How To Read Your Own Lab Results

You can spend years going for annual check-ups and never really know what your blood tests are telling you.

Most of us just glance at the summary, see the words ‘within normal range'.

What this actually means is; Not yet flagged. Not optimal, or even healthy.

8 Markers to Know.

Look at these test numbers to reveal your long-term Metabolic health.

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1.Fasting Insulin - Most doctors measure fasting glucose not fasting insulin.

Yet insulin rises long before glucose does - often 10-15 years.

By the time fasting glucose is high, the disease has been building silently for a decade.

Target: under 6 microIU/mL

*If your insulin is high but your glucose is still normal - you aren’t fine. You’re just early.

2.HOMA-IR - Insulin resistance calculated

HOMA-IR combines fasting insulin & fasting glucose into 1 number..

It’s one of the most validated measures of insulin resistance & metabolic dysfunction.

Target: under 1.0

*A rising HOMA-IR is one of the earliest measurable signs that the path to chronic disease has begun.

3.Triglycerides/HDL Ratio - A free powerful insulin-resistance proxy.

Divide triglycerides by HDL Cholesterol [both already on standard panels.] This ratio is one of the strongest available proxies for insulin resistance & cardiovascular risk.

Target: under 1.5

*If your ration is above 3, your metabolism is sending you a warning even is every other number “looks fine”.

4.ApoB - Cardiovascular risk, more accuracy.

AopB counts the actual number of atherogenic particles in your blood. It’s far more predictive of cardiovascular events than LDL-C alone. Many people with “normal” LDL have elevated ApoB.

Target: Under 80 mg/dL [lower if higher risk]

*LDL-C tells you cholesterol concentration. ApoB tells you particle count - which actually drives plaque.

5.hs-CRP - Sensitive marker of systemic inflammation.

High-sensitivityC-reactive protein reflects chronic low-grade inflammation - a root cause driver of cardiovascular disease, dementia, and many cancers.

Target: Under 1.0 mg/L

*Chronic inflammation is a quiet accelerant for almost every age-related disease. This marker reveals it.

6.HbA1c - 3-month glucose average.

HbA1c reflects average blood sugar over the past 90 days. The “normal’ cut-off is 5.7%. Optimal metabolic health usually requires a lower number.

Target: under 5.4%

*Between 5.4% and 5.7%  is officially “normal”, but metabolically not optimal. Aim lower.

7.Vitamin D [25-OH] - Most adults are deficient or suboptimal.

Vitamin D supports immune function, bone, mood, and metabolic regulation. The “normal lab” cut-off [often 30 ng/mL] is far below the levels associated with best outcomes in the literature.

Target: 40-80 ng/mL

*If your level is 20-30 ng/mL and your panel says “normal” you are still likely suboptimal.

8.Magnesium RBC - Far more accurate than serum magnesium.

Serum magnesium is what most labs measure, and it’s misleading. RBC magnesium measures what’s inside cells where magnesium actually does it’s work. Many people have normal serum magnesium and depleted cellular magnesium.

Target: 5.0 - 6.5 mg/dL [RBS]

*If you have only had serum magnesium done, you haven’t actually had your magnesium checked.

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Direct Testing.

Always begin with your provider to request these labs we should have to determine our metabolic status.

Print this list and bring it to your next appointment, and ask for them by name.

If you cannot get them through your provider, I can help.

Reach out and I will send you how to use direct testing via Fullscript.

Thanks for reading,

Jan