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What do metabolic tests mean and how to lose weight with them?
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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Once you have done your hormone tests, you will be able to accurately determine whether they are within the normal range. If your hormone levels reach the upper or lower limits of normal, you should see a doctor for additional tests - this may be a sign of serious illnesses.
Glucose test
Its level in the blood is determined on an empty stomach (at least 12 hours should pass after eating). The norm for glucose in the blood is 70-100 units.
The level is below normal – up to 60-70 mg/dl. A glucose level of about 100-110 units may indicate that something is wrong with the body.
A glucose level of 110-125 units should also be a cause for concern; this is a possible sign of glucose intolerance, as well as the risk of developing diabetes.
If the glucose level is 110-125 units, this may indicate a risk of developing diabetes at an early stage, which continues to worsen.
When should you check your blood glucose levels?
Every 2 or 3 years after age 20. The test must be done on an empty stomach.
If you have a hereditary predisposition to diabetes, you should have your glucose levels checked every year, or even better, every six months.
How to determine predisposition to diabetes?
If you have close relatives who suffered from diabetes
If you are overweight and it is increasing
If you have gained more than 44 kg in the last year
If your waist size is more than 84 cm
If your waist size increases and your belly fat grows
If you have an incredible craving for sweets: cakes, pastries, candies, halva, which is often repeated
If you have frequent bouts of thirst
Insulin test
The level of this substance in the blood should also be measured on an empty stomach. In addition to elevated or reduced glucose levels, the body may develop insulin resistance. This is called insulin resistance.
This disease is more common in women over 40. If your body is insulin resistant, you can no longer control your weight. Even diets and exercise do not help.
It is important to know that the normal insulin level is 6-25 units (designated as IU/ml). This is for tests performed on an empty stomach.
The insulin level measured 2 hours after eating is 6-35 units.
If you have a lower or upper threshold of insulin in your body, seek additional examinations.
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Hemoglobin A1C test
This substance is the same glucose that has been converted into hemoglobin. This is the substance that helps oxygenate blood cells.
A hemoglobin test is good for determining whether a person has had high glucose levels in the past 90 days.
The hemoglobin level is reduced to 6 units, if glucose was (and is) normal. The test is very accurate, so it is necessary to do it.
In a person with diabetes, the hemoglobin level will help to identify its early stage of development.
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Cholesterol test
An analysis of this hormone will help determine whether a person is at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. The test for the level of this hormone is always carried out on an empty stomach. It must be supported by:
- HDL tests
- triglyceride tests
- total cholesterol tests
These tests should be done every 2-3 years, and after 35 years more often – 1-2 times a year.
This test should be performed with this frequency when a person has the following symptoms.
- Significant weight gain
- Weakness and fatigue
- Frequent use of medications, especially hormones
- Frequent illnesses that have resulted in you taking new medications that have the ability to increase cholesterol levels
- The time of menopause when your doctor prescribed you estrogen
- Taking estrogens for other reasons
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes mellitus
- Any thyroid disease
- High levels of triglyceride hormones
- The man smokes a lot
- The person abuses alcohol (more than 2 glasses of wine per day)
- A person takes steroids (even if he/she plays sports)
- The person has a high level of stress, or these stresses are very frequent and long-lasting
- The person has chronic diseases of internal organs
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How does insulin respond to glucose levels? (analysis)
This test will tell you exactly whether you have insulin resistance and, as a result, the early stages of diabetes.
This analysis is a must for women over 35-40 years old. Especially for those who cannot control their weight and constantly gain weight.
Electrolyte tests (chloride, potassium, sodium)
These tests are done separately. With their help, doctors find out how high the concentration of salts in the blood is. And also to check the power of the internal organs - in particular, the kidneys, adrenal glands.
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Sodium level tests
Sodium concentration of 133-134 units is considered the lower limit of the norm. At the same time, the potassium level may be elevated – about 5.5 units. If the indicators are not lower than these figures, then everything is fine in the body.
Sodium is salt. That is, through these tests you will find out what the level of salts in the blood is. When you eat salty foods (fish, chips, croutons), the sodium level in the blood increases. To reduce it and remove salts from the body, you need to drink water. However, this can increase swelling.
In addition, people who drink a lot of fluids may experience increased blood pressure.
This means that the daily fluid intake should be optimal - no more than 1.5 liters. And, of course, you need to reduce the level of salts so as not to worsen your health with hypertensive attacks.
When salts are excreted from the body through urine, blood pressure returns to normal or decreases, which is also important.
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Potassium Level Tests
If the potassium in the body is more or less than normal, heart problems may begin. Heart rhythms become more frequent and irregular. Increased potassium levels may be due to poor nutrition (for example, a person eats too many potatoes).
Potassium can also accumulate in the body due to medications containing it. If you take such medications, be sure to check your potassium level at least twice a year to avoid serious health consequences.
Potassium levels in the body can decrease if you take drugs with cortisol, which help reduce the production and accumulation of potassium. Low potassium levels can be a signal that your adrenaline receptors are not working well.
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Magnesium, calcium and phosphate (inorganic) tests
These substances are minerals. They help all body systems to work properly and evenly. It has the ability to mechanically regulate the level of all these substances (in a healthy state).
Magnesium, phosphate and calcium help blood flow to function properly, they are important for the nervous system and muscle health, as well as for heart function and normal blood pressure.
These substances also play an important role in the transmission of genetic information, as well as ensure the strength and growth of bones, and activate metabolism.
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Calcium level test
The level of calcium in your blood will not tell you how strong your bones are. In other words, it will not test for osteoporosis.
A calcium test will show the concentration of calcium in the blood. If the body does not have enough calcium, or if it is lost due to a significant decrease in estrogen levels, the body takes calcium from bone tissue to provide it with blood, the nervous system, brain, muscles, heart and other vital organs.
During menopause, a woman experiences a deficiency of the hormone estradiol. This means that calcium in the blood is likely to be less than normal. In addition, it is excreted from the body in the urine.
And even if you start taking calcium in pills on the recommendation of a doctor, estradiol is definitely needed as an additional element, otherwise calcium reserves will be constantly lost. Estradiol is needed for calcium to be transported to the bones.
If there is not enough estradiol in the body and calcium in the urine is higher than normal, a woman risks developing kidney stones. This is especially true for women over 40, who have significantly reduced many body functions.
If calcium levels in the blood are elevated, a person must be prescribed tests for other substances that are responsible for the functioning of internal organs.
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What does high blood calcium mean?
- Excessive use of vitamin D
- Use of drugs for diabetics, especially those containing lithium
- Osteoporosis
- Myeloma
- Hyperthyroidism
- Leukemia
- Cancer (possible metastasis)
- And other serious deviations
If the calcium in the body is less than normal
This means that you have a low level of vitamin D. Calcium loss can also be caused by poor absorption of nutrients due to intestinal disorders, kidney problems, liver problems, and immune disorders.
If you have discovered a calcium deficiency in your body, you should undergo additional tests as recommended by your doctor.
What does low magnesium mean?
This is due to a poor menu, which lacks useful substances. This is aggravated by disorders in the gastrointestinal tract, excessive alcohol consumption, immune system diseases, diuretic medications, kidney or liver diseases. During lactation (breastfeeding), a woman also loses magnesium.
What does elevated magnesium levels mean?
This happens when supplements containing magnesium are used too frequently and in large quantities. Doctors also observe elevated magnesium levels in kidney, liver, and adrenal diseases.
Both high and low magnesium levels carry the risk of weight gain, which is very difficult to control.
Inorganic Phosphate Analysis
If you have low phosphate levels – this condition occurs with alcohol and tobacco abuse. Phosphate levels also decrease due to diabetes, abuse of anabolic steroids during sports, increased testosterone levels in the body (it has the ability to suppress phosphate levels).
Reduced amounts of phosphates also occur if the body has an elevated level of the hormone DHEA. Diuretics and psychotropic drugs also have the property of reducing the level of phosphates in the body.
Insufficient vitamin D is also a risk factor for phosphates.
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Elevated phosphate levels
It is observed with the abuse of vitamin D (both in its pure form and that produced by ultraviolet exposure, so do not overuse solariums and tanning on the beach).
Phosphate levels may also increase in bone diseases.
If you have discovered symptoms such as sudden weight fluctuations, it is difficult for you to control it, it is difficult to overcome your appetite, and you do not feel so good – take the hormone test that we described above. This will give you the opportunity to start treatment in time and overcome diseases in their early stages. In particular – obesity.