| The word “Metabolism” gets tossed around a bit, usually in the context of someone’s weight and whether their metabolism is fast or slow. But our Metabolic health is so much more than that. It’s the way our 37 trillion cells create energy, so that we can do all the things we want to do in life, BIG and Small. Chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s, cancer, and more are all linked in one way or another to various Metabolic aka blood sugar dysfunction. And Metabolic dysfunction doesn’t happen overnight. It usually takes a decade or so before it shows up symptomatically. So, wouldn’t it be nice to catch it early and do something about it before it becomes diabetes, cancer, a heart attack or Alzheimer’s. Well, you can! There are four lab markers, I recommend you ask for from your doctor or have them done on your own. (you do not need to have a prescription from your doctor to order your own lab work). 1. Fasting Insulin 2. HS C-reactive protein 3. Hemoglobin A1c 4. Homocysteine Understanding your triglyceride/HDL ratio is also very important. It’s a surrogate marker of insulin resistance. You can glean that ratio from a standard lipid test. Optimal levels 2.0 or less Fasting insulin is super important to track as it goes up long before fasting glucose or A1c does. Insulin rises as our body struggles to maintain blood glucose at optimal levels. Optimal Insulin levels are 2-5. If they are over 7 you need to pay attention. HS C-reactive protein is a marker of inflammation and often points to heart disease if elevated. Optimal <1 Hemoglobin A1c, even though this marker has some limitations, I still think it’s a good marker to include. Optimal ranges 4.85%-5.6% Homocysteine levels are also a marker of possible heart disease and also a back ended way of determining adequate levels of folate and B-12 both of which have far reaching effects. Optimal levels: 5-8 Don’t be shy. Ask your doctors for these lab tests. They can illuminate the oncoming of chronic disease long before it becomes a problem. You are in control. You are in the driver’s seat of your own health. If you’d like some help ordering lab work. Please schedule a Complimentary Discovery call. If you’d like to dig a bit deeper and take a closer look at what all your lab markers are actually telling you, check out the FBCA Consultation. It’s a great introduction to Functional Medicine and a perfect way to pair symptoms to lab markers and create a personalized program for you. |