an accessible, easier method of insulin monitoring. This might be attractive for certain populations, such as children, or situations where blood sampling is difficult. Clinicians could have a way to test their patients quickly and efficiently.  

“In the future, developing a point-of-care saliva insulin monitor might be possible,” said Little. For now, the team is working to collect more data on larger and more diverse samples. They aim to develop a quicker and easier assay for saliva insulin that will not need a specialized lab to measure.