It is very challenging for physicians to test for insulin resistance directly; therefore, the most common way in which it is tested for is indirectly, by assessing other quantities that may be indicative of a state of insulin resistance. One key indication that you may be insulin resistant is if your fasting glucose level is elevated.  You will need to get a form from your family doctor (or another physician) sending you for a "fasting blood test." A fasting blood test is no different than a regular blood test, other than that it requires that you do not eat or drink (except for water) for eight hours prior to the blood test. Most people find it easiest to fast (i.e. to refrain from eating and drinking) overnight and to have the blood test first thing in the morning. A normal fasting glucose measurement is less than 100mg/dL. If your fasting glucose is between 100–125 mg/dL, you have "pre-diabetes" and likely have insulin resistance. If it is above 126 mg/dL on two separate tests, you will be diagnosed with diabetes (and it is key to understand that the diagnosis of diabetes is a more severe form of insulin resistance). In addition to a blood test checking your fasting glucose measurement, your doctor may advise that you receive an oral glucose tolerance test. This test also requires that you fast (do not eat for eight hours prior to the test). The difference is that the oral glucose tolerance test takes between one and three hours.  This is a routine test for pregnant women to screen for gestational diabetes. Your glucose level is measured prior to the start of the test. You are then instructed to consume a beverage high in sugar, and your glucose levels will continue to be monitored at set time intervals after that to observe how your body manages the glucose load in your bloodstream. If your body is able to effectively utilize insulin (the hormone that transports glucose from the bloodstream inside cells where it is needed), your results will be normal. On the other hand, if your body has developed insulin resistance, you will not be able to quickly and effectively transport the glucose from your bloodstream into your cells, and this will show up as an elevated glucose level in your test results. A glucose result between 140–200 mg/dL on your oral glucose tolerance test is indicative of "pre-diabetes" and likely some degree of insulin resistance. A glucose result over 200 mg/dL on your oral glucose tolerance test is diagnostic of diabetes, which is a more severe form of insulin resistance. One of the newer tests that is now available to evaluate the amount of glucose in your bloodstream is called HbA1c (hemoglobin A1c). It gives doctors a three-month snapshot of how your sugar levels have been (i.e. it reflects the average amount of glucose in your bloodstream over the past three months).  Doctors will usually use the A1c blood test or glucose tolerance test, but not both. It is a highly useful test because it is the only one that offers a long-term profile of your body's ability to process glucose, which reflects back to your body's ability to effectively use insulin. If you have insulin resistance, your HbA1c value will be elevated due to your impaired ability to manage the glucose load in your bloodstream. A normal HbA1c is less than 5.6%. An HbA1c value between 5.7–6.4% is indicative of "pre-diabetes" and suggestive of insulin resistance. An HbA1c value above 6.5% is diagnostic of diabetes, which is a later stage and more severe form of insulin resistance.
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One-sentence summary -- Have your fasting glucose measured. Receive an oral glucose tolerance test. Get a simple blood test to have your HbA1c measured.


The silver skin on your flank steak is a thin membrane that covers one side of the steak. It should always be taken off before you cook the meat. Place the meat on a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, slice under one small corner of the membrane.
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One-sentence summary -- Slice under one small corner of the silver membrane with a knife.


Your flash drive or hard drive should plug into one of your computer's USB slots.  On a laptop, USB slots are generally on the sides of the laptop's housing. On a desktop, you'll usually find USB slots in the front or back of the CPU box, or on a peripheral such as the keyboard. Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen. Click the folder-shaped icon in the bottom-left side of the Start window. It's on the far-left side of the File Explorer window. Click the name of the USB drive that you attached. It will usually have an "F:" designation if it's the only external storage attached. It's a tab in the upper-left side of the window. A toolbar will appear just below the Computer tab. This white box with a red checkmark on it is on the far-left side of the toolbar. The flash drive's Properties window will open. It's at the top of the Properties window. You'll see this in the middle of the page. Doing so will allow Windows to use the maximum space available on your flash drive for RAM.  You won't be able to use more than your computer's maximum RAM capacity. You may have to wait a few seconds for ReadyBoost to display the flash drive's information. These are both at the bottom of the window. Doing so will save your settings and apply the USB drive's free space to RAM usage. Once you unplug the USB drive, you'll need to go back into the ReadyBoost menu to set it up as RAM if you decide to use it as RAM again.
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One-sentence summary -- Plug your USB drive into your computer. Open Start . Open File Explorer . Click This PC. Select your USB drive. Click Computer. Click Properties. Click the ReadyBoost tab. Check the "Use this device" box. Click Apply, then click OK.


Find any opportunity to make your boyfriend laugh. Tell your boyfriend a funny joke or a silly story. Watch a funny TV show, a comedy skit, or a humorous movie. Laughter triggers endorphins, and endorphins make you feel good and promote well-being. your boyfriend to show him you care. Whether you’ve been together for 2 weeks or 2 years, compliment your boyfriend often so he knows you appreciate him. You can say something like, “Wow I love those jeans on you!” or “You’re so smart. I love how you analyze issues so deeply.” Comment on how great your time together was, or mention how excited you are to see your boyfriend. Give previews of your plans together, like hinting that you bought a new outfit. You could also send racy pictures to your boyfriend to get him even more excited! Whether you are running errands or walking around your neighborhood, hold hands when you can. Physical contact releases a hormone called oxytocin, which increases intimacy and enhances trust. Give your boyfriend a back massage or shoulder rub. You can place your hand on his shoulder, or maybe put your feet over his when you watch TV. Touching each other will increase passion while expressing your love. A kiss can say a thousand words, so show him how much you care by giving him frequent, passionate kisses. You can pair these juicy smooches with softer kisses as well. Kissing also boosts oxytocin, so the more you kiss, the more connected you'll feel! Light some candles, use silky sheets, and set out some new massage oil. Play romantic music or try some new lingerie. All these elements will set the tone for romance and add some interest to your sex life. Always make sure both parties give consent before you try anything new intimately. You want to respect each other’s boundaries while still exploring each other deeper.
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One-sentence summary --
Laugh together as often as you can to keep things fun and positive. Compliment Send flirtatious, naughty text messages. Hold hands more often. Touch your boyfriend affectionately. Kiss your boyfriend passionately. Set a romantic mood in your bedroom.