Why include fasting insulin if HbA1c is normal?

Insulin becomes elevated years before blood sugar rises. By the time HbA1c is elevated, you may have had insulin resistance for 5-10 years. Testing insulin catches problems at the earliest stage.

What is insulin resistance?

Insulin resistance means your cells don't respond well to insulin, so your pancreas has to make more. This leads to high insulin levels, weight gain, and eventually elevated blood sugar. It's reversible with lifestyle changes.

Why are lipids included in a diabetes panel?

Diabetes and prediabetes dramatically increase heart disease risk. High triglycerides and low HDL often accompany insulin resistance. Monitoring both gives a complete picture of metabolic health.

How often should I get this panel?

For screening: annually if you have risk factors. For monitoring prediabetes or lifestyle interventions: every 3-6 months to track progress. For diabetics: as recommended by your doctor.

Panel🩸 DiabetesPopular

Comprehensive Diabetes Panel - Complete Diabetes Screening

This panel detects diabetes and prediabetes at every stage. Includes lipids because diabetes dramatically increases heart disease risk.

Over 96 million Americans have prediabetes - and 80% don't know it. This comprehensive panel catches diabetes at every stage of development:

• HbA1c - Your average blood sugar over 2-3 months • Fasting Glucose - Your blood sugar right now • Fasting Insulin - Detects insulin resistance years before blood sugar rises • Lipid Panel - Diabetes dramatically increases heart disease risk

The key insight: insulin levels rise years before blood sugar becomes elevated. By including fasting insulin, this panel can detect problems at the earliest, most reversible stage.

Panel Price

$34

Tests Included

Included Tests

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)

Measures average blood sugar over the past 2-3 months. Key marker for diabetes management and prediabetes screening.

HbA1cEstimated Average Glucose

Glucose, Fasting

Measures blood sugar levels after fasting. Used to screen for diabetes and monitor blood sugar control.

Glucose

Fasting

Lipid Panel (Standard)

Standard cholesterol panel including total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides. Essential for cardiovascular risk assessment.

Total CholesterolHDLLDLTriglycerides+1 more

Fasting

Insulin, Fasting

Measures fasting insulin levels to assess insulin resistance and metabolic health. Important for early detection of diabetes risk.

Insulin

$14

Fasting

Fasting Required

One or more tests in this panel require fasting for accurate results:

Do not eat or drink anything except water for 8-12 hours before your blood draw.
Water is allowed and encouraged - stay hydrated!
Schedule your lab visit in the morning for convenience.

What This Panel Measures

This panel measures 9 markers: HbA1c (blood sugar average), fasting glucose (current blood sugar), and a complete lipid panel (cholesterol and triglycerides). Together they provide a complete picture of diabetes risk.

Who Should Get This Panel

Anyone over 45, adults with weight concerns, those with family history of diabetes, women with history of gestational diabetes or PCOS, anyone with high blood pressure, and those wanting to monitor their metabolic health or track progress on dietary changes.

Health Insights

Conditions Screened

Type 2 diabetesPrediabetesMetabolic syndromeDiabetic dyslipidemia

Related Symptoms

Increased thirstFrequent urinationFatigue after mealsSugar cravingsWeight gainDifficulty losing weightBrain fogBlurred visionSlow-healing wounds

When to Get Tested

Fasting for 9-12 hours is required for accurate lipid results. Schedule for morning. If you're tracking progress on lifestyle changes, retest every 3 months.

Understanding Your Results

Targets: Fasting glucose <100 mg/dL, HbA1c <5.7%. Prediabetes: glucose 100-125 or HbA1c 5.7-6.4%. Diabetes: glucose 126+ or HbA1c 6.5%+.

Frequently Asked Questions

$34

Typical hospital cash price: $250–$600

+ $28 in standard lab & physician fees at checkout (no additional bills later)

$18 lab collection + $10 physician order

Results in 1-3 business days

4 tests included

Fasting required

Need Individual Tests?

You can also order any of these tests individually if you don't need the full panel.

Browse Individual Tests

$34