Five Overlooked Lab Tests That Transform How We Understand Heart and Metabolic Health
Keeping your heart and metabolic health on track requires more than a quick glance at cholesterol and fasting glucose.
At Wellness Insights, we look deeper.
Your physiology is always sending signals, and advanced lab work helps us understand the full picture long before symptoms arise.
While many people are familiar with basic blood sugar and cholesterol testing, some of the most powerful markers are the ones that rarely get discussed. These tests can uncover early metabolic dysfunction, silent inflammation, genetic risk factors, and opportunities for prevention that can meaningfully shape your long-term health.
Below are five cardiometabolic tests we frequently use to give you clearer answers, earlier insight, and a more personalized plan for your wellbeing.
Hemoglobin A1C: This is a more sensitive marker of blood sugar regulation. Unlike a standard glucose test (which captures your blood sugar at the moment of the blood draw) HbA1c reflects your average blood sugar over the past three months. It does this by measuring how much sugar has attached to your red blood cells. (Fun fact: red blood cells live about 3 months, which is why the test reflects that timeframe!)
An optimal HbA1c is generally at or below 5%.
Values between 5.7–6.4% indicate prediabetes.
Levels 6.5% or higher fall into the diabetes range
If your HbA1c is not comfortably below 5.7%, it’s a good idea to talk with your doctor about strategies to optimize blood sugar and metabolic health.
Insulin: Your body produces insulin in response to sugar being present - i.e., when you consume food or drinks with carbohydrates. If your insulin level is elevated (something called insulin resistance) it can tell us that your body is working harder to signal your cells in the presence of food, which negatively impacts blood sugar regulation in addition to other aspects like fat accumulation, metabolism, hormones, and reproductive health. We like to see fasting insulin less than 10, and ideally less than 5.
Hs-CRP: This is high-sensitive C-reactive protein, and it’s a general inflammatory marker that has some specificity for inflammation in your cardiovascular system. At significant elevations, it can indicate other concerns. An optimal hs-CRP is less than 1.
Lipoprotein(a): Here’s a test that doesn’t necessarily need to be repeated frequently. Referred to as “Lp little A”, it’s an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. It tends to be determined by your genetics. If you’re in a higher risk category, you can take extra preventive measures like baby aspirin. A drug to treat Lp(a) will likely be available in the next year or two for those at very high risk. We like to see Lp(a) less than 75 nmol/L.
Lp PLA2: Another marker related to cardiovascular health, this one can tell us about potential arterial plaque concerns and if additional anti-inflammatory support is indicated because it signals more advanced inflammation than hsCRP. It’s especially important to see this type of testing if you have a family history of cardiovascular concerns, including atherosclerosis and high cholesterol.
Of course, we order a lot more than these five tests. This is a sampling of some less-commonly discussed cardiometabolic tests that we order.
If you know us at Wellness Insights, you know that we strive for a comprehensive understanding of your health, to allow us to best support you and your long-term health. Part of the way we achieve this is via thorough and detailed testing.
It’s amazing what insights lab work can provide.
