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Metabolic health field guide

Know Your Numbers

Seven measures to discuss with your doctor

Use this field guide to prepare for a conversation about metabolic health. Your clinician can help interpret each measure in the context of your health history.

Blood Sugar & Insulin

Fasting glucose

Measures blood sugar after an overnight fast.

Below 100 mg/dLPreferred range: 70–99 mg/dL

Fasting insulin

Shows how much insulin the body needs while fasting.

2–6 µIU/mLPreferred: below 5 µIU/mL

HOMA-IR

Calculated from fasting glucose and fasting insulin.

Below 2Preferred: below 1.5

Hemoglobin A1C

Reflects average blood sugar over roughly 2–3 months.

Below 5.7%Preferred: below 5.4%

Blood Fats

Triglyceride / HDL ratio

A ratio your clinician can use in a broader metabolic assessment.

Below 2Preferred: below 1

Metabolic Syndrome Indicators

Waist circumference

Waist size is one indicator used when assessing metabolic syndrome.

Men: over 40 in · Women: over 35 inMetabolic syndrome risk threshold

Blood pressure

Blood pressure is one indicator used when assessing metabolic syndrome.

130/85 mmHg or higherMetabolic syndrome risk threshold
Bring this to your next appointment

Calculate Your HOMA-IR

A quick check for insulin resistance using two results from the same fasting blood draw.

Ask

Ask your doctor for fasting glucose and fasting insulin from the same fasting blood draw.

Tests to request

Record

Record the collection date, fasting duration, and both lab values.

Calculate

Multiply glucose by insulin, then divide by 405.

405
Your HOMA-IR—

Understand Your Result

A general reference threshold is below 2; the preferred range presented here is below 1.5.

Below 1.5Preferred reference
Below 2General reference

Your clinician can interpret this result in the context of your health history.

Notes & Questions

Write down questions or context you want to discuss with your clinician.

Conversation starter“Could we check my fasting glucose and fasting insulin from the same blood draw and discuss what the results mean for me?”

Take your completed guide with you

Your answers exist only on this page. They are added to a landscape print sheet when you print or save a PDF, then cleared when the print dialog closes.

Download blank handout

This handout is for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Lab interpretation and personal targets should be reviewed with a qualified healthcare professional.