These are foundational tests you’ll see ordered most often. They are all performed with a simple blood draw.
What is it? Your HbA1c estimates your average blood sugar over the past two to three months. Red blood cells have a protein called hemoglobin that attracts sugar molecules. When your blood sugar is higher, more sugar will stick to these cells.
Frequency: Your Care Team will often check your A1c at the start of the program to screen for conditions like prediabetes or diabetes. If you already live with diabetes, this lab will likely be checked every three months, or at least twice a year, to ensure you are reaching your target.
Ranges: The general recommendation for people with diabetes is an A1c target of 7% or less, but your Care Team will help create a target specific for you. For people without diabetes, a target range is below 5.7%.
What does your result tell you? Your A1c helps you and your team determine if you may be at risk for prediabetes or diabetes. If it comes back above your target, your team can make lifestyle recommendations or consider medications if that’s the right choice.
What is it? A cholesterol panel (which includes total, LDL, and HDL) measures the amount found in your blood. Low-density lipoproteins, or LDL, is the cholesterol that contributes to the risk of heart disease. High-density lipoproteins, or HDL, is the cholesterol that protects you from cardiovascular disease. And total cholesterol measures all the types together.
Triglycerides are also a type of fat found in your bloodstream. High triglycerides are associated with heart attacks, stroke, or liver disease.
Frequency: Every 1-2 years, but this again depends on your individual plan and medications you may be taking.
Ranges: Optimal values depend on your needs and if you are taking medications like statins to lower your cholesterol. However, these are the general guidelines:
What does the result tell you? Since you can’t usually feel if you have high lipids, it’s essential to monitor these results. If these labs come back outside of your target range, your care team can help you make adjustments to reduce your risk.
This test measures various substances in your blood to evaluate the health of your organs, like the liver and kidneys. Elevated blood sugar, blood pressure, and high body weight can impact kidney function by affecting small kidney blood vessels. High body weight and elevated blood sugar can also cause inflammation of the liver, a condition known as MASLD, or more commonly as “fatty liver”.
Frequency: If you don’t have any signs of kidney or liver damage, these labs are usually drawn annually. If there’s any indication that your kidney or liver function is changing, your doctor may check this more often.
Ranges: Target values vary based on age and biological sex, so check with your doctor for your optimal range.
What does the result tell you? Monitoring your kidneys and liver is like lipids because you can have early damage without noticing it. Catching any early signs of kidney or liver damage can stop disease progression.
This test checks if your thyroid gland produces the right amount of hormones that regulate your body’s energy use. Optimal thyroid levels are important for maintaining a healthy weight.
This test measures the amount of protein in your urine, helping to assess kidney function. High blood sugars, as in diabetes, and high body weight can cause protein to leak into the urine and is an early marker of kidney damage. For this test, you'll need to provide a urine sample.
There are multiple ways to get bloodwork done, depending on which labs need to be done and your insurance coverage, including testing at the doctor’s office or a lab near you. If you have insurance, it can often cover at least part of the testing. Check with your 9amHealth Care Team to find out which kind of test is the best for you.