Insulin, fatigue and focus: the untold story of metabolic health at work

Many benefits plans treat diabetes like a switch that flips. One day your people seem fine, until they’re not. But the reality can be more preventable than most employers realize.

Early signs of metabolic dysfunction can show up before a diagnosis. With the right tools, companies can help employees catch those signals early, understand what they mean and take action to feel better. Often, simple changes to food patterns and daily lifestyle habits can make a difference.

Fasting insulin, glucose and HbA1c are three key biomarkers that can reveal insights about how someone feels and performs each day. The difference between processed convenience food for lunch that clouds focus—or eating the right meal and staying sharp—can start here. When employees understand, even small shifts in food and habit can lead to better energy, focus and resilience.

What most tests miss

Traditional screenings typically focus on glucose or hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), which measures average blood sugar over time. But these markers may fail to detect early risk.

Fasting insulin, a marker rarely included in standard checkups, can be elevated long before glucose or HbA1c levels become abnormal.

Elevated insulin levels can be associated with symptoms and conditions like:

• Fatigue
• Weight gain
• High blood pressure
• PCOS
• Difficulty concentrating

These aren’t isolated health issues. They can be performance drains, and early indicators that the body’s regulatory systems may not be functioning optimally.

The everyday habits behind the shift

Everyday habits in the workplace can quietly affect insulin sensitivity over time:

• Relying on quick refined carbs and processed convenience foods
• Late nights, early mornings and poor sleep quality
• Chronic stress
• Hours of sitting with little movement in between

Without insights to show their metabolic impact—and without support for better choices—the factors compound.

And the data confirms it. Function Health analyzed results from thousands of working-age members and found:

• More than 65% were outside the optimal range for fasting insulin
• Over 50% had high fasting insulin, but normal glucose
• Over 50% had high fasting insulin, but normal HbA1c

That means many standard tests miss early risk. And many employees may miss the chance to course-correct before fatigue, reduced performance and metabolic strain have set in.

Action is the difference

This isn’t just about testing earlier. It’s about what comes next.

Function members don’t just get lab results—they get personalized Protocols designed to improve out-of-range biomarkers. That includes:

• Dietary patterns associated with improvements in fasting insulin levels
• Supplement protocols based on individual needs
• Insights from licensed clinicians to help members understand their results in context

These aren’t vague suggestions. They’re targeted, science-backed next steps—built to support real changes in how people feel and perform.

The cost of waiting

Metabolic disorders like type 2 diabetes cost US employers over $412.9 billion a year in direct medical expenses and lost productivity, according to the American Diabetes Association.

That includes absenteeism, disability and presenteeism—when employees show up but aren’t able to perform at their best.

Another study from the International Diabetes Federation shows nearly half of all people with diabetes remain undiagnosed until complications hit—early action isn’t just a health imperative. It’s a strategic one.

This is the new standard

Today’s leading companies are rethinking how they support employee health. They’re not just reacting to illness. They’re investing upstream in the signals that can show up earlier in the process.

These are the signs that shape how someone feels day to day: focused or foggy, energized or depleted, thriving or just getting through.

Metabolic imbalances can occur over time through daily patterns.

Burnout builds slowly. So does progress. When employees understand what’s happening in their body—and have a clear plan to respond—those imbalances become easier to navigate with confidence.

Over time, small changes can add up to real health gains: more energy, better focus and steadier moods. A team that doesn’t just show up, but feels better and performs at its best.

The future of work doesn’t just need great minds. It needs healthy bodies to carry them.