The Importance of Lab Tests for Weight Management

‘What kind of labs should my doctor be checking?’ This is a question I often get asked, and a great one because labs are an extremely helpful tool to help pinpoint possible sources of weight gain, screen for underlying conditions, and help to determine if weight loss medications can be used safely. They can also play a role in identifying what type of medication and lifestyle changes may work best for your body.Weight management is more than just calories in vs. calories out. Lab tests provide you with valuable insights into the intricate workings of your physiology, and ensure you get the strategies and interventions to best address your unique metabolic needs.In today’s episode, I’m running through what should be checked at the most basic level if weight is a challenge for you, including CBC (complete blood count) tests, CMP (complete metabolic panel) tests, basic thyroid testing, and more. (A reminder that I am not your physician and this is intended to be general, educational content to help inform you and support conversations with your own medical team.)ReferencesYou can access the handout "What Labs to Consider Ordering in Weight Management" here!Get on Dr. Rentea’s email list to submit ideas for topics to discuss, and be the first to hear about her upcoming blood sugar management program.Audio Stamps03:00 - A listener asks if Dr. Rentea has patients who complain of low energy and fatigue, and how she approaches this with them.06:22 - We learn about the role of CBC (complete blood count) tests.07:41 - We learn about the role of CMP (complete metabolic panel) tests.11:02 - We learn about the role of Hemoglobin A1c tests.15:45 - Dr. Rentea discusses fasting insulin levels.19:04 - Dr. Rentea discusses what we can learn from fasting lipid levels.20:15 - We find out about the importance of basic thyroid testing.22:47 - Dr. Rentea mentions the basic vitamin levels that should be checked.Quotes“If you can act when your blood sugar is in the pre-diabetic range, you are most metabolically flexible and you can turn it around to reversing it for life. You don't even need to lose weight to do this.” - Dr. Rentea“Whenever liver numbers are up, that is always not a good sign and we really want to take action when we see that.”  - Dr. Rentea“Year after year after year, I would get someone where they'd had five, six years of the liver numbers being up, and no action was ever really taken. They'd kind of heard to do something, but they didn't really understand how significant it was.”  - Dr. Rentea“Everyone thinks that you have to lose massive amounts of weight to help with blood sugar. Yes, it can help, but I have had many patients where the weight does not change at all.”  - Dr. Rentea“Thyroid testing is important because thyroid, I really consider the master hormone regulator of our body.”  - Dr. RenteaAll of the information on this podcast is for general informational purposes only. Please talk to your physician and medical team about what is right for you. No medical advice is being on this podcast. If you live in Indiana or Illinois and want to work with doctor Matthea Rentea, you can find out more on www.RenteaClinic.com