09/04/2026
Comment “labs” for a list of labs you should be checking at least once a year, if not more.
A lab report can tell you whether a result falls within a reference range—but it cannot tell you, by itself, whether your body is functioning optimally.
Reference ranges are useful clinical tools, but they’re based on general population data and disease-related thresholds. That population includes plenty of people already experiencing metabolic dysfunction, chronic illness, persistent fatigue and dependence on medications to manage symptoms.
In other words, falling within the “normal” range doesn’t mean you’re thriving. We want to do better than “normal” and move into optimal.
That’s why I look beyond an isolated result and ask:
✅ Is this marker trending in the right or the wrong direction?
✅ Does it fit with your symptoms, medications and health history?
✅ What do the related markers show?
✅ Is this level supportive of your age, goals and individual risk factors?
For glucose regulation, that may mean evaluating fasting glucose alongside fasting insulin, hemoglobin A1c, triglycerides, HDL, waist circumference and—in some cases—continuous glucose data. One glucose result is a snapshot; the larger pattern tells us much more about insulin sensitivity and metabolic health.
The same principle applies to vitamin D. Your ideal level may be influenced by bone health, immune function, sun exposure, absorption, kidney function and supplementation. More isn’t always better, so higher-dose vitamin D should be guided by testing and follow-up—not guesswork. It may also be helpful to test at different times of the year because levels can fluctuate significantly with the seasons.
The goal is to understand what your markers mean together, recognize unfavorable trends early and make meaningful changes before those trends become a diagnosis.
Don’t wait until your labs are officially “abnormal” to start paying attention to your health.
Comment “labs” and I’ll send you a list of important markers to consider checking at least annually—and sometimes more frequently, depending on your health history and goals.
