Metabolic Health Blood Panel

A comprehensive metabolic blood panel assessing fasting glucose, HbA1c, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), lipid profile, thyroid function, liver enzymes, kidney function, and hormonal markers — providing a full metabolic health baseline to guide weight management and GLP-1 treatment planning.

The Metabolic Health Blood Panel at The Metabolic Clinic is a targeted diagnostic blood test designed to provide a comprehensive picture of a patient's cardiometabolic health status, identify underlying drivers of weight gain, and establish a baseline for monitoring treatment response to GLP-1 pharmacotherapy, dietary intervention, or lifestyle change. The panel is typically ordered as part of the initial physician consultation and repeated at regular intervals (3–6 months) to track treatment progress. It is drawn in a fasting state (minimum 8–10 hours overnight fast) to ensure accuracy of glucose, insulin, and lipid measurements. Core markers covered include the glycaemic panel: fasting plasma glucose, fasting insulin, and HbA1c (glycated haemoglobin, reflecting average blood sugar over the preceding 2–3 months). From fasting glucose and insulin, HOMA-IR (Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance) is calculated — a key indicator of metabolic syndrome and pre-diabetes risk that is often elevated years before HbA1c abnormality appears. The lipid profile covers total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (including optional sdLDL — small dense LDL, the more atherogenic fraction), HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and the total cholesterol:HDL ratio. Non-HDL cholesterol and ApoB measurements may be added for more accurate cardiovascular risk assessment in patients with metabolic syndrome. Liver function tests (ALT, AST, GGT, ALP, bilirubin, albumin) are included to screen for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is present in approximately 40% of obese individuals in Singapore and is strongly associated with insulin resistance. Kidney function tests (urea, creatinine, eGFR, urine microalbumin:creatinine ratio) assess cardiorenal risk and are required before and during GLP-1 therapy to monitor renal function. Hormonal markers are a key differentiating feature of this specialist panel: thyroid function (TSH, free T4, free T3) to identify hypothyroidism-driven weight gain; sex hormones (testosterone, LH, FSH, estradiol, SHBG) for PCOS evaluation in women; and cortisol for Cushing's syndrome screening if clinically indicated. A full blood count and CRP/ESR for inflammation rounding out the panel. Results are reviewed with the physician at a follow-up consultation, where findings are translated into concrete treatment adjustments.